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World Champ J.R. Gray Dominates JBS NHRA Pro Mod at Big Go Indy
Highlights
- J.R. Gray won the 72nd Cornwell NHRA U.S. Nationals.
- Gray defeated Justin Bond in the final round.
- Gray recorded a 5.701-second pass at 252.47 mph.
- Bond leads championship standings by seven points over Stavrinos.
- Next race: NHRA Nationals at Rockingham, September 25–27, 2026.
J.R. Gray wins Pro Mod at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park on Monday, defeating Justin Bond to claim the 72nd Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals.
The event is round eight of 11 in the 2026 JBS Equipment NHRA Pro Mod Series, presented by Elite Motorsports, powered by CFH Superchargers and presented by Shelton Insurance.
Gray delivers 5.701 seconds at 252.47 mph in his Al-Anabi Performance Chevrolet Camaro. Top qualifier Bond replies with 5.759 at 251.72 mph, but misses the Diamond Wally.
5.701 seconds at 252.47 mph delivers Indy glory for Gray.
“That final round, it was all or nothing,” Gray says after an engine change following round one. “The crew dug deep,” he adds, praising execution under pressure.
Gray advances by beating Alex Laughlin, Mike Thielen, and Billy Banaka. Bond reaches the final past Chip King, Stan Shelton, and Michael Stavrinos.
Engine change after round one underscores Al-Anabi Performance’s resilience.
The outcome highlights razor-thin margins. Gray converts race-day consistency into advantage against Bond’s qualifying pace, sustaining pressure through each increment.
In the playoff picture, Bond leads by seven points over Stavrinos. Banaka sits 10 back. Gray holds fifth, 40 adrift, keeping his title defense alive.
Bond retains the points lead by seven over Stavrinos.
The series continues at the NHRA Nationals at the Rock at Rockingham Dragway on September 25–27, where teams chase pivotal points on the Road to the Championship.
Indy again rewards completeness. Elsewhere, headlines include Ron Capps’ standout run and a Factory Stock win for Joe Allegrucci, underscoring the event’s depth and significance.
With three rounds remaining, multiple contenders remain in reach. Gray’s Indy victory tightens the narrative and applies fresh pressure to the points leader.
Visual Summary
🏁 Finish
🏆
🏆 J.R. GRAY
WINS “The Big Go”!
WINS “The Big Go”!
From a nail-biting engine swap to a final-round drag race duel, J.R. Gray blasts past Justin Bond and seizes the iconic U.S. Nationals Diamond Wally. Championship dreams stay alive!
5.701s
252.47 mph
252.47 mph
5.759s
251.72 mph
251.72 mph
Gray’s road to the Diamond Wally:
Alex Laughlin
Mike Thielen
Billy Banaka
Mike Thielen
Billy Banaka
Chip King
Stan Shelton
Michael Stavrinos
Stan Shelton
Michael Stavrinos
🏆 Championship Standings (Top 5)
Bond
LEAD
Stavr.
Banaka
Gray
+40 pts
Gray remains in the hunt — just 40 points away from the championship lead as they head to Rockingham.
Next stop: Rockingham — Sep 25-27
Road to the Championship continues!
Road to the Championship continues!
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.
