Shane Molinari secured the No. 1 qualifier Saturday at the NHRA J&A Service Pro Mod Drag Racing Series portion of the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway. This weekend’s Pro Mod Racing, presented by Real Pro Mod Association, is the seventh of 12 events this season.

Molinari’s pass of 5.837 seconds at 256.70 mph in his S&T Truck Repair Inc. ’68 Firebird during the final round of qualifying secured him lane choice during the first elimination session Saturday afternoon. He defeated Jim Whiteley in the first round with a 5.934 at 227.50.

“We’re just going to make another lap (tomorrow) and see what happens,” Molinari said. “We’re going to go A to B, that’s it; that’s what we’re trying to do."

Sidnei Frigo, who bettered Pete Farber, will be Molinari’s next opponent in eliminations on Sunday.

The No. 2 qualifier, Troy Coughlin, also advanced to the quarterfinals after defeating Mike Janis with his pass of 5.842 at 254.86 in his JEGS Mail Order ’15 Corvette. Coughlin will line up against Bob Rahaim in the second round.

Eliminations for the NHRA J&A Service Pro Mod Drag Racing Series will continue Sunday at approximately 1:30 p.m.

First round results from the 17th annual NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway, the seventh of 12 events in the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series.

PRO MODIFIED:

ROUND ONE -- Sidnei Frigo, Chevy Corvette, 5.927, 249.90 def. Pete Farber, Dodge Daytona, 5.960, 244.34; Troy Coughlin, Corvette, 5.842, 254.86 def. Mike Janis, Chevy Camaro, 7.884, 122.87; Shane Molinari, Pontiac Firebird, 5.934, 227.50 def. Jim Whiteley, Camaro, 11.197, 107.31; Jonathan Gray, Camaro, 5.898, 246.03 def. Steve Jackson, Camaro, 5.901, 243.94; Michael Bowman, Chevy Chevelle, 5.955, 256.50 def. Khalid alBalooshi, Camaro, 6.036, 243.28; Rickie Smith, Camaro, 5.867, 246.48 def. Steven Whiteley, Cadillac CTS-V, 5.928, 244.96; Mike Castellana, Camaro, 5.939, 245.67 def. Steve Matusek, Camaro, 5.932, 244.96; Bob Rahaim, Camaro, 5.855, 246.98 def. Michael Biehle, Ford Mustang, 5.895, 252.05.

Final order after 3 rounds of qualifying in Pro Modified at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, 17th annual NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals.

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

  1 6718 Shane Molinari, Battle Ground WA, '68 Firebird 5.837  256.70  
  2    2 Troy Coughlin, Delaware OH, '15 Corvette       5.846  255.58  
  3   13 Jonathan Gray, Artesia NM, '17 Camaro          5.878  246.44  
  4   44 Mike Castellana, Oyster Bay NY, '17 Camaro     5.880  246.17  
  5    1 Rickie Smith, King NC, '17 Camaro              5.884  245.36  
  6 7094 Michael Bowman, Oak Hills CA,'69 Chevelle      5.899  249.49  
  7    4 Michael Biehle, North Vernon IN, '67 Mustang   5.907  251.49  
  8  288 Sidnei Frigo, Sao Paulo BZ, '16 Corvette       5.913  249.81  
  9 1518 Pete Farber, Baldwinville MA, '69 Daytona      5.926  244.47  
 10    3 Bob Rahaim, Grosse Pointe MI, '14 Camaro       5.931  246.53  
 11    7 Khalid alBalooshi, Dubai UA, '17 Camaro        5.936  246.26  
 12 5200 Steven Whiteley, Grand Junction CO, '14 CTS-V  5.944  246.12  
 13    5 Steve Matusek, Olathe KS, '68 Camaro           5.947  245.09  
 14  280 Steve Jackson, Evans GA, '17 Camaro            5.952  240.72  
 15 1456 Mike Janis, Lancaster NY, '16 Camaro           5.956  240.21  
 16 5087 Jim Whiteley, Grand Junction CO, '69 Camaro    5.968  244.03  

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

 17    6 Von Smith, Kingston TN, '67 Mustang            5.981  242.10  
 18  202 Todd Tutterow, Yadkinville NC, '69 Camaro      5.985  241.50  
 19    8 Danny Rowe, Laguna Hills CA, '15 Corvette      5.987  241.84  
 20  357 Larry Morgan, Newark OH, '17 Camaro            5.989  246.93  
 21  325 Harry Hruska, Hebron IN, '14 Camaro            6.017  246.80  
 22  303 Dan Stevenson, Bolingbrook IL, '16 Camaro      6.026  249.58  
 23  701 Clint Satterfield, Albuquerque NM, '68 Firebi  6.031  244.56  
 24 2105 Doug Winters, Pleasant Garden NC, '69 Chevelle 6.053  237.17  
 25   77 Shannon Jenkins, Tuscaloosa AL, '16 Mustang    6.078  240.94  
 26 1262 Chuck Little, Atkinson NH, '63 Corvette        6.121  238.13  
 27  213 Chip King, Roxboro NC, '69 Daytona             6.225  204.39  
 28 275T Ruben Tetsoshvili, Wesley Chapel FL, '17 Cama  7.383  118.09