More P/M class chronicles presented by Nash Competition Engines….
Down Under Doorslammers — Australia’s exciting brand mix for fast door cars came to a head again during another exciting edition – NDRC Gulf Western Oil Nitro Champs event.
That race — hosted by fabled Sydney Dragway — included an action-packed weekend from start to finish with large fields delivering plenty of close racing action.
For Top Doorslammer, going all the way into the A-Final round — it had been Jeremy Callaghan in charge. He was the Top Qualifying car on Saturday with a PB before going on for a solo 5.624/417.96kph pass in round. For round two it was another PB – a 4.607/417.07kph which was whisper close to the national record for both ET and speed – over Lisa Gregorini (6.332).
Jeremy Callaghan (above) was deep in the mix for the TD event title at Sydney Dragway but it was class strongman Russell Taylor who prevailed for the “Nitro Champs” event title.
But when it came to the A-Final though, it was 2X and defending Top Doorslamer champ Russell Taylor rising to the occasion again as he saved his best to last (5.603/413.50kph) to take the win over the Callaghan’s (5.653/416.35kph) – in a pretty epic class conclusion.
That result was Taylor’s third and final win light to his day, after earlier winning over Salim Matta (5.657/413.50kph v 5.735/409.44kph) and Daniel Gregorini (5.627/411.94kph v 9.109/143.05kph).
“This is a good one and credit to Jeremy and his crew; they’re tough competitors. And to all my crew, I couldn’t ask more anymore,” Taylor said.
The TD B-Final victory went to Brodie Zappia (5.744/401.28kph) on a solo after Emilio Spinozzi was unable to front, while Rob Harrington – (5.814/399.06kph) took out the C-Final over Ronnie Palumbo (9.501).
John Zappia and Salim Matta faced off in the D-Final, with the veteran Zappia finally getting a win for his day with a 5.692/402.70kph run to Matta’s 5.716/408.83kph effort.
In Pro Mod – which is run within a somewhat safer and cost savings 5.85 secs index within NDRC Australia, it was invading Barry Plumpton being rewarded for making the trip across the Tasman Sea from his home in New Zealand to compete at the Gulf Western Oil Nitro Champs.
Racing the only nitrous-injected car entered, Plumpton took the A-Final over local hero Joe Gauci (Turbo Mustang) in a thrilling 5.869 v 5.974 drag race. That was his first win at the NDRC nationals event level.
It had been a strong day for the “Kiwi” in the class– who had earlier taken two wins from Joseph Murina – who red lit in the first round and ran too fast in the second while Plumpton laid down 5.888 and 5.833 times. Gauci meanwhile had tasted success in round one over Rob Campisi (5.897 v 5.955) and Craig Hewitt in round two (5.862 v 6.102).
New Zealand’s Barry Plumpton had a nice score within Australian Pro Mod class racing last weekend.
“This is awesome, thank you very much. It is good to come over here; we love racing here. We love the track, and Joe (Gauci) is an awesome competitor,” Barry said post race. “It is always worth the trip over from New Zealand.”
Adam Tassone took the B-Final title win on a solo 5.910 when Jeremy Martin was unable to take the start, while Zack Knezevic (5.85) and Zoran Gajic both had a wild ride in the C-Final, with Knezevic taking the win. In the D-Final, it was Hewitt v Campisi, with the win going to Hewitt (6.061) when Campisi broke-out (5.748).
Back to Back Bashes – NHRA’s JBS Equipment Pro Mod Series 2026 season got itself into very high gear – with event stops on consecutive weekends at Concord NC (4-Wide Nationals) and then Adel Georgia (Southern Nationals).
At Concord (April 26) it was defending series champion Mike Stavrinos picking up his first win of the season at zMAX Dragway, taking the holeshot victory in a thrilling final round as part of this weekend’s 16th annual NHRA 4-Wide Nationals event – the 3rd of 11 races for NHRA Pro Mod cars this season.
Stavrinos went 5.669-seconds at 253.56 mph in the final round in his Al-Anabi Performance Camaro, but needed every bit of his .016 reaction time to hold off No. 1 qualifier Canada’s Justin Bond (Mission BC) at the finish line, as well as Jason Collins and Stan Shelton in what turned out to be an incredible championship round.
Defending NHRA Pro Mod World Champion Mike Stavrinos “collected at Concord” with the AAP Camaro.
Bond, who won the most recent event in Phoenix, went 5.658 at 253.66, but Stavrinos used the strong starting-line advantage to win by just .009, getting his fourth career win in the category.
“Usually when I win one of things I’m pretty calm, but today I’m amped up,” Stavrinos said. “This team puts so much dedication into this hot rod and I couldn’t do it without them. There are so many people to thank and I’m just so happy to be taking this one home.”
Stavrinos, who qualified second, won both of his quads to reach the final round, using a strong .017 reaction time in the opening round and an impressive pass of 5.683 at 251.86 a round later. Bond finished as the runner-up in his second final-round appearance of the season and Collins was third.
Bond moved into the points lead with the runner-up advantage, while Stavrinos jumped to fourth in the loaded class after the win.
At NHRA’s 4-Wide Nationals – Canada’s Justin Bond was a performance star “in his car” qualifying #1 for the 10th time in his career — setting low ET of the event (5.661 secs).
For May 1-3 the class contingent travelled a little further south for the NHRA Southern Nationals at South Georgia Motorsports Park.
Making just his second career start in the JBS Equipment NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series – it was Jason Collins driving to the victory, defeating Mike Thielen in the final round.
After qualifying second, Collins enjoyed a banner Sunday at SGMP, going 5.731-seconds at 252.99 mph to roll past Thielen in an impressive wire-to-wire victory. Collins, driving the Scott Tidwell Racing team owned Camaro, had a stout .009 on the starting line and left no doubt as he picked up his first career NHRA Pro Mod victory.
Jason Collins has been impressive since stepping into the Scott Tidwell Racing Chevy Camaro.
Collins had run well the previous weekend going to the “final quad” at Concord.
“I want to thank Scott Tidwell for putting me in this ride. I want to thank my crew and the guys who do the tuning,” he said. “This is a bad racecar — which is very good.”
Collins reached the final round with victories over Mason Wright, Sidnei Frigo and Lyle Barnett, going as quick as 5.685 on Sunday.
Thielen reached the championship round after taking down J.R. Gray, Charlotte winner Mike Stavrinos and Derek Menholt, who now trails points leader Justin Bond by two points.
The JBS Equipment NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by Elite Motorsports returns to action May 14-17 with the Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by PEAK at Route 66 Raceway in Chicago.
Posted with files by NHRA Communications – Amanda Salmon – Bruce Biegler
Photos Courtesy of Grant Stephens & NHRA & Phil Hutchison
DragRaceCanada file photos by Bruce Biegler
