ERIC DILLARD CRUISES TO WIN IN CONGRUITY NHRA PRO MOD DRAG RACING SERIES IN CHICAGO
CHICAGO (May 19, 2024) – Filling in for former world champion Jose Gonzalez, Eric Dillard picked up the victory in the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+ on Sunday as part of this weekend’s 24th annual Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by PEAK Performance at Route 66 Raceway.
It was the third of 10 races during the 2024 season and this weekend’s event was powered by PGT Trucking, Inc. Facing off with Khalid AlBalooshi in the final round, Dillard went 5.766-seconds at 249.95 mph in the Q80 Chevrolet Camaro, picking up his second career win in the category.
After qualifying second with a 5.732 at 246.62, Dillard was impressively consistent throughout eliminations, going either 5.75 or 5.76 in every round, defeating Stan Shelton, Justin Bond and Billy Banaka to reach the final round. He left with AlBalooshi and then drove off for the victory to finish off a stellar weekend.
“It’s crazy I even get to come out here and do this,” Dillard said. “I’ve got to thank Jose and this team. They carried me today and I’m just blessed to be able to come out here and race. I can’t thank everybody enough for supporting what we do. This is awesome and I appreciate everyone on this team. It’s all the people behind me. This thing was on point all day. At the end of the day, that’s what teamwork is all about. I got carried today and it felt pretty good.”
To reach his first final round this season and the ninth in his career, AlBalooshi, a former world champion, knocked off Jason Lee, Ken Quartuccio and Kris Thorne.
The Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+ returns to action May 31-June 2 with the 14th annual NHRA New England Nationals at New England Dragway in Epping, N.H.
***
JOLIET, Ill. — Final finish order (1-16) at the 24th annual Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by PEAK Performance at Route 66 Raceway. The race is the third of 10 events in the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+.
PRO MODIFIED:
1. Eric Dillard; 2. Khalid alBalooshi; 3. Billy Banaka; 4. Kris Thorne; 5. Ken Quartuccio; 6. Justin Bond; 7. Jordan Lazic; 8. Lyle Barnett; 9. Mike Thielen; 10. Dmitry Samorukov; 11. Jason Lee; 12. Stan Shelton; 13. Mason Wright; 14. Kevin Rivenbark; 15. JR Gray; 16. Dwayne Wolfe.
JOLIET, Ill. — Sunday’s final results from the 24th annual Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by PEAK Performance at Route 66 Raceway. The race is the third of 10 events in the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+.
Pro Modified — Eric Dillard, Chevy Camaro, 5.766, 249.95 def. Khalid alBalooshi, Camaro, 11.656, 70.29.
JOLIET, Ill. — Final round-by-round results from the 24th annual Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by PEAK Performance at Route 66 Raceway, the third of 10 events in the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+.
PRO MODIFIED:
ROUND ONE — Khalid alBalooshi, Chevy Camaro, 5.725, 248.75 def. Jason Lee, Camaro, 5.840, 237.63; Justin Bond, Camaro, 5.700, 249.16 def. Mason Wright, Camaro, Foul – Red Light; Jordan Lazic, Camaro, 5.687, 253.04 def. Mike Thielen, Camaro, 5.752, 251.11; Ken Quartuccio, Camaro, 5.716, 166.11 def. Dwayne Wolfe, Camaro, 8.492, 109.10; Eric Dillard, Camaro, 5.769, 250.69 def. Stan Shelton, Ford Mustang, 6.943, 146.18; Billy Banaka, Camaro, 5.741, 249.67 def. Dmitry Samorukov, Camaro, 5.772, 245.32; Kris Thorne, Camaro, 5.777, 248.52 def. JR Gray, Camaro, 7.704, 130.62; Lyle Barnett, Camaro, 5.759, 249.49 def. Kevin Rivenbark, Mustang, 7.463, 126.03;
FINAL — Dillard, 5.766, 249.95 def. alBalooshi, 11.656, 70.29.
JOLIET, Ill. — Point standings (top 10) following the 24th annual Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by PEAK Performance at Route 66 Raceway, the third of 10 events in the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+.
Pro Modified
1. Jose Gonzalez, 286; 2. Ken Quartuccio, 211; 3. Billy Banaka, 177; 4. Kevin Rivenbark, 170; 5. (tie) Justin Bond, 169; Kris Thorne, 169; 7. Mason Wright, 166; 8. Mike Thielen, 145; 9. Lyle Barnett, 139; 10. Khalid alBalooshi, 131.
