NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Derek Menholt’s hot streak in the JBS Equipment NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by Elite Motorsports started late last year, and after his second win in three races — this one to open the 2026 season — Menholt has no plans of slowing down this weekend at Firebird Motorsports Park.

The category returns to Phoenix as part of this weekend’s FMP NHRA Arizona Nationals presented by NGK Spark Plugs, and Menholt has proven to be the man to beat as of late. He won the penultimate race of 2025 in St. Louis and then impressed in Gainesville to start this year in strong fashion.

Next up is trying to conquer the heat and the loaded Pro Mod class in Phoenix to keep this string of remarkable performances going.

“That Gainesville win was a total team effort — everyone executed when it mattered,” Menholt said. “Now we turn the page to Arizona. It’s going to be hot and tricky, but we’ve got a strong combination and a lot of confidence right now. The goal is to keep that momentum rolling.”

This weekend’s event is the second of 11 races in the category during the 2026 campaign, and this weekend’s race is powered by LAT Racing Oils.

LAT Racing Oils remains a top choice for many standouts in the category, including Menholt, Justin Bond, Lyle Barnett, and Billy Banaka.

"We are proud to sponsor the NHRA Pro Mod class at Phoenix,” LAT Racing Oils’ co-owner, Danny Vaca, said. “As a leader in performance lubricants, we support many high-profile Pro Mod teams with high-performance racing oils designed to help power these engines to the winner’s circle. We are looking forward to seeing firsthand how our lubricants perform at this race.”

Menholt won’t have an easy road for a second straight victory, as the loaded field includes the likes of reigning world champion J.R. Gray, defending race winner Michael Stavrinos, past world champions Stevie “Fast” Jackson and Mike Castellana, and standouts like Mason Wright, Alex Laughlin, and Kevin Rivenbark.

The class will also see the return of six-time Pro Stock world champion Erica Enders. She holds the Pro Mod speed record (261.22 mph) and is back in the category for the first time since 2019.

Additionally, the weekend will feature the Pro Mod Showdown, which is sponsored by Total Seal for the event in Phoenix and offers an extra incentive for drivers in the category. The Total Seal Pro Mod Showdown rewards the driver who records the best cumulative e.t. average across all four qualifying sessions. The winner gets a $10,000 bonus from Total Seal, adding another high-stakes incentive to the Phoenix race.

The NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series features two qualifying rounds at 11:15 a.m. and 1:45 p.m. local time on Friday, and the final two qualifying rounds at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday. The first round of eliminations is slated for 11:25 a.m. on Sunday. The first qualifying session of the day on Friday and Saturday, as well as the first round of eliminations, will be broadcast for free on NHRA’s YouTube page.

To purchase tickets to the FMP NHRA Arizona Nationals presented by NGK Spark Plugs, fans can visit www.NHRA.com/tickets.