NHRA’s 6th E3 Spark Plugs Pro Modified Series event of 2020 produces firsts!
British Columbia’s Justin Bond was a winner for the first time in his career during the E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by J&A Service event at Houston Raceway Park. Bond prevailed when he beat first-time finalist Brandon Pesz in the championship round for the COVID-deferred Mopar Express Lane SpringNationals event – originally scheduled for last spring.
Bond went 5.707 secs at 249.35 mph in his ProCharger Bahrain 1 Racing Camaro to beat Pesz in the final who slowed to a 7.504 secs. In addition to being the first Canadian to win (within the E3 Spark Plugs sponsorship era) — Bond’s victory also marked the first ProCharger-powered victory in the NHRA class. That power adder was added to the class equation new in 2020.
Bond, who qualified third with a 5.692 at 248.20, knocked off Doug Winters, Jonathan Gray and points leader Brandon Snider to reach his second career final round. He quickly tracked down Pesz and rolled to the win, marking the second straight week for a first-time winner after Snider won in Dallas. Bond also becomes the sixth different winner in six NHRA Pro Mod races in 2020 and the third first-time winner this year, following Snider and Chad Green.
Racing the “ProCharger” powered Bahrain 1 Racing Camaro — Canada’s Justin Bond was victorious at NHRA Houston last weekend. He won from the #3 qualified position.
Justin’s big weekend was somewhat unexpected as his decision to enter the event did not come until very late. “This car wasn’t here until 9 a.m. Saturday morning,” Bond said. “I decided at 10 p.m. Pacific time on Thursday to be here, and I just can’t thank all my guys enough.”
Brandon Pesz reached his first career final round in NHRA Pro Mod action with victories against Green, Alex Laughlin and Rickie Smith.
Brandon Pesz was a first time finalist racing this cool supercharged Chevy Camaro.
By advancing to the semifinals, Snider jumped past defending world champ Stevie “Fast” Jackson for the points lead. Heading to the final event of the season in Vegas next weekend, Snider leads Jackson by 26 points. Mike Janis and Khalid alBalooshi are 55 and 56 points behind Snider, respectively.
At Houston 17 cars were entered and Steve Jackson’s run of 5.659 secs was both low ET of the race and qualified him #1. The fastest Pro Mod car for the event was again the Kris Thorne turbocharged Camaro — this time at 258.52 mph. That was in fact Thorne’s 5th “top speed of the meet” this season!
Floridian Kris Thorne kept his speedy reputation in tact — he set top speed of the meet for the 6X this season!
The E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series finishes its 2020 season Oct. 30-Nov.1 with the Dodge Nationals scheduled for The Strip at Las Vegas. Going into that race the top 10 points are per below:
1. Brandon Snider, 413; 2. Steve Jackson, 387; 3. Mike Janis, 358; 4. Khalid alBalooshi, 357; 5. Jonathan Gray, 339; 6. Chad Green, 320; 7. Rickie Smith, 295; 8. Kris Thorne, 286; 9. Clint Satterfield, 228; 10. Jim Whiteley, 224.
Posted with files by NHRA and Bruce Biegler
Photos by Randy Anderson and courtesy of Auto Imagery Inc.
