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.
Rich Hanna from Enfield, Connecticut USA (Comp Number: 905) 2025 - Category: JETFC, Type: KN, Class: Jet Funny Car, Div: 1 "First Strike" Owned by Al Hanna from Enfield, Connecticut USA 2007 Pontiac Firebird by Bob Jinkens | Powered by a Unknown thrust engine 1/4 Mile ET: 5.852 at NHRA D1 Lebanon Valley NY 7/4/25 […]
Josh Kreuder from Savanna, Illinois USA 2025 - Category: JETFC, Type: KN, Class: Jet Funny Car, Div: 3 "Captain America" Owned by Josh Kreuder from Savanna, Illinois USA 1971 Dodge Charger by an Unknown chassis builder | Powered by a Unknown J-85 General Electric thrust engine 1/4 Mile ET: 6.464 at Cordova IL 8/23/25 | […]
Lee Callaway from Baytown, Texas USA (Comp Number: 415) 2025 - Category: TOPFUEL, Type: TN, Class: Top Fuel, Div: 5 "Professional Bull Riders" Owned by Scott Palmer from Cassville, Missouri USA 2021 Dragster by MLR | Powered by a 500 cubic inch AJPE Hemi with direct drive 1/4 Mile ET: Unknown at Unknown | 1/4 […]
Bill White from Demotte, Indiana USA (Comp Number: 5) 2025 - Category: NOSTPS, Type: UN, Class: Nostalgia Pro Stock, Div: 3 "Satmary and Cannon \"Tuff Rabbit\"" Owned by Bill White from Demotte, Indiana USA 1979 Chevrolet Camaro by an Unknown chassis builder | Powered by a 500 cubic inch Chevrolet with 4 speed manual transmission […]
Terry Priest from Glendale, Kentucky USA (Comp Number: 384) 2025 - Category: NOSTPS, Type: UN, Class: Nostalgia Pro Stock, Div: 3 "Bluegrass Bandit" Owned by Terry Priest from Glendale, Kentucky USA 1999 Dodge Avenger by an Unknown chassis builder | Powered by a 500 cubic inch Chrysler Hemi by Dale Meeks with 4 speed manual […]
Robin Stambaugh-Schoeman from Fredericksburg, Virginia USA (Comp Number: 292) 2025 - Category: NOSTBBFC, Type: CN, Class: BB/FC, Div: 1 "Generation X Racing" Owned by Matt & Robin Stambaugh from Fredericksburg, Virginia USA 1974 Chevrolet Vega by Ken Cox | Powered by a 496 cubic inch JP-1 Hemi by Matt Stambaugh with 3 speed manual transmission […]
Ron Fassl from Phoenix, Arizona USA (Comp Number: 732) 1987 - Category: FUELFC, Type: FN, Class: AA/FC, Div: 7 "Phoenix Racing" Owned by Ron Fassl from Phoenix, Arizona USA '84 Dodge Aries by an Unknown chassis builder | Powered by a 484 cubic inch Keith Black Hemi with 2 speed manual transmission 1/4 Mile ET: […]
Ron Fassl from Phoenix, Arizona USA (Comp Number: 732) 1986 - Category: FUELFC, Type: FN, Class: AA/FC, Div: 7 "Phoenix Racing" Owned by Ron Fassl from Phoenix, Arizona USA '84 Dodge Aries by an Unknown chassis builder | Powered by a 484 cubic inch Keith Black Hemi with 2 speed manual transmission 1/4 Mile ET: […]
Ron Fassl from Phoenix, Arizona USA (Comp Number: 732) 1985 - Category: FUELFC, Type: FN, Class: AA/FC, Div: 7 "Phoenix Racing" Owned by Ron Fassl from Phoenix, Arizona USA '84 Dodge Aries by an Unknown chassis builder | Powered by a 484 cubic inch Keith Black Hemi with 2 speed manual transmission 1/4 Mile ET: […]
Ron Fassl from Phoenix, Arizona USA (Comp Number: 737) 2005 - Category: FUELALT, Type: AN, Class: AA/FA, Div: 7 "Pepsi Thunder" Owned by Ron Fassl from Phoenix, Arizona USA '03 Ford 23 Ford Model T Altered by Steve Plueger | Powered by a 500 cubic inch Keith Black Hemi by Amos Satterlee with 2 speed […]