On paper, Kevin Rivenbark didn’t look like the favorite to win the opening race of the NHRA Pro Mod Road to the Championship. Fortunately for him, championships aren’t decided on paper.

 

Rivenbark entered the first playoff race of the JBS Equipment NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by Elite Motorsports as the No. 13 qualifier. Four rounds later, he left the NHRA Nationals in Norwalk with the Wally trophy and a timely jump back into championship contention.

 

Rivenbark defeated Billy Banaka in one of the closest races of the weekend, posting a 5.714-second pass at 251.53 mph to edge Banaka’s 5.716 at 252.33 mph. The victory was Rivenbark’s first of the season and the second of his NHRA Pro Mod career, moving him to ninth in the standings as the five-race Road to the Championship begins.

 

The route to victory wasn’t an easy one.

 

Rivenbark eliminated former world champion Mike Castellana in the opening round before knocking off points leader Derek Menholt and former world champion Lyle Barnett to reach the final. Banaka reached the championship round by defeating Alex Laughlin, Justin Bond and Mike Thielen.

 

“We haven’t won this since Phoenix of 2024, but we never stop,” Rivenbark said. “The guys are restless. They just keep going and going. We’ve had some bad times and some tough times, but hopefully we’re on the right road.”

 

Rivenbark said the team’s qualifying performance didn’t reflect the race car’s true potential.

 

“We knew we had a better car than what we showed in qualifying,” Rivenbark said. “This weekend was really a shakeup. We’re hoping to get going for the Road to the Championship and hopefully both of us, with teammate Stan Shelton, will come out on top, or at least one and two.”

 

Despite his semifinal exit, Menholt maintained his points lead leaving Norwalk, but his margin shrank to just 13 over Mike Stavrinos. Banaka’s runner-up finish moved him to within 15 points of the lead, with four playoff events remaining.