Ron Riegel from Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania USA (Comp Number: 1736) 2025 - Category: SPORTSMAN, Type: HN, Class: Top Sportsman, Div: 1 "Riegel Racing Engines" Owned by Ron Riegel from Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania USA 1968 Chevrolet Camaro by SLS Race Cars | Powered by a 750 cubic inch Chevrolet by Ron Riegel with automatic transmission 1/4 […]
Brandon Miller from Canterbury, Connecticut USA (Comp Number: 168M) 2025 - Category: SPORTSMAN, Type: HN, Class: Top Sportsman, Div: 1 "Miller Motorsports/Autobody" Owned by David Miller from Canterbury, Connecticut USA 2000 Chevrolet S-10 by an Unknown chassis builder | Powered by a 744 cubic inch Chevrolet with automatic transmission 1/4 Mile ET: 6.778 at NHRA […]
Ben Schlafman from Sharon, Massachusetts USA (Comp Number: 150) 2025 - Category: SPORTSMAN, Type: HN, Class: Top Sportsman, Div: 1 "Ben Schlafman" Owned by Ben Schlafman from Sharon, Massachusetts USA 2009 Pontiac GXP by Wally Stroupe | Powered by a 762 cubic inch Chevrolet with automatic transmission 1/4 Mile ET: 6.825 at NHRA D1 Reading […]
Don Preece from Meridan, Connecticut USA (Comp Number: 163) 2025 - Category: SPORTSMAN, Type: HN, Class: Top Sportsman, Div: 1 "Preece\'s Auto" Owned by Don Preece from Meridan, Connecticut USA 1968 Chevrolet Camaro by an Unknown chassis builder | Powered by a 674 cubic inch Chevrolet with automatic transmission 1/4 Mile ET: 6.841 at NHRA […]
Michael Daniele from Manorville, New York USA (Comp Number: 132X) 2025 - Category: SPORTSMAN, Type: HN, Class: Top Sportsman, Div: 1 "Nassau Driveshaft" Owned by Michael Daniele from Manorville, New York USA 2005 Chevrolet Cavalier by Jerry Bickel | Powered by a 710 cubic inch Chevrolet by JA Performance with automatic transmission 1/4 Mile ET: […]
Amanda Mayo from Marlboro, Massachusetts USA (Comp Number: 188U) 2025 - Category: SPORTSMAN, Type: HN, Class: Top Sportsman, Div: 1 "Richard Lachapelle" Owned by Richard Lachapelle from Marlboro, Massachusetts USA 1994 Chevrolet Beretta by an Unknown chassis builder | Powered by a 632 cubic inch Chevrolet with automatic transmission 1/4 Mile ET: 7.783 at NHRA […]
Fred Perkins from Higganum, Connecticut USA (Comp Number: 119K) 2025 - Category: SPORTSMAN, Type: HN, Class: Top Sportsman, Div: 1 "Tommy Tape" Owned by Fred Perkins from Plainville, Connecticut USA 1969 Chevrolet Nova by an Unknown chassis builder | Powered by a 632 cubic inch Chevrolet by A&C Performance with automatic transmission 1/4 Mile ET: […]
Larry Willard from Leominster, Massachusetts USA (Comp Number: 1352) 2025 - Category: SPORTSMAN, Type: HN, Class: Top Sportsman, Div: 1 "Willard Racing" Owned by Larry Willard from Leominster, Massachusetts USA 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air by an Unknown chassis builder | Powered by a 632 cubic inch Chevrolet with automatic transmission 1/4 Mile ET: 7.316 at […]
George Forster from Greencastle, Pennsylvania USA (Comp Number: 152A) 2025 - Category: SPORTSMAN, Type: HN, Class: Top Sportsman, Div: 1 "VP Racing/Hoosier" Owned by Geroge Forster from Greencastle, Pennsylvania USA 1998 Chevrolet Monte Carlo by Jerry Bickel | Powered by a 665 cubic inch Chevrolet by Reher Morrison with automatic transmission 1/4 Mile ET: 6.968 […]
Alex Sawchyn from Norwich, Connecticut USA (Comp Number: 176U) 2025 - Category: SPORTSMAN, Type: HN, Class: Top Sportsman, Div: 1 "Alex Sawchyn" Owned by Alex Sawchyn from Norwich, Connecticut USA 2004 Pontiac Grand Am by Wally Stroupe | Powered by a 632 cubic inch Chevrolet by JA Performance with automatic transmission 1/4 Mile ET: Unknown […]