BRISTOL, Tenn. (June 8, 2025) – J.R. Gray won for the second time this season in the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series on Sunday at Bristol Dragway, defeating his Al-Anabi Performance teammate Mike Stavrinos in the final round as part of this weekend’s 24th annual Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals.
It was the fifth of 10 races during the 2025 NHRA Pro Mod season and this weekend’s event was powered by Cardinal Insurance.
After a lengthy rain delay, Gray and Stavrinos had a thrilling side-by-side race in the final round, with Gray slipping past Stavrinos with a standout run of 5.762-seconds at 250.46 mph. It was the quickest run of Sunday’s eliminations and handed Gray his third career NHRA Pro Mod victory.
To get to the final round, Gray defeated Chip King, Stevie Jackson and Rickie Smith, and then chased down Stavrinos by a thin margin at the finish line. Gray also leaves Bristol in the points lead.
“Man, this is all about redemption,” Gray said. “The whole crew has been putting in the hours and they’ve been making it happen.”
Stavrinos reached the championship round for the third time this season, defeating Derek Menholt, Alex Laughlin and Billy Banaka. He is second in points at the halfway mark of the year.
The Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series returns to action June 20-22 with the fifth annual American Rebel Light Virginia NHRA Nationals at Virginia Motorsports Park in Richmond, Va.
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BRISTOL, Tenn. — Final finish order (1-16) at the 24rd annual Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway. The race is the fifth of 10 events in the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series.
PRO MODIFIED:
1. JR Gray; 2. Mike Stavrinos; 3. Rickie Smith; 4. Billy Banaka; 5. Rashid alBalooshi; 6. Mason Wright; 7. Alex Laughlin; 8. Steve Jackson; 9. Dmitry Samorukov; 10. Stan Shelton; 11. Derek Menholt; 12. Justin Bond; 13. Mike Castellana; 14. Dwayne Wolfe; 15. Chip King; 16. Jordan Lazic.
BRISTOL, Tenn. — Sunday’s final results from the 24rd annual Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway. The race is the fifth of 10 events in the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series.
Pro Modified — JR Gray, Chevy Camaro, 5.762, 250.46 def. Mike Stavrinos, Camaro, 5.778, 248.48.
BRISTOL, Tenn. — Final round-by-round results from the 24rd annual Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway, the fifth of 10 events in the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series.
PRO MODIFIED:
ROUND ONE — Rashid alBalooshi, Chevy Camaro, 5.871, 238.55 def. Justin Bond, Camaro, 8.607, 108.21; Billy Banaka, Camaro, 5.845, 244.12 def. Dwayne Wolfe, Camaro, 10.241, 89.70; Alex Laughlin, Camaro, 5.857, 245.23 def. Stan Shelton, Ford Mustang, 5.873, 246.03; Mike Stavrinos, Camaro, 5.846, 246.89 def. Derek Menholt, Camaro, 5.875, 243.90; JR Gray, Camaro, 5.835, 247.70 def. Chip King, Dodge Charger, Broke; Mason Wright, Camaro, 5.907, 244.60 def. Mike Castellana, Camaro, 9.748, 92.15; Rickie Smith, Mustang, 5.850, 250.27 def. Dmitry Samorukov, Chevy Corvette, 5.868, 245.05; Steve Jackson, Camaro, 5.902, 245.85 def. Jordan Lazic, Camaro, DQ – Tech;
FINAL — Gray, 5.762, 250.46 def. Stavrinos, 5.778, 248.48.
BRISTOL, Tenn. — Point standings (top 10) following the 24th annual Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway, the fifth of 10 events in the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series.
Pro Modified
1. JR Gray, 463; 2. Mike Stavrinos, 413; 3. Rickie Smith, 352; 4. Billy Banaka, 309; 5. Mason Wright, 278; 6. Justin Bond, 210; 7. Alex Laughlin, 201; 8. Kahlid alBalooshi, 184; 9. Kevin Rivenbark, 178; 10. (tie) Jordan Lazic, 161. Stan Shelton, 161.
