Chip King Jr. Shatters NHRA Pro Mod ET Record With Historic 5.596 in St. Louis
By Rachael Everett
The second day of qualifying saw the NHRA Pro Mod ET record fall yet again, first to Derek Menholt before Chip King Jr. shattered the mark in Q4.
Menholt pulled everything he could out of his car to lay down a blistering 5.605 at 253.80 mph, flying past the national record set by Justin Bond the night before-something even Bond himself could see coming.
“We figured that the conditions were going to be that good and the track’s that good,” Menholt told NHRA Pro Mod.
“We’ve been thrashing the last three races trying to keep the valve train under control, and I think we’re getting closer, obviously, where we can, you know, just keep picking away at it.”
Earlier in the session, Bond’s national record had already been broken by Stevie “Fast” Jackson and matched by Nick Januik before Menholt came through and blitzed the field with his 5.605, taking the category to another level.
Stan Shelton missed his run in Q3 after his car was unable to fire and was sent back to the pits.
Q4 got off to a delayed start, but it proved well worth the wait when King stormed to a 5.596 at 257.24 mph, becoming the first NHRA Pro Mod driver to break into the 5.50s.
Speaking with Courtney Enders at the finish line, King was in disbelief, admitting he never expected to be the driver to break through the 5.50-second barrier.
“We were just hoping to get into the low 60s, but a 59 is unbelievable. Got to credit my crew, my team, and the good Lord,” King told Enders.
“St. Louis has always been great to me, and I can’t even believe it.”
Celebrations erupted throughout the pits, with Bond hailing King as “The People’s Champ.”
Bond had another reason to celebrate after taking home the $7,500 Showdown prize, presented by Aeromotive, for the most consistent elapsed times across all four qualifying sessions.
“Brad [Personett] and his family want to go on a cruise, so whenever there’s money at stake, they’ll find a way to go get it,” Bond told NHRA Pro Mod.
There was a quick turnaround into Rd 1 Eliminations, with crucial championship points on the line as the NHRA Pro Mod Road to the Championship enters its closing stages.
