The desert heat and tight racing made the FMP NHRA Arizona Nationals another thrilling stop on the JBS Equipment NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by Elite Motorsports tour. When eliminations wrapped up Sunday at Firebird Motorsports Park, it was Justin Bond standing in the winner’s circle after defeating Stevie Jackson in the final round.
Bond capped off his weekend with a strong performance in the championship round, posting a 5.736-second run at 251.81 mph. While Jackson turned on the red light at the start, Bond’s run still stood as his best pass of eliminations.
The victory marked Bond’s first win of the 2026 season and the seventh of his Pro Mod career, continuing his reputation as one of the category’s most consistent racers. Bond entered race day with momentum after qualifying second, and that strong starting position helped set the tone for his Sunday performance.
Winning an NHRA Pro Mod national event requires navigating one of the most competitive fields in drag racing, and Bond had to take down a lineup of tough opponents to reach the final. His path included victories over Nick Januik, Stan Shelton, and Gainesville winner Derek Menholt
“It’s just been a major marathon to be here,” Bond said. “I don’t deserve it, but I’m sure happy we did it. This one is for my guys. I’ve got so many people to thank and this is a big one for us. I just had a really awesome car, and it’s the guys. We weren’t always the low of the round this particular event, but we were just racing smart and racing our opponent, racing the racetrack.
“In the final, we tuned it up pretty good, and didn’t actually need it. My staging plan worked. I never go in first, and this time I went in first, tried to rush him and he was rushed.”
With two races now complete in the JBS Equipment NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by Elite Motorsports, the championship race is already beginning to take shape.
Although Bond claimed the win in Phoenix, Derek Menholt continues to hold the points lead thanks to his victory at the season-opening race and another strong performance in Arizona. As the 2026 season progresses, consistency will play a major role in determining who stays in the championship hunt.
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