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JBS Equipment Pro Mod Series Concludes Thrilling Bristol Finale
Highlights
- NHRA Pro Mod season finale at Bristol Dragway this weekend
- Playoffs begin later this month in Norwalk with five races
- Derek Menholt leads standings, 44 points ahead of Justin Bond
- Qualifying Friday and Saturday; eliminations start Sunday afternoon
- Cardinal Insurance sponsors for fourth consecutive year
- Live streaming available on NHRA’s official YouTube channel
The JBS Equipment NHRA Pro Mod Series holds its regular-season finale at Bristol Dragway this weekend, part of the Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals powered by Cardinal Insurance.
Playoff qualification drives the narrative, with a points-and-a-half format threatening major swings before the Road to the Championship begins later this month in Norwalk.
This is round six of 11 in the 2026 campaign, concluding the regular season before playoff points are reset.
Track action stacks up with qualifying Friday afternoon and evening, followed by two Saturday sessions, before eliminations commence Sunday afternoon.
Derek Menholt leads the standings after becoming 2026’s first double winner, including a pivotal triumph in Chicago. He holds a 44-point advantage over Justin Bond.
Menholt leads Bond by 44 points after becoming 2026’s first two-time winner.
Mike Stavrinos, Billy Banaka, and Stevie “Fast” Jackson keep the pressure high. Defending champion J.R. Gray sits eighth, but Bristol form offers a realistic springboard for momentum.
Depth is evident through the midfield. Stan Shelton, aligned with Cardinal Insurance, runs ninth yet remains within striking distance, underscoring how points-and-a-half can rapidly reshuffle playoff seeding.
Cardinal Insurance backs the series for a fourth consecutive year.
Agency manager Mike McKinney reiterates the family-owned firm’s emphasis on relationships and service, describing NHRA Pro Mod as an ideal environment to foster those connections.
Beyond the headline contenders, Rickie Smith, Alex Laughlin, Lyle Barnett, Jason Collins, and Aaron Stanfield possess the capacity to disrupt the order and influence playoff positioning.
Playoffs begin in Norwalk later this month, spanning five events.
Fans can stream select qualifying and eliminations on NHRA’s YouTube channel. It follows earlier-season action at the same venue, including the PDRA Sportsman Bristol event.
With seeding on the line and a volatile format, Bristol shapes the competitive order before the five-race playoffs begin and the Road to the Championship tightens.
Visual Summary
PLAYOFFS!
Bond
Stavrinos
Banaka
Jackson
POINTS-½!
Standings can explode!
Standings can explode!
FIVE drivers within striking distance!
?
Defending Champ
J.R. Gray (8th place)
Could repeat at Bristol?
?
Dark Horse Watch
Smith · Laughlin · Barnett · Collins · Stanfield
Any could shake up the grid!
?
Cardinal Insurance
4th year supporting
the series
the series
⏱️ Qualifying starts Friday, finals Sunday ?
STREAM LIVE: NHRA YouTube
Playoff tickets are almost gone
Who will rocket to the final 5?
Who will rocket to the final 5?
With a points-and-a-half twist and five drivers fighting at the front, Bristol will decide the true Road to the Championship. Don’t blink.
Miles Carter covers grassroots and regional drag-strip action, from bracket racing to street-legal shootouts. His event previews and performance-upgrade guides keep local racers up to speed on timing-slip trends, tire tech, and weekend race highlights.
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