Shane Molinari raced to his third No. 1 qualifying position of the season and was able to parlay the position into a first round win during eliminations at the J&A Service Pro Mod Drag Racing Series portion of the NHRA Toyota Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. This weekend’s Pro Mod racing, presented by Real Pro Mod Association, is the final event on the 2017 schedule.

In the final qualifying session Molinari posted a run of 5.801-seconds at 255.10 mph to secure the No. 1 position.

In eliminations, Molinari faced Danny Rowe and posted a winning run of 5.882 at 252.47 to the losing run of 5.933 at 243.63. When eliminations resume he will face Harry Hruska as he pursues his second win of the year.

“I just figure we need to go three more rounds,” said Molinari. “We will see how that goes for the end of the year standings.”

The battle for the series crown will be settled on Sunday during the course of eliminations. Points leader Troy Coughlin and Mike Castellana won their respective first round matchups. The two title contenders will race each other in the second round when eliminations continues Sunday afternoon at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

First round results from the 17th annual NHRA Toyota Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the final of 12 events in the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series.

PRO MODIFIED:

ROUND ONE -- Harry Hruska, Chevy Camaro, 5.864, 250.64 def. Steven Whiteley, Cadillac CTS-V, 5.888, 237.46; Jonathan Gray, Camaro, 5.864, 244.96 def. Khalid alBalooshi, Camaro, 5.940, 243.06; Mike Castellana, Camaro, 5.857, 248.48 def. Mike Janis, Camaro, Broke; Shane Molinari, Pontiac Firebird, 5.882, 252.47 def. Danny Rowe, Chevy Corvette, 5.933, 243.63; Troy Coughlin, Corvette, 5.808,
255.58 def. Sidnei Frigo, Corvette, 5.868, 252.47; Rickie Smith, Camaro, 5.863, 248.39 def. Michael Biehle, Ford Mustang, 6.193, 205.57; Dan Stevenson, Camaro, 6.894, 175.43 def. Bob Rahaim, Camaro, 9.689, 96.51; Steve Jackson, Camaro, 5.851, 245.36 def. Jim Whiteley, Camaro, 11.551, 111.65.

Final order after 3 rounds of qualifying in Pro Modified at the 17th annual NHRA Toyota Nationals.

Psn---Num-Driver, Home Town, Car Type---------------Qual-ET--Qual-Spd-Top Spd

 1 6718 Shane Molinari, Battle Ground WA, '68 Firebird 5.801 255.10 255.10
 2 303 Dan Stevenson, Bolingbrook IL, '16 Camaro    5.804 252.66 255.19
 3 280 Steve Jackson, Evans GA, '17 Camaro       5.823 245.99 245.99
 4  44 Mike Castellana, Oyster Bay NY, '17 Camaro   5.839 247.88 248.61
 5  2 Troy Coughlin, Delaware OH, '15 Corvette    5.848 253.80 254.47
 6  13 Jonathan Gray, Artesia NM, '17 Camaro      5.869 245.40 245.72
 7  1 Rickie Smith, King NC, '17 Camaro        5.876 247.38 247.38
 8 5200 Steven Whiteley, Grand Junction CO, '14 CTS-V  5.879 245.49 245.49
 9 325 Harry Hruska, Hebron IN, '14 Camaro       5.884 248.75 249.58
 10  4 Michael Biehle, North Vernon IN, '67 Mustang  5.896 251.95 251.95
 11  7 Khalid alBalooshi, Dubai UA, '17 Camaro     5.896 245.23 245.23
 12 288 Sidnei Frigo, Sao Paulo BZ, '16 Corvette    5.899 250.69 250.69
 13 1456 Mike Janis, Lancaster NY, '16 Camaro      5.908 242.32 242.32
 14 5087 Jim Whiteley, Grand Junction CO, '69 Camaro   5.914 245.90 245.90
 15  3 Bob Rahaim, Grosse Pointe MI, '14 Camaro    5.915 243.63 243.63
 16  8 Danny Rowe, Laguna Hills CA, '16 Corvette    5.918 244.52 244.52

    ------------ Not Qualified ------------

 17 213 Chip King, Roxboro NC, '69 Charger       5.942 243.06 243.06
 18  5 Steve Matusek, Olathe KS, '68 Camaro      5.969 243.90 243.90
 19 7094 Michael Bowman, Oak Hills CA, '69 Chevelle   5.980 252.66^ 259.91
 20 5011 Mike Knowles, Grand Junction CO, '67 Mustang  6.002 234.17 234.17
 21 2000 Billy Harper, Paducah KY, '00 Viper       6.024 236.84 236.84
 22 6695 Rick Distefano, Calgary AB, '70 Camaro     6.143 232.47 232.47
 23 6317 Derek Menholt, Billings MT, '68 Camaro     6.180 232.87 235.89
 24 701 Clint Satterfield, Albuquerque NM, '68 Firebi  6.235 240.17 240.17
 25 1283 Carl Stevens, N. Haledon NJ, '69 Camaro     6.277 244.12 244.12
 26 1938 Eric Latino, Port Perry ON, '69 Camaro      DQ