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.
Lindsay Murray from Australia (Comp Number: 2434) 1999 - Category: PM-OUTLAW, Type: ZA, Class: TD, Div: 8 "DZ Construction" Owned by Lindsay Murray from Australia Ford Capri by an Unknown chassis builder | Powered by a 526 cubic inch Chevrolet with 4 speed manual transmission 1/4 Mile ET: 7.700 at Unknown | 1/4 Mile MPH: […]
Wayne Roberts from Valley Center, Kansas USA (Comp Number: 5798) 1999 - Category: PM-OUTLAW, Type: ZN, Class: Quick 8, Div: 5 "WIR" Owned by Wayne Roberts from Wichita, Kansas USA '85 Chevrolet Camaro by Holzman Race Cars | Powered by a 510 cubic inch Keith Black Hemi with automatic transmission 1/4 Mile ET: 7.150 at […]
Dennis Radford from Baker City, Oregon USA (Comp Number: 6291) 1999 - Category: PM-OUTLAW, Type: ZN, Class: NPMA, Div: 6 "Killer Instinct" Owned by Dennis Radford from Baker City, Oregon USA '72 Plymouth Duster by an Unknown chassis builder | Powered by a 636 cubic inch Chrysler Hemi with 4 speed manual transmission 1/4 Mile […]
Tim Probasco from Bonney Lake, Washington USA (Comp Number: 6526) 1999 - Category: PM-OUTLAW, Type: ZN, Class: Quick 8, Div: 6 "Borderline Insanity" Owned by Tim Probasco from Bonney Lake, Washington USA '70 Chevrolet Camaro by an Unknown chassis builder | Powered by a 417 cubic inch Chevrolet with 4 speed manual transmission 1/4 Mile […]
John Pluchino from Commack, New York USA (Comp Number: 197) 1999 - Category: PM-OUTLAW, Type: ZN, Class: NPSA, Div: 1 "Adder & Pluchino" Owned by Adder & John Pluchino from Commack, New York USA '95 Pontiac Firebird by an Unknown chassis builder | Powered by a 615 cubic inch Pontiac with 3 speed manual transmission […]
Chris Payne from Missouri USA 1999 - Category: PM-OUTLAW, Type: ZN, Class: Quick 8, Div: 5 "Chris Payne" Owned by Chris Payne from Missouri USA '98 Pontiac Firebird by an Unknown chassis builder | Powered by a Unknown cubic inch Chevrolet with 4 speed manual transmission 1/4 Mile ET: 7.620 at Unknown | 1/4 Mile […]
Jim Nordhougen from Longmont, Colorado USA 1999 - Category: PM-OUTLAW, Type: ZN, Class: Nitro Coupe, Div: 5 "Jim Nordhougen" Owned by Jim Nordhougen from Longmont, Colorado USA '38 Chevrolet by an Unknown chassis builder | Powered by a 526 cubic inch Pontiac with 3 speed manual transmission 1/4 Mile ET: 7.090 at Unknown | 1/4 […]
Mark Nielsen from Brantford, Ontario Canada (Comp Number: 3127) 1999 - Category: PM-OUTLAW, Type: ZN, Class: Pro Modified, Div: 1 "Quick Fix" Owned by Mark Nielsen from Brantford, Ontario Canada '93 Chevrolet Lumina by an Unknown chassis builder | Powered by a 526 cubic inch Pontiac with 3 speed manual transmission 1/4 Mile ET: 6.570 […]
Dan Nickelson from La Verne, California USA (Comp Number: 716) 1999 - Category: PM-OUTLAW, Type: ZN, Class: Nitro Coupe, Div: 7 "Nickelson Racing" Owned by Dan Nickelson from La Verne, California USA '94 Chevrolet Beretta by an Unknown chassis builder | Powered by a 526 cubic inch Chevrolet with 3 speed manual transmission 1/4 Mile […]
Bob Nagy from Welland, Ontario Canada (Comp Number: 3999) 1999 - Category: PM-OUTLAW, Type: ZN, Class: Pro Modified, Div: 1 "Buzzwater" Owned by Bob Nagy from Welland, Ontario Canada '63 Chevrolet Corvette by LJ Race Cars | Powered by a 526 cubic inch Oddy Chevrolet by Jim Oddy with 3 speed manual transmission 1/4 Mile […]