Michael Stavrinos Takes NHRA Pro Mod Points Lead With Rockingham Win

The JBS Equipment NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by Elite Motorsports championship fight just got a lot tighter.

Michael Stavrinos picked the perfect time to deliver one of his biggest performances of the season, defeating Justin Bond on a holeshot in the final round of the NHRA Nationals at The Rock at Rockingham Dragway. The victory was Stavrinos’ second of the 2026 season and fifth of his career. More importantly, it moved him into the Pro Mod points lead with only two races remaining in the Road to the Championship.

The Rockingham final was exactly the kind of race you expect when a championship is on the line. Bond had the quicker car, but Stavrinos had the better reaction time, and that was enough to win. Stavrinos left the starting line with a .039 reaction time and ran 5.664 seconds at 254.09 mph. Bond was quicker and faster with a 5.656 at 257.29, but Stavrinos’ starting-line advantage held up at the stripe.

That win light gave Stavrinos the trophy and the championship lead.

“I was focused as I could be. What a day at Rockingham,” Stavrinos said. “This place is awesome and to get the first win here, that’s just great. I love it here and my team is amazing.”

Nothing about Stavrinos’ path to the winner’s circle was easy. He opened eliminations against Kevin Rivenbark, then had to get past reigning world champion J.R. Gray. After that came one of the most experienced doorslammer racers in the sport, Rickie Smith. Stavrinos handled all three matchups and moved into the final against Bond.

Bond may have lost the final, but he didn’t leave Rockingham with much damage in the championship standings, he is only nine points behind Stavrinos. That’s essentially nothing with two races remaining. The NHRA Nationals at The Rock was the ninth of 11 Pro Mod races this season and another key stop in the Road to the Championship. With only two events remaining, the NHRA Pro Mod title fight is now about execution.