Pro Mod Portal – Ferocious Fields!

by editor on Jun.10, 2025, under Pro Mod Portal

More worldwide wicked fast Doorslammers results — from two continents — presented by Smokies Garage….

Top of the Charts (Down Under) – Australia’s unique and exciting Top Doorslammer class brand held it’s most exciting gathering of the season during the 57th edition Gulf Western Oil Winternationals hosted at fabled Willowbank Raceway.

What started as a mega field of 16 Top Doorslammers was whittled down to eight in the first round of eliminations racing on Saturday before three more concluding rounds of racing Sunday.

Russell Taylor lined up against Rob Harrington in what was Harrington’s first NDRC Top Doorslammer finals appearance. Taylor had already wrapped up the Top Doorslammer points championship earlier in the day and turned his sights to securing the Winternationals win, however it wasn’t to be in this David and Goliath battle.

Just before half-track the OGL Australia and Precision Lubricants Camaro faltered, while Harrington (who is a home state Queenslander) sailed through for the win with a 5.840/397.62kph run over Taylor’s 7.509/154.49kph effort.

Despite losing in the final round – Russell Taylor laid claim to a second straight T/D championship within Australia.

It was a day of giant killing for Harrington, who had started the day with a win over a red-lighting John Zappia. The uncharacteristic mistake saw the 11X Top Doorslammer champion knocked out of contention in the second round of racing. Harrington next sent Nigel Dixon packing (5.841/396.32kph over 5.877/400.92kph) in the semi finals, before lining up against Taylor.

Taylor’s first win of the day was a holeshot over Jeremy Callaghan with the “Ice Man’ running a 5.807/400.26kph compared with Callaghan’s 5.711/414.37kph, before he ran it through (5.618/413.91kph) over a red-lighting Ronnie Palumbo in the semi final.

While Taylor didn’t get the Winters NDRC Gold Christmas Tree, he did have plenty to celebrate, wrapping up his second Top Doorslammer championship in a row this weekend.

“The final didn’t go our way, but it was a great weekend all in all wrapping up the championship. Congratulations to Rob and his crew on a well-earned Winters victory,” Taylor said. “Thank you to my crew, sponsors and all of our supporters. I’m grateful for your support, none of this would be possible without you.”

Harrington was ecstatic with the win, with the “Bad Influence” Holden Monaro racer almost lost for words in the deep end.

In a rather epic upset — homestate racer Rob Harrington won in Top Doorslammer class racing at the Gulf Western Oil Winternationals.

“I’m just an Aussie battler with a rag tag bunch of blokes just having a go! To run up against the Australian champion Russell Taylor, it’s been amazing. To GET Engineering, Childs Tyre Service, all my sponsors, my mum, my dad – we’ve won the Winters baby!” Harrington said after his winning run.

The Winternationals event also included racing within the FuelTech Pro Mod class which is campaigned using a 5.85 secs national index.

In that it was invading New Zealander Barry Plumpton taking the title by win over Stew Walsh in the final round.

Plumpton, who was racing the only nitrous-injected car entered in the field, had successfully taken out Steve Smith in the first round and Daniel Camilleri in the semi-final. Camilleri, had earned a major upset in round one when he upset top qualifier, Neil Murphy.

New Zealand’s Barry Plumpton – upset the FuelTech Pro Mod field at Willowbank’s Winternationals.

Walsh – who had got into the field dramatically on his final qualifier had taken out Nasser Matta in round one before a victory over Zoran Gajic in the semifinal.

“It is unbelievable to come out on top with the car in its first outing on Aussie soil,” Plumpton said. “This is a top quality field, and we just can’t believe that we won the Winters! We had some luck go our way throughout the day, but the car was just perfect and well dialled in. We can’t wait to come back over and do it all again soon!”

For Australia’s FuelTech Pro Mod circuit this weekend was the penultimate round for their wrap around season championship chase, which will conclude at the Spring Nationals at Dragway at The Bend – coming October 3-5.

Second Season Score — J.R. Gray won for the second time this season (and the third time in his career) within the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series division. At Bristol Tennessee, he defeating his Al-Anabi Performance teammate Mike Stavrinos in the final round as part of the weekend’s 24th annual Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals.

It was the fifth of 10 races during the 2025 NHRA Pro Mod season and this weekend’s event was powered by Cardinal Insurance.

After a lengthy rain delay, Gray and Stavrinos had a thrilling side-by-side race in the final round, with Gray slipping past Stavrinos with a standout run of 5.762 secs at 250.46 mph. It was the quickest run of Sunday’s eliminations (and low ET of the event) and landed Gray his third career NHRA Pro Mod victory.

JR Gray climbed to the points lead for the NHRA Congruity Pro Mod Series season 1/2 season mark by winning at Bristol Dragway.

To get to the final round, Gray defeated Chip King, Stevie Jackson and Rickie Smith, and then chased down Stavrinos by a thin margin at the finish line. Gray also leaves Bristol in the points lead.

“Man, this is all about redemption,” Gray said. “The whole crew has been putting in the hours and they’ve been making it happen.”

Stavrinos reached the championship round for the third time this season, defeating Derek Menholt, Alex Laughlin and Billy Banaka. He is second in points at the halfway mark of the year.

Mason Wright was the quickest qualified car over 20 other entries at Bristol Dragway — hitting a 5.803 secs. In fact that paced th highly competitive 16-car qualified field which was contained within that ET and a 5.899 secs bump.

Wily Rickie Smith collected top speed of the meet for Pro Mod racing at 250.69 mph.

Defending NHRA World Champion Jordan Lazic (Rutland BC) qualified strong #6 at Bristol (5.858 secs). But in a shocking 1st round development (after earning a win light over Steve Jackson) was a DQ due to fire pin violation (left in accidentally).

The Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series returns to action June 20-22 with the fifth annual American Rebel Light Virginia NHRA Nationals at Virginia Motorsports Park in Richmond, Va.

The 2025 Congruity Pro Modified series hit it’s 1/2 season mark at Bristol — the updated championship points are now:

1. JR Gray, 463; 2. Mike Stavrinos, 413; 3. Rickie Smith, 352; 4. Billy Banaka, 309; 5. Mason Wright, 278; 6. Justin Bond, 210; 7. Alex Laughlin, 201; 8. Kahlid alBalooshi, 184; 9. Kevin Rivenbark, 178; 10. (tie) Jordan Lazic, 161 Stan Shelton, 161.