Thorne Wins Indy Pro Mod Takes First Place in FuelTech Points Chase

INDIANAPOLIS – Defending world champion Kris Thorne won the world’s biggest drag race in the FuelTech NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series, knocking off Justin Bond in the final round at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park as part of this weekend’s 69th annual Dodge Power Brokers NHRA U.S. Nationals.

The event, which was powered by ProCharger, was the eighth of 10 races during the 2023 season in the FuelTech NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by Type A Motorsports. It was also second race in the category’s Road to the Championship.

Thorne, near lane, had a better reaction time making him the 2023 Indy Pro Mod Champ

Thorne delivered an epic performance in his Bahrain 1 Racing Chevrolet Camaro, going 5.827 at 248.07 in the final round against Bond. Last year’s champion had a .017 reaction time, which made all the difference in holding off Bond’s 5.777 at 246.89, sending Thorne into the points lead for the first time this season and also handing the standout his first career U.S. Nationals victory.

“There is no other race in the world I’d rather turn it around (than Indy),” Thorne said. “I’m super excited we were finally able to conquer this one. I’ve been upside down here, I’ve been on fire here, I’ve torn everything up I’ve owned here. This was emotional and great. If I went out today, this is the last race I would ever want to win – the U.S. Nationals, the biggest one.”

Thorne ,near lane,  beat a read lighting Stan Shelton in the semis to punch his ticket to the finals

Thorne advance to the final round with wins over Jerico Balduf, Rickie Smith and Stan Shelton, while Bond advanced to the championship round for the thanks to victories against Mason Wright, Billy Banaka and Mike Castellana. With two races remaining in the season, Thorne holds a 12-point lead over Bond. Jason Lee is 49 points back of the defending world champion.

The FuelTech NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by Type A Motorsports returns to action Sept. 29-Oct. 1 as part of the NHRA Midwest Nationals at World Wide Technology Raceway in St. Louis.

Final round-by-round results from the 69th annual Dodge Power Brokers NHRA U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, the eighth of 10 events in the FuelTech NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by Type A Motorsports.

ROUND ONE — Kris Thorne, Chevy Camaro, 5.811, 247.79 def. Jerico Balduf, Chevy Chevelle, Broke; Billy Banaka, Camaro, 5.871, 243.85 def. Jason Lee, Camaro, 5.867, 243.06; Stan Shelton, Ford Mustang, 5.853, 244.52 def. Jason Scruggs, Camaro, 5.827, 247.79; Rickie Smith, Mustang, 5.789, 250.92 def. Sidnei Frigo, Camaro, 5.931, 240.00; Khalid alBalooshi, Camaro, 5.820, 246.84 def. Ken Quartuccio, Camaro, 5.856, 242.89; Mike Castellana, Camaro, 5.850, 232.99 def. Steve Jackson, Camaro, Foul – Red Light; Dmitry Samorukov, Camaro, 5.888, 243.28 def. Manny Buginga, Camaro, 8.847, 105.79; Justin Bond, Camaro, 5.800, 246.26 def. Mason Wright, Camaro, 5.957, 240.81; 

QUARTERFINALS — Castellana, 5.807, 249.16 def. alBalooshi, 5.786, 248.20; Shelton, 5.838, 245.54 def. Samorukov, 5.827, 244.43; Bond, 5.766, 247.20 def. Banaka, Foul – Red Light; Thorne, 5.788, 249.03 def. Smith, 5.761, 251.91; 

Justin Bond takes out the Frank Manzo tuned Western Beef Camaro driven by Mike Castellana in the semi finals

SEMIFINALS — Thorne, 5.798, 247.70 def. Shelton, Foul – Red Light; Bond, 5.786, 246.35 def. Castellana, 5.806, 249.07; 

FINAL — Thorne, 5.827, 248.07 def. Bond, 5.777, 246.89. 

Point standings (top 10) following the 69th annual Dodge Power Brokers NHRA U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, the eighth of 10 events in the FuelTech NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by Type A Motorsports. 

1. Kris Thorne, 966; 2. Justin Bond, 954; 3. Jason Lee, 917; 4. Mike Castellana, 895; 5. Stan Shelton, 875; 6. Dmitry Samorukov, 852; 7. Sidnei Frigo, 827; 8. Khalid alBalooshi, 822; 9. Manny Buginga, 809; 10. Jose Gonzalez, 807