Somebody had to do it. Derek Menholt probably didn’t mind being the one.
Through four races, the JBS Equipment NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series had turned into a weekly reset button. Four races had produced four different winners, and every stop felt like somebody else stepping forward.
By Sunday afternoon at the NHRA Route 66 Nationals in Joliet, Ill., that changed.
Menholt became the first repeat winner of the 2026 season, beating teammate Jason Collins in the final round and moving back to the top of the points standings. His 5.692-second run at 250.23 mph delivered his third career NHRA Pro Mod victory and gave the season its first sign that somebody might be ready to separate from the crowd.
The final round had the look of the matchup the category needed.
It brought together the top two qualifiers from the weekend and two drivers who had already started gathering momentum. Collins entered after winning in South Georgia, while Menholt had already opened the year with a victory in Gainesville.
Collins did his part when the tree dropped.
His .004 reaction time was almost perfect. Then things changed in a hurry as trouble developed on his side and Menholt drove by with his quickest run of eliminations.
Pro Mod has spent most of this season refusing to settle into any pecking order.
Justin Bond won. Mike Stavrinos won. Collins won. Menholt won. Every race weekend felt like another stack of names getting thrown into the middle of the table.
Then Chicago happened.
Menholt was steady all day, taking out Alex Laughlin, reigning world champion J.R. Gray and Bond before reaching the championship round.
Collins didn’t exactly sneak his way there either.
Racing in only his third NHRA Pro Mod event, he defeated Kevin Rivenbark, Stavrinos and Billy Banaka to advance to his second straight final round.
“It’s going to be a battle all the way to the end,” Menholt said. “Jason has made a big run in the past three races and there’s going to be a lot of guys coming for us, but this one feels good.”
That answer sounded less like celebration and more like somebody looking ahead.
Because if the first half of this season has proven anything, it’s that nobody in Pro Mod gets comfortable for very long.
The points lead now belongs to Menholt again, but Bristol is waiting and there are still plenty of names packed tightly behind him.
The regular season has not exactly been kind enough to let anyone breathe.
One weekend can make somebody look unstoppable. The next can make them look like they never had a handle on things at all.
Four races had produced four winners.
Chicago finally gave the category its first repeat.
Menholt left with another trophy and the points lead. Everybody else left knowing there might be a target sitting on his back now.