Danny Townsend from Muncie, Indiana USA (Comp Number: 312) 1985 - Category: GASALT, Type: GN, Class: A/A, Div: 7 "Asian Flew" Owned by Dennis King from California USA 32 Austin/Bantam Altered by an Unknown chassis builder | Powered by a 526 cubic inch Arias Chevrolet with 4 speed manual transmission 1/4 Mile ET: 7.240 at […]
Donn May from Milford, Indiana USA (Comp Number: 3396) 1985 - Category: COMPDRAG, Type: PN, Class: C/D, Div: 3 "Classical Gas" Owned by Donn May from Milford, Indiana USA 1981 Dragster by an Unknown chassis builder | Powered by a Unknown cubic inch Chevrolet with 3 speed manual transmission 1/4 Mile ET: Unknown at Unknown […]
John Foster from Davenport, Iowa USA (Comp Number: 5051) 1985 - Category: COMPDRAG, Type: PN, Class: A/D, Div: 5 "Ratolution" Owned by Stan Stripe & John Foster from Davenport, Iowa USA 1985 Dragster by an Unknown chassis builder | Powered by a Unknown cubic inch Chevrolet with 3 speed manual transmission 1/4 Mile ET: 7.596 […]
Jack Gibson from Odessa, Texas USA (Comp Number: 474) 1985 - Category: COMPDRAG, Type: PN, Class: A/D, Div: 4 "Jack Gibson" Owned by Jack Gibson from Odessa, Texas USA 1985 Dragster by Gene Gaddy | Powered by a 396 cubic inch Chevrolet with 3 speed manual transmission 1/4 Mile ET: 7.650 at Unknown | 1/4 […]
Lee Bontrager from Kalamazoo, Michigan USA (Comp Number: 391) 1985 - Category: COMPDRAG, Type: PN, Class: E/ED, Div: 3 "Bontranger & Arnold" Owned by Jerry Arnold from Kalamazoo, Michigan USA 1975 Dragster by an Unknown chassis builder | Powered by a Unknown cubic inch Ford with automatic transmission 1/4 Mile ET: 9.126 at NHRA Indianapolis […]
Ted Kramer from St. Louis, Missouri USA (Comp Number: 5009) 1985 - Category: GASALT, Type: GN, Class: E/EA, Div: 5 "Snoopy Too" Owned by Ted Kramer from St. Louis, Missouri USA 1932 Austin Bantam by an Unknown chassis builder | Powered by a Unknown cubic inch Chevrolet with automatic transmission 1/4 Mile ET: Unknown at […]
Joey Gerdelmann from Hainesport, New Jersey USA (Comp Number: 102) 2025 - Category: ALKYDRAG, Type: DN, Class: TA/D, Div: 1 "Albert Brothers Performance" Owned by Joey Gerdelmann from Hainesport, New Jersey USA 2015 Dragster by Albert Bros. | Powered by a 464 cubic inch Chrysler Hemi with 3 speed manual transmission 1/4 Mile ET: 5.598 […]
Conner Statler from Bossier City, Louisiana USA (Comp Number: 446) 2025 - Category: SPORTSMAN, Type: , Class: Factory Xtreme, Div: 4 "Janac Brothers Racing" Owned by Janac Brothers Racing from Caldwell, Texas USA 2024 Chevrolet Camaro by an Unknown chassis builder | Powered by a 350 cubic inch Chevrolet by Stanfield Racing Engines with 4 […]
Justin Bond from Misson, British Columbia Canada (Comp Number: 6280) 2025 - Category: PM-BLOWN, Type: BN, Class: Pro Modified, Div: 6 "Al-Anabi Racing" Owned by Al-Anabi Racing from Doha, Qatar 1969 Chevrolet Camaro by Jerry Bickel | Powered by a 526 cubic inch Chrysler Hemi with automatic transmission 1/4 Mile ET: 5.798 at NHRA Indy […]
Steve Jackson from Evans, Georgia USA (Comp Number: 280) 2025 - Category: PM-BLOWN, Type: BN, Class: Pro Modified, Div: 2 "Motion Raceworks" Owned by Steve Jackson from Evans, Georgia USA 1969 Chevrolet Camaro by Jerry Bickel | Powered by a 521 cubic inch KTR with 3 speed manual transmission 1/4 Mile ET: 5.663 at NHRA […]