CHICAGO (May 17, 2026) – Derek Menholt became the first two-time winner of the season in the JBS Equipment NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by Elite Motorsports, driving past Jason Collins in the final round on Sunday at Route 66 Raceway as part of this weekend’s Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by PEAK.
It marked the fifth of 11 races during the 2026 season and this weekend’s event was powered by ProFlow Pumping Solutions.
Menholt was one of four drivers who had won already this season, but he is now the first to win twice, thanks to a run of 5.692-seconds at 250.23 mph in the championship round. Collins left first with an incredible .004 reaction time, but ran into trouble and Menholt, who posted a strong .012 time on the starting line, drove right past with his best run of eliminations.
It was a marquee matchup between the top two qualifiers in the category this weekend, with Menholt, who qualified No. 1 with a 5.667 at 250.92, going back into the points lead. He won the opener in Gainesville and is now back on top, though he knows it’s going to be a tight championship clash the rest of the season.
“It’s going to be a battle all the way to the end,” said Menholt, who now has three career NHRA Pro Mod wins. “Jason has made a big run in the past three races and there’s going to be a lot of guys coming for us, but this one feels good.”
To reach the final round, Menholt got past Alex Laughlin, reigning world champion J.R. Gray and Justin Bond, who is now second in points. Racing for just the third time in NHRA Pro Mod, Collins, who won the previous race in Valdosta, advanced to his second straight final round with victories against Kevin Rivenbark, Mike Stavrinos and Billy Banaka.
The JBS Equipment NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by Elite Motorsports closes out its regular season on June 12-14 as part of the Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway in Bristol, Tenn.
***
JOLIET, Ill. — Final finish order (1-16) at the 26th annual Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by PEAK Performance at Route 66 Raceway. The race is the fifth of 11 events in the JBS Equipment NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by Elite Motorsports.
PRO MODIFIED:
1. Derek Menholt; 2. Jason Collins; 3. Justin Bond; 4. Billy Banaka; 5. Lyle Barnett; 6. Mike Thielen; 7. Mike Stavrinos; 8. JR Gray; 9. Stan Shelton; 10. Mike Castellana; 11. Steve Jackson; 12. Chip King; 13. Alex Laughlin; 14. Kevin Rivenbark; 15. Mason Wright; 16. Adriano Kayayan.
JOLIET, Ill. — Sunday’s final results from the 26th annual Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by PEAK Performance at Route 66 Raceway. The race is the fifth of 11 events in the JBS Equipment NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by Elite Motorsports.
Pro Modified — Derek Menholt, Chevy Corvette, 5.692, 250.23 def. Jason Collins, Chevy Camaro, 7.417, 121.75.
JOLIET, Ill. — Final round-by-round results from the 26th annual Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by PEAK Performance at Route 66 Raceway, the fifth of 11 events in the JBS Equipment NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by Elite Motorsports.
PRO MODIFIED:
ROUND ONE — JR Gray, Chevy Camaro, 5.762, 247.43 def. Stan Shelton, Ford Mustang, Foul – Red Light; Mike Thielen, Mustang, 5.744, 247.11 def. Adriano Kayayan, Chevy Corvette, 6.084, 215.41; Derek Menholt, Corvette, 5.748, 248.07 def. Alex Laughlin, Camaro, 5.774, 247.43; Jason Collins, Camaro, 5.742, 249.58 def. Kevin Rivenbark, Mustang, 5.803, 247.70; Billy Banaka, Camaro, 5.715, 253.66 def. Steve Jackson, Camaro, 5.770, 246.53; Lyle Barnett, Camaro, 5.695, 252.33 def. Mike Castellana, Camaro, 5.766, 249.39; Justin Bond, Camaro, 5.738, 250.97 def. Chip King, Dodge Charger, 5.772, 249.16; Mike Stavrinos, Camaro, 5.739, 249.07 def. Mason Wright, Camaro, 5.824, 247.93;
FINAL — Menholt, 5.692, 250.23 def. Collins, 7.417, 121.75.
JOLIET, Ill. — Point standings (top 10) following the 26th annual Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by PEAK Performance at Route 66 Raceway, the fifth of 11 events in the JBS Equipment NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by Elite Motorsports.
Pro Modified
1. Derek Menholt, 397; 2. Justin Bond, 353; 3. Mike Stavrinos, 317; 4. Billy Banaka, 299; 5. Steve Jackson, 247; 6. Lyle Barnett, 243; 7. Mike Thielen, 242; 8. JR Gray, 228; 9. Stan Shelton, 213; 10. Sidnei Frigo, 211.
Marty Danko from Hatboro, Pennsylvania USA (Comp Number: 1045) 2012 - Category: ALKYALT, Type: GN, Class: AA/A, Div: 1 "Marty Danko" Owned by Marty Danko from Hatboro, Pennsylvania USA 48 Fiat Topolino by an Unknown chassis builder | Powered by a 500 cubic inch Chevrolet with automatic transmission 1/4 Mile ET: 8.644 at Englishtown PC […]
Bob Cook from Mokena, Illinois USA (Comp Number: 2099) 2026 - Category: PROSTREET, Type: QN, Class: Ultra Street, Div: 3 "Bob Cook" Owned by Bob Cook from Mokena, Illinois USA 1990 Ford Mustang by an Unknown chassis builder | Powered by a 427 cubic inch Ford with automatic transmission 1/4 Mile ET: Unknown at Unknown […]
Jason Spina from Cocoa, Florida USA (Comp Number: 4333) 2026 - Category: PROSTREET, Type: QN, Class: Ultra Street, Div: 2 "FuelTech" Owned by Jason Spina from Cocoa, Florida USA 1990 Ford Mustang by an Unknown chassis builder | Powered by a 400 cubic inch Ford with automatic transmission 1/4 Mile ET: Unknown at Unknown | […]
Jessie Coulter from Bowling Green, Kentucky USA (Comp Number: 4810) 2026 - Category: PROSTREET, Type: QN, Class: Ultra Street, Div: 3 "RC Components" Owned by Jessie Coulter from Bowling Green, Kentucky USA 2003 Ford Mustang by an Unknown chassis builder | Powered by a 365 cubic inch Ford Hemi with automatic transmission 1/4 Mile ET: […]
Joshua McCoy from Chambersburg, Pennsylvania USA (Comp Number: 823X) 2026 - Category: PROSTREET, Type: QN, Class: Ultra Street, Div: 1 "Joshua McCoy" Owned by Joshua McCoy from Chambersburg, Pennsylvania USA 2013 Ford Mustang by an Unknown chassis builder | Powered by a Unknown cubic inch Ford with automatic transmission 1/4 Mile ET: Unknown at Unknown […]
Philip Reichardt from St Louis, Missouri USA (Comp Number: 1012) 2026 - Category: PROSTREET, Type: QN, Class: X275, Div: 5 "Dreamkiller" Owned by Philip Reichardt from St Louis, Missouri USA 1967 Chevrolet Camaro by an Unknown chassis builder | Powered by a Unknown cubic inch Chevrolet with automatic transmission 1/4 Mile ET: Unknown at Unknown […]
Steve Romeo from Perkasie, Pennsylvania USA (Comp Number: 115R) 2026 - Category: PROSTREET, Type: QN, Class: Ultra Street, Div: 1 "Romeo Brothers Racing" Owned by Steve Romeo from Perkasie, Pennsylvania USA 1967 Chevrolet Chevelle by Steve Romeo | Powered by a 440 cubic inch Chevrolet with automatic transmission 1/4 Mile ET: Unknown at Unknown | […]
Austin Keen from Potomac, Illinois USA (Comp Number: 3492) 2026 - Category: PROSTREET, Type: QN, Class: X275, Div: 3 "Austin Keen" Owned by Austin Keen from Potomac, Illinois USA 1984 Buick Regal by an Unknown chassis builder | Powered by a 400 cubic inch Small Block Ford with automatic transmission 1/4 Mile ET: Unknown at […]
Tyler Johnson from Jacksonville, Alabama USA (Comp Number: 2077) 2026 - Category: PROSTREET, Type: QN, Class: X275, Div: 2 "Tyler Johnson" Owned by Tyler Johnson from Jacksonville, Alabama USA 1968 Pontiac Firebird by an Unknown chassis builder | Powered by a 630 cubic inch Chevrolet with automatic transmission 1/4 Mile ET: Unknown at Unknown | […]
John Davidson from Berryton, Kansas USA (Comp Number: 320) 2026 - Category: PROSTREET, Type: QN, Class: X275, Div: 5 "John Davidson" Owned by John Davidson from Berryton, Kansas USA 1980 Chevrolet Malibu by an Unknown chassis builder | Powered by a 632 cubic inch Chevrolet with automatic transmission 1/4 Mile ET: Unknown at Unknown | […]