The Dodge Power Brokers NHRA U.S. Nationals hasn’t always been too kind to Kris Thorne. Three years ago at the “Big Go,” Thorne suffered a terrifying crash that forced him out of competition for nearly a year. Last year, Thorne made it to the final at Indy but suffered heartbreak when he turned on the red light by seven thousandths of a second, handing the win to Lyle Barnett. 

The reigning Fuel Tech NHRA Pro Mod Champion found redemption at this year’s U.S. Nationals as he used two holeshots in eliminations, including one in the final round against his teammate Justin Bond, to score his first-ever U.S. Nationals title. 

“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, at the wheel of the centrifugal supercharged Camaro, did not have the quickest car this weekend, only qualifying in the No. 8 position, but the champ found a way to win. Thorne had a solo in the opening round, beating Jerico Balduf, who could not get the car into reverse after the burnout. Thorne blasted the quarter-mile with a strong 5.811 at over 247 miles per hour to set up a main event matchup between himself and No. 1 qualifier, “Tricky Rickie” Smith. 

Thorne seemed to be at a performance disadvantage, as Smith was one of only five drivers to have dipped into the 5.70s all weekend. However, Thorne stepped up in round two and added his name to the list, running a 5.788 at 249. But it would be the reaction time that won the Bahrain 1 driver that race, as Smith outran Thorne with a 5.761 at 251, but Thorne’s psychic (.019) reaction time to Smith’s (.081) got him the win over the No. 1 qualifier on a holeshot, ending what could be Smith’s final run at Indy. 

In the semifinals, Thorne cut another fantastic light with a (.021) reaction time and dipped into the 5.70s once again, laying down a 5.798 at 247 to eliminate Stan Shelton, who turned on the redlight, handing Thorne an automatic berth into finals at the start. 

The final round of Pro Mod at the 69th running of the NHRA U.S. Nationals featured an all-Bahrain 1 racing final, as reigning champion Kris Thorne in the ProCharger, squared off against the driver with the most wins in the class this season and held the points lead for much of the year Justin Bond campaigning the screw blower. 

Bond defeated Mason Wright in round one with a 5.800 at 246, but his second-round performance was even more impressive as he laid down low elapsed time of eliminations with a 5.766 at 247 to take out Billy Banaka. A 5.786 at 248 by Bond in the semis was enough to edge out Mike Castellana’s 5.806 at 249, as Bond’s winlight guaranteed a win for Bahrain 1 at the U.S. Nationals as two of their drivers were in the finals. The only question left was, which driver would it be?  

To say the final round between Thorne and Bond was an epic battle would be an understatement. Both drivers got off the line cleanly and were side by side down the quarter-mile, putting on a show. Bond ran a stellar 5.777 at 246, outrunning Thorne by nearly five-hundredths of a second, who ran a 5.827 at 248. However, just like in the previous three rounds, Thorne’s starting line prowess was the key, as Thorne’s (.017) reaction time to Bond’s (.073) was just enough to give Thorne the win on a holeshot.

“I was on a mission this year,” Thorne said. “We’ve had our fair share of ups and downs, but I was able to conquer this one, and it means a lot.”

Not only does Thorne get his redemption at the U.S. Nationals, but the win also vaults the reigning Pro Mod champion into the points lead for the first time this season by twelve points over his teammate Justin Bond with only two races left to go in the season.