Story By: NHRA – LAS VEGAS, NV – With a host of standout contenders, the championship in the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+ will be on the line this weekend at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway as part of the 24th annual Ford Performance NHRA Nationals.
It is the final race in the Road to the Championship and the 10-event season in the category, and this weekend’s must-see race is powered by JBS Equipment.
An epic title chase will come down to the wire, with 16 drivers still in contention heading into the weekend. With the points-and-half scenario in play in Vegas, it should make for a wild finish and one of those contenders is JBS Equipment President and Owner Justin Bond.
Looking for his first NHRA Pro Mod world championship, Bond trails points leader Khalid Al Balooshi by just 12 points, meaning the title could come down to the final run of the year in Vegas.
“The National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) is recognized as one of the largest sanctioning bodies globally, offering a prestigious platform for companies to promote their brands and support diverse racing classes,” Bond said. “In this spirit, my company, JBS Equipment, has made a deliberate decision to partner with the NHRA, focusing specifically on the Pro Modified class.
“For JBS Equipment, this collaboration represents a strategic opportunity with numerous advantages. By aligning our brand with such a prominent racing organization, we enhance our visibility and connect with a wide, relevant audience. This increased exposure not only boosts brand recognition but also positions JBS Equipment as a trusted and reputable company in the industry.”
Bond and Al Balooshi are hardly the only championship contenders in the loaded class, which will again have another huge 20-plus car field to close out a thrilling year in Las Vegas. Jordan Lazic is only 24 points out of first, while Ken Quartuccio and Mason Wright just 26 and 35 points behind the leader, respectively. Quartuccio won in Indy at the U.S. Nationals, while Wright picked up a victory in Epping.
The list of contenders doesn’t stop there, either. Former world champion Kris Thorne (-38) and Kevin Rivenbark (-50) are both within two rounds of Al-Balooshi, with the likes of Billy Banaka, Dmitry Samorukov, and former champions Mike Castellana and Jose Gonzalez close behind. Castellana is the defending event winner in Las Vegas, clinching both the championship and the race victory in the process.
Thorne has advanced to three final rounds, winning in Bristol, while Gonzalez won the season-opener in Gainesville and Rivenbark took the victory in the category’s first-ever appearance in Phoenix. It’s undoubtedly a loaded field this weekend in Las Vegas, promising intensity and excitement at a fever pitch to close out a stellar 2024 season in the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+.
The Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+ will kick off with two qualifying rounds on Friday, Nov. 1 at 11 AM and 5:10 PM PT, with the final two qualifying rounds set for 10:45 AM and 5:10 PM on Saturday, Nov. 2. The first round of eliminations is slated for 8:40 AM PT on Sunday, Nov. 3.