Pro Mod teams traveled for the fourth of ten races in the 2023 FuelTech NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by Type A Motorsports and powered by PGT Trucking for the second weekend in a row. In New Hampshire, officials had tried to make schedule changes and work around New England's unpredictable summertime weather.
NHRA moved up the pro classes, starting with Funny Car, to get the best traction on the tricky pavement at New England Dragway. They also bumped up qualifying for NHRA Top Fuel and rescheduled the opening round of qualifying for the FuelTech NHRA Pro Mod Series to follow the nitro drivers on track just in case it rained, which it did.
Pro Mod elimination rounds for Epping were then moved to Thunder Valley to be completed during qualifying for Bristol National. Whereas Pro Stock cars retain street identification, Pro Modified cars' bodies are just that, highly modified race cars. Pro Mods are doorslammers with an opening for a nitrous hood scoop for injected cars or cut to allow a supercharger to be fitted through onto a blown motor.
Justin Bond Claims Pro Mod Wally at Bristol
With beautiful weather at Thunder Valley, the FuelTech Pro Mod New England elimination rounds took to the track. Justin Bond advanced out of the first round into the quarterfinals with an impressive win over Mike Thielen followed by round wins against Eric Dillard and Doug Winters.
Tony Wilson eliminated Stan Shelton, JR Gray Jr. and Tylor Miller enroute to the New England Pro Mod Finals. Wilson nailed the tree with a .027-seconds reaction time to Bond’s .064 RT. But, Bond powered his way to the finish line with a run of 5.853-seconds at 246.30 mph in his Bahrain 1 Racing Chevrolet Camaro for his third win of the 2023 FuelTech season.
photo courtesy NHRA
UP COMING:
NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals
FuelTech Pro Mod teams are already on hand for the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals as the elimination rounds from the New England Nationals had to be moved to Bristol due a deluge of New Hampshire rain.