J.R. Gray Claims Diamond Wally With NHRA Pro Mod Victory At U.S. Nationals

J.R. Gray knows what it feels like to win an NHRA Pro Mod world championship. Now he knows what it feels like to win Indy.

The reigning JBS Equipment NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by Elite Motorsports champion defeated Justin Bond Monday at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park to capture the prestigious Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals for the first time in his career.

Gray saved one of his best runs for when it mattered most, wheeling his Al-Anabi Performance Chevrolet Camaro to a 5.701-second pass at 252.47 mph in the final. Bond was right there with a 5.759 at 251.72 mph, but Gray had enough to secure the Diamond Wally at the biggest drag race of the season.

Gray entered the final knowing there wasn’t much room for error against Bond, and his team delivered.

“That final round, it was all or nothing,” Gray said. “I want to thank all the guys for their hard work. We had to swap motors after the first round, and we just kept on digging and came out with this Diamond Wally. It’s been hard-fought for us to get to this point, and I’m so grateful for my team to get this win and get a little closer to that No. 1 spot (in the standings).”

Winning any NHRA Pro Mod race requires a strong car and a team that can handle whatever race day throws at it. Having to change an engine after the opening round at Indy certainly wasn’t part of the ideal game plan.

Gray’s team handled the problem and kept moving, and A few rounds later, they were holding the Diamond Wally.

They had to work his way through a stout Pro Mod field to earn their shot at the U.S. Nationals title. He started eliminations against Alex Laughlin before taking down Mike Thielen and Billy Banaka on his way to the championship round.

The engine change after the first round added another challenge, but the Al-Anabi Performance team didn’t let it derail the weekend. By the time Gray rolled into the water box for the final, the Camaro was ready to deliver its quickest run when the trophy was on the line. The 5.701 at 252.47 mph was enough to put Gray into the Indy winner’s circle and give the reigning world champion his first victory of the 2026 season.

Bond didn’t leave Indy with the U.S. Nationals trophy, but his weekend was still extremely productive. He qualified No. 1 at the Big Go and then worked his way into his third final-round appearance of the season. Bond defeated Chip King, Stan Shelton, and Michael Stavrinos to earn his shot against Gray. His 5.759 at 251.72 mph in the final was a solid run, but Gray’s 5.701 proved too much to overcome.

More importantly for the championship battle, Bond’s performance moved him into the points lead after two races in the Road to the Championship.

With only three races remaining in the five-event Road to the Championship, the battle for the NHRA Pro Mod title is getting tight. Bond leaves Indianapolis with the points lead, holding a seven-point advantage over Stavrinos. Banaka is only 10 points out of the top spot. Gray’s U.S. Nationals victory also helped the reigning champion make up valuable ground in the standings.