Pro Mod category debut highlights from Arizona Nationals….
In the first-ever appearance for the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+ at Firebird Motorsports Park in Phoenix, Kevin Rivenbark picked up his first career victory in front a sellout crowd as part of this weekend’s 39th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals.
It was the second of 10 races during the 2024 season and this weekend’s event was powered by LAT Racing Oils. Rivenbark knocked off Ken Quartuccio in a matchup of first-time finalists, going 5.746-seconds at 249.76 mph in his Culp Lumber Ford Mustang, grabbing a memorable first victory at NHRA Pro Mod’s debut in Phoenix.
“This is unreal,” Rivenbark said. “It hasn’t set in yet. We’ve run in this class off and on, and we’ve tried to be consistent the last few years, but this year we’re going to make a run for a championship. To get a win at the second race, it’s just remarkable.”
To reach the final round, Rivenbark defeated defending world champion Mike Castellana, Justin Bond and Mason Wright, going a weekend-best 5.738 at 251.02 to reach the finals.
While his NHRA event victory was the first of his career Rivenbark’s Pro Mod class prowess did precede it including numerous event titles within the 1/8th mile PDRA circuit within the Eastern USA.
Driving this uber cool ’70 Mustang –PDRA circuit regular driver Kevin Rivenbark scored his first career NHRA event title at the Arizona Nationals.
Quartuccio, who qualified second with a 5.678 at 249.72, got to the final for the first time thanks to round wins against Chip King, Lyle Barnett and Billy Banaka.
Ken Quartuccio (from Connecticut) had his best finish so far in NHRA Pro Mod.
Canadian Justin Bond did pace the well attended event (20 cars entered) with a stout 5.656 secs #1 qualifier which in fact came during the third and final session. Bond’s run driving the Bahrain 1 Racing/JBS Motorsports Camaro held up for low ET of the event — despite his 2nd round exit on Sunday. Justin Bond’s Bahrain 1 Racing teammate Khalid alBalooshi set top speed of the event at 253.56 mph.
Canadian star racer Justin Bond (Mission BC) was the quickest Pro Mod at Phoenix – setting low ET while qualifying #1.
Khalid alBalooshi set top speed at 253.56 mph in the Bahrain 1 Racing late model Camaro.
The 16-car bump spot was a very swift and challenging 5.827 secs.
Popular racer Chip King came all the way from North Carolina to enter his spectacular Dodge Charger entry — he qualified #15 in the swift field.
The Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+ returns to action next May 17-19 as part of the Gerber Collision & Glass NHRA Route 66 Nationals presented by PEAK Performance at Route 66 Raceway in Chicago.
Posted with files by NHRA Communications & Bruce Biegler
Photos by Dave Ostaszewski
View more Pro Mod class photos from NHRA Phoenix within our LMLCMedia event gallery: HERE
