Billy Banaka picked up his first career Congruity NHRA Pro Mod victory Sunday at the 4-Wide Carolina Nationals, and it came in one of the strangest finishes the class has ever seen. A red-light that normally spells defeat instead worked in his favor after his three opponents fouled out before the tree was activated.
Banaka’s red-light came after Mason Wright rolled the starting beams and both Sidnei Frigo and Mike Castellana left early. Officials confirmed the outcome after ensuring Banaka, who drifted toward the centerline, did not cross into another lane. He was declared the winner with a 6.551-second run at 140.63 mph.
“It’s very memorable. It was a little screwed up, but I thought I’d lost, really,” Banaka said. “I think the whole thing was a mess up, but it worked out in my favor. I’d like to thank my wife for being here, my crew chief, my whole family at home, my kids and my whole crew. They did a great job.”
The win also moved Banaka into the points lead with two races left in the Countdown to the Championship. He now holds a 34-point advantage over Indy winner Mike Stavrinos, who failed to qualify in Charlotte. Frigo sits third, 55 points behind Banaka, while Wright is fourth, 65 points back.
Banaka advanced through eliminations with steady performances. He posted a 5.714 at 250 mph in the opening quad and followed with a 5.715 at 249.21 to reach the money round.
Unusual Pro Mod moments are part of the class’s lore, dating back to its IHRA debut in 1990 when the Norman & Holt ’55 Nomad spun 360 degrees on the starting line at Darlington without putting a scratch on the car. At NHRA’s first Pro Mod event in 2001, Paul Athey lost control of Johnny Rocca’s ’49 Mercury on a burnout, sideswiped Ronnie Hood’s Corvette, then calmly returned to his lane and staged as if nothing happened. That incident left Top Alcohol veterans Brad Anderson and Jay Payne remarking, “We gotta get one of those.”
