Jordan Lazic overcame a season’s worth of challenges to win the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+ in a dramatic showdown at the Ford Performance NHRA Nationals.
Lazic, at the wheel of a supercharged Camaro out of Kelowna, B.C., took the title, the first of his career, a winner-take-all semifinal clash with his Bahrain 1 Racing teammate Kris Thorne, the 2022 world champion. Thorne got off the line first but experienced mechanical issues downtrack, allowing Lazic to breeze to the win, 5.77 to 6.66.
It was at last year’s event here where Thorne, in contention for a second straight world championship, crashed in qualifying, ending his bid, and that bad luck continued this season in Las Vegas.
Lazic, who entered the class last year with a two-race get-acquainted season, missed the first two events of the season, in Gainesville, and Phoenix, but did well enough at the next four events in the class’ regular season, including a runner-up at the NHRA New England Nationals, to qualify for the championship playoffs. After starting the playoffs in 10th, a semifinal showing at the NHRA Midwest Nationals ultimately boosted him to third place in the standings, 24 points behind points leader Khalid alBalooshi and 12 points behind Justin Bond
Sixteen drivers entered the season finale with a chance to win the championship, but raceday began with a dramatic twist when alBalooshi went out in round one to Kevin Rivenbank and 2023 championship runner-up and new points leader Bond exited in round two against Lazic, setting up the winner-take-all battle for the title.
“I have family and friends here and watching back home,” said a thrilled Lazic. “We’re lucky to be here after missing the first two races. If I have a whole season next year with 10, maybe I can be even more dangerous.”
NHRA Media | Photos: NHRA
