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Rivenbark Claims Victory to Kickstart JBS Equipment NHRA Pro Mod Series in Norwalk
Highlights
- Kevin Rivenbark won his first 2026 NHRA Pro Mod Wally.
- Victory came at Summit Racing NHRA Nationals in Norwalk.
- Rivenbark edged Billy Banaka with a 5.714-second run.
- Event was seventh race in 11-race 2026 Pro Mod schedule.
- Rivenbark moved to ninth in points after playoff opener.
- Next race: Sept 2-7 at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park.
Kevin Rivenbark claims his first 2026 NHRA Pro Mod Wally at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals in Norwalk, the JBS Equipment Pro Mod playoff opener.
He edges Billy Banaka by two thousandths, delivering 5.714 seconds at 251.53 mph to Banaka’s 5.716 at 252.33 mph in a decisive final.
The event is Round 7 of 11 for 2026 and the first of five playoff races, powered by Polaris and presented by Jan-Cen Motorsports.
The win lifts Rivenbark to ninth in points and injects badly needed momentum into his playoff campaign.
It is his second career NHRA Pro Mod victory and first since Phoenix in 2024, ending a long wait and validating persistent development work.
Rivenbark wins by 0.002 seconds, 5.714s to 5.716s, in the Norwalk final.
Rivenbark qualifies 13th but converts on race day. He defeats former champion Mike Castellana, points leader Derek Menholt, and Lyle Barnett to reach the final.
Banaka advances past Alex Laughlin, Justin Bond, and Mike Thielen. His run underlines the category’s depth and narrow performance margins.
“We haven’t won this since Phoenix of 2024, but we never stop.” — Kevin Rivenbark
Menholt retains the points lead by 13 over Mike Stavrinos. Banaka sits third, 15 back, while Rivenbark’s jump compresses the midfield pack.
Setup gains and execution point to an upward trend for Rivenbark’s group. With teammate Stan Shelton, the target now shifts to Indy at the Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals.
The playoffs open at Round 7 of 11, the first of five postseason races in Pro Mod.
Norwalk’s variable conditions reward adaptability. That volatility shows across categories, reflected in broader Norwalk qualifying coverage, and Rivenbark’s crew converts it into race-day pace.
The series resumes September 2–7 at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park. Expect aggressive tuning windows as teams chase lane choice without sacrificing consistency.
Visual Summary
#99
Rivenbark
Rivenbark
#11
Banaka
Banaka
?
Photo Finish
Rivenbark
WINNER – NHRA Pro Mod Norwalk
5.714
seconds
at 251.53 mph
Big Points Jump: ▲ up to 9th
Banaka
Runner-Up
5.716
seconds
at 252.33 mph
Rivenbark climbs
from 13th ⬆ to 9th
on the Championship Road
“We haven’t won this since Phoenix of 2024, but we never stop.
We’ve had some tough times but we’re on the right road.”
— Kevin Rivenbark, 2026 NHRA Pro Mod Norwalk Winner
We’ve had some tough times but we’re on the right road.”
— Kevin Rivenbark, 2026 NHRA Pro Mod Norwalk Winner
➡️
Nicholas Rivera delivers NHRA Top Fuel and Funny Car news, including eliminator-round results and reaction-time stats. He brings track-side interviews, contender profiles, and championship-point breakdowns straight from drag-racing’s biggest national events.
