Bob Rahaim raced to the No. 1 qualifier Saturday in the NHRA J&A Service Pro Mod Drag Racing Series portion of the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals. This weekend’s Pro Mod competition, presented by the Will Kinzer Foundation for Autism Research in association with the Autism Society of East Tennessee, is the fifth of 10 events in the season.
 
Rahaim, the Gainesville winner, ran his raced his TLC Waste Disposal 2015 Corvette to a performance of 5.798 seconds at 245.54 mph to claim the top qualifier at Bristol Dragway. This is Rahaim’s first career top qualifying effort and he opens eliminations against Steve Matusek.
 
Mike Janis qualified second with a 5.854 at 243.55 in his Jan-Cen Racing Engines Camaro. He will matchup against Atlanta winner Kenny Lang. Don Walsh drove his Precision Turbo 2014 Camaro to a 5.864 at 252.14, good enough for the No. 3 seed. He will race Danny Rowe in the first round.
 
Persistent rain showers forced the postponement of the first round of eliminations Saturday afternoon. Pro Mod eliminations will follow the first round of NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series eliminations, which begin at noon on Sunday.
 
Sunday's first-round pairings for eliminations for the 15th annual NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway, the fifth of 10 events in the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series. Pairings based on results in qualifying, which ended Saturday. DNQs listed below pairings.
 
Pro Modified -- 1. Bob Rahaim, Chevy Corvette, 5.798, 245.54  vs. 16. Steve Matusek, Chevy Camaro, 5.983, 243.50; 2. Mike Janis, Camaro, 5.854, 243.55  vs. 15. Kenny Lang, Camaro, 5.968, 242.23; 3. Don Walsh, Camaro, 5.864, 253.33  vs. 14. Danny Rowe, Camaro, 5.954, 244.34; 4. Troy Coughlin, Corvette, 5.869, 250.92  vs. 13. Clint Satterfield, Pontiac Firebird, 5.952, 247.29; 5. Bill Glidden, Ford Mustang, 5.914, 242.71  vs. 12. Pete Farber, Dodge Daytona, 5.949, 244.16; 6. Kevin Fiscus, Mustang, 5.914, 242.98  vs. 11. Khalid alBalooshi, Camaro, 5.949, 242.71; 7. Rickie Smith, Camaro, 5.918, 245.09  vs. 10. Jim Whiteley, Chevy Chevelle, 5.948, 239.70; 8. Eric Dillard, Nissan 350Z, 5.935, 247.34  vs. 9. Troy Coughlin Jr., Corvette, 5.942, 247.34.
Did Not Qualify: 17. Jim Bell, 5.986, 237.42; 18. Gerry Capano, 5.992, 237.17; 19. Mike Knowles, 6.006, 240.12; 20. Jeff Naiser, 6.023, 240.34; 21. Eric Latino, 6.027, 239.78; 22. Doug Winters, 6.042, 236.63; 23. Harold Martin, 6.049, 229.24; 24. Shane Molinari, 6.065, 245.99; 25. Mike Castellana, 6.067, 235.64; 26. Steven Whiteley, 6.070, 239.53; 27. Chip King, 6.071, 236.55; 28. Jay Payne, 6.072, 237.88; 29. Dan Stevenson, 6.102, 237.84; 30. Willard Kinzer, 6.375, 239.82.