With half the number of races on their 2025 schedule compared to NHRA’s Mission Foods Drag Racing Series, the Congruity Pro Mod Drag Racing Series marched towards its regular season close this weekend with the fifth annual American Rebel Light Virginia NHRA Nationals. Through its first five contests of the 2025 season, Pro Mod has had two dominating drivers out of the gate: J.R. Gray and Mike Stavrinos. This duo combined to secure four victories in five races.
It was Gray who outlasted his 21-car competition in the sixth of ten contests on the Pro Mod docket, earning his third win in the past four races. Driving his Al-Anabi Performance Camaro, Gray defeated Dmitry Samorukov in the final, as the latter driver lost control just after the hit and smacked the left wall, then crossed the centerline and hit the right wall before coming to a stop.
Samorukov’s adventure didn’t dim Gray’s pleasure in claiming the win and the top seed in this class’ final four races as they commence their Road to the Championship. Competing in his fourth consecutive final round, Gray is having a true signature season in Pro Mod. After qualifying second, Gray defeated Doug Winters, Derek Menholt and Sidnei Frigo to reach the final round.
“I just believe everybody has to catch up. We’re putting time in day in and day out,” he explained, “and there’s always somebody working on these cars. This is four finals in a row for me and we’ve been in every final round as a team this year. We’re really ready,” Gray said after claiming his Wally trophy.
Before his disastrous final round, Samorukov, who exited his Corvette on his own and was quickly released by NHRA’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Surface after being examined, was having a landmark weekend at Virginia Motorsports Park. He qualified with the No. 1 seed (5.765/249.39). Samorukov beat former world champions Mike Castellana and Mike Janis, along with defeating Stan Shelton to reach the final round for the second time in his career.
The Pro Mod season began at Gainesville, followed by Phoenix, the first Charlotte Four-Wide race, Chicago, Bristol and ended the “regular” season at Richmond. The Road to the Championship for this class includes the final four races of the season, the U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, the second Charlotte Four-Wide race, World Wide Technology Raceway and closes, as is customary, on The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Accenting his superior regular season, JR Gray takes the lead into the four-race sprint, followed by Mike Stavrinos (Camaro), Rickie Smith’s Ford Mustang, Billy Banaka in a Camaro, Mason Wright’s Camaro, Sidnei Frigo (Camaro), with a tie for seventh place between Alex Laughlin and Samorukov, with Stan Shelton (Mustang) and Mike Janis’ Mustang rounding out the top ten.
Leave a Reply