GRUDGE STAR J . R . GRAY GOES ROUNDS IN PRO MOD DEBUT
�One of the most intriguing storylines going into the World Doorslammer Nationals was the Pro Mod debut of grudge racing star J . R . Gray , who signed on as the new driver for Mike Janis Racing over the offseason after a heart condition forced Janis to retire from driving .
Gray tested and earned his NHRA Pro Mod license at Bradenton Motorsports Park in the days leading up to the World Doorslammer Nationals , where he checked off a list of firsts . It was his first time driving a big-tire car , first time driving a roots-blown car and first time legging it out to the quarter-mile finish line .
The South Carolina excavating and land clearing contractor leaned on his experience in grudge racing with his feared “ Jason X ” Mustang and in Radial vs . the World competition with his nitrous-fed “ Headshot ” Camaro , the quickest eighth-mile nitrous car in the world with a best of 3.542 seconds . He also received tips from Janis , the 2018 NHRA Pro Mod world champion .
“ I plan on asking Mike all the proper questions because he has plenty of experience ,” Gray said before the race . “ I ’ ve talked to a few other peers of mine and got recommendations and advice from all of them . Other than that , the way I look at it is my ‘ Headshot ’ car is faster than the Pro Mod is to the eighth mile . I ’ ve already been that fast to the eighth mile . I know you need to have the car squared up by the eighth mile and be ready to tote the mail down to the quarter mile .”
By all accounts , Gray was pretty well up to speed by the time qualifying wrapped up . He placed the Gray Contractors Camaro in the No . 9 spot with a 5.786 at 248.16 .
When it came time to place side bets during the pre-race chip draw , the grudge racer in Gray came out . After opponent Justin Bond proposed a $ 1,000 bet , Gray countered with the offer of $ 300 to whoever was ahead at each increment down the 1,320-foot track , starting with the reaction time . When the tree dropped , it was Gray who led out of the gate with a . 017 reaction time . He held on for the win with a 6.103 to Bond ’ s 9.913 , collecting an extra $ 2,400 in the process .
In the second round , Gray left . 009 seconds behind Brandon Snider , but he made it up quickly and pulled out a 5.983-second victory over Snider ’ s 7.611 .
Gray wounded his engine in the second-round victory , and while the Janis team swapped motors for their semifinal bout with Khalid Al-Balooshi , they went to the line knowing the engine wasn ’ t at 100 %. Gray tried to rattle Al-Balooshi by getting up on the RPMs early , but it was no use as Al-Balooshi ripped off a 5.625 , while Gray trailed with an 18.798 .
Still , a semifinal finish made for an impressive debut for Gray , who grew up going to races at Orlando with his late father . It was a storybook opportunity for Gray to make his debut at Orlando .
“ The first times I ever felt speed or tire smoke or burnouts or rode down the track were all at Orlando ,” says Gray , who was able to get one of his father ’ s old competition numbers , C270 , to run as his official NHRA Pro Mod number . “ So for me to climb into a Pro Mod and race it in competition for the first time in Orlando means a lot to me . I really think we have some good things to come and I believe my