The final round of the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series at the Dodge NHRA Nevada Nationals powered by Direct Connection was dripping with pressure. J.R. Gray faced off against Billy Banaka, and the winner would be crowned champion. It was the perfect end for a great season of NHRA Pro Mod racing where Gray earned his first world championship.
Gray, who has years of experience in the high-stakes world of grudge and no time racing, rose to the occasion when it mattered most. Coming into the event, Gray knew it was championship or bust. After a hot regular season where he scored three wins and four final-round appearances, a sluggish start in the playoffs left him needing a deep run in Vegas to stay alive. He responded by putting together one of the most composed race days of his career.
“The level of competition in this class is incredible. Every round, I kept going, ‘This is the most important round,’ and it was just all day long like that. To come out on top, this is my greatest victory ever,” Gray said.
“I was very mentally prepared. I was just taking it one round at a time. You’re walking a fine line between trying to be calm and not being calm at the same time. I felt like I controlled my emotions well all day, and I feel like that was one of the reasons I was able to get this victory.”
The win didn’t come easy. Gray had to fight through a loaded ladder, taking down Alex Laughlin, Kevin Rivenbark, and former world champion Mike Castellana before meeting Banaka in the final. His Al-Anabi team laid down consistent numbers all day, running 5.710 in the opener and staying in the 5.75s through eliminations.
“It’s just amazing for it to come down the last round,” Gray said. “I just didn’t let the pressure get to me and we worked together as a team. In that final round, I wasn’t going to lift no matter what. It just felt amazing to see that win light pop up.”
Runner-up Billy Banaka capped off a breakout season of his own. The Floridian scored his first NHRA Pro Mod win earlier this year and came into Vegas as a serious championship threat. He qualified No. 1 and reached his third final round of 2025 with wins over Stan Shelton, Derek Menholt, and Chip King.
The day and the title belonged to Gray, who sealed his name among the NHRA Pro Mod elite in front of a packed Vegas crowd.
You might also like
Jimmy Taylor Discusses Pursuit Of the Fours, 300 MPH, And Doorslammer Infamy
Jimmy Taylor is chasing Pro Mod history. He's attempting to be the first person to record a 4-second, 300-mph run in a doorslammer.
