Top qualifier Mike Castellana defeated Joe Baker in the first round of eliminations Saturday in the NHRA Get Screened America Pro Mod Drag Racing Series portion of the 10th annual NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway.

Castellana left on Baker (.033 to .061) in his Al-Anabi Racing ’69 Camaro and he never looked back with a 6.002 at 238.30 mph to Baker’s 6.112 at 235.56.

Top qualifier Mike Castellana defeated Joe Baker in the first round of eliminations Saturday in the NHRA Get Screened America Pro Mod Drag Racing Series portion of the 10th annual NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway.

Castellana left on Baker (.033 to .061) in his Al-Anabi Racing ’69 Camaro and he never looked back with a 6.002 at 238.30 mph to Baker’s 6.112 at 235.56.

Castellana  will meet Ray Commisso, who defeated Troy Coughlin, in one of the four Sunday quarterfinal matchups. The other matchups are: Rick Stivers vs. Von Smith, Jay Payne vs. Ed Hoover, and Kenny Lang vs. Scott Ray.

Earlier Saturday, the field was set with the third and final round of qualifying and Castellana held on to the top spot when no one bettered his 5.993 seconds at 239.10 mph from Friday night in his Al-Anabi Racing ’69 Camaro.

Jay Payne was second in his ’68 Camaro with a 5.998 at 237.13; Danny Rowe was third with a 5.999 at 241.80 in his ’68 Camaro; and Rickie Smith was fourth with a 6.006 at 237.05 in his ’68 Camaro.

The final three rounds of Pro Mod eliminations will be completed on Sunday.