BRAND RACES TO NHRA PRO MOD VICTORY AT MAC TOOLS U.S. NATIONALS FROM NO. 16 QUALIFYING POSITION

Brad Brand raced to the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by ProCare Rx victory Sunday from the No. 16 qualifying position at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals presented by Auto-Plus, the world’s most prestigious drag race.

Brand defeated top qualifier Don Walsh with a powerful run in his 1953 Corvette in the opening round and never looked back as he took his first career victory at the rain-delayed event at historic Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis.

After upsetting the No. 1 qualifier, Brand claimed victories over Steve Matusek and Rickie Smith before outrunning Mike Castellana in the final round. Brand raced to a final round performance of 5.914 seconds at 251.63 mph to get the win. Castellana’s Chevy Camaro had problems at the start of the final and he shut it off near mid-track.

With the runner-up finish, Castellana moved four points ahead of Smith in the season points standings.

The NHRA Pro Mod Series continues Sept. 14-16 with the O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Nationals presented by Super Start Batteries at zMAX Dragway near Charlotte, N.C.

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BROWNSBURG, Ind. -- Final finish order (1-16) for the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by ProCare Rx portion of the 58th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals presented by Auto-Plus at Lucas Oil Raceway Park at Indianapolis:

PRO MODIFIED:

1.  Brad Brand; 2.  Mike Castellana; 3.  Rickie Smith; 4.  Troy Coughlin; 5.  Todd Tutterow; 6. Leah Pruett; 7.  Pete Farber; 8.  Steve Matusek; 9.  Shannon Jenkins; 10.  Don Walsh; 11.  Adam Flamholc; 12.  Pat Musi; 13.  Scott Ray; 14.  Clint Satterfield; 15.  Harold Martin; 16.  Donald Martin.

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BROWNSBURG, Ind. -- Final round-by-round results for the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by ProCare Rx portion of the 58th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals presented by Auto-Plus at Lucas Oil Raceway Park at Indianapolis:

PRO MODIFIED:

ROUND ONE -- Steve Matusek, Ford Mustang, 6.071, 232.15 def. Harold Martin, Chevy Corvette, 7.840, 126.51; Pete Farber, Dodge Daytona, 6.044, 242.02 def. Pat Musi, Dodge Stratus, 6.041, 235.64; Troy Coughlin, Chevy Camaro, 5.962, 256.06 def. Adam Flamholc, Camaro, 6.007, 239.61; Todd Tutterow, Plymouth Duster, 6.015, 245.00 def. Scott Ray, Corvette, 6.053, 233.76; Rickie Smith, Camaro, 5.952, 242.80 def. Clint Satterfield, Camaro, 6.166, 238.34; Brad Brand, Corvette, 5.889, 251.86 def. Don Walsh, Mustang, 5.947, 252.99; Leah Pruett, Mustang, 5.920, 248.25 def. Donald Martin, Camaro, DQ; Mike Castellana, Camaro, 5.894, 242.71 def. Shannon Jenkins, Camaro, 5.938, 239.36;

QUARTERFINALS -- Coughlin, 5.951, 251.67 def. Tutterow, 5.929, 246.17; Castellana, 5.893, 241.15 def. Farber, 6.039, 245.40; Brand, 8.191, 117.56 def. Matusek, broke;

SEMIFINALS -- Brand, 5.994, 248.57 def. Smith, 5.962, 242.19; Castellana, 7.935, 120.94 def. Coughlin, foul;

FINAL -- Brand, 5.914, 251.63 def. Castellana, 12.763, 83.97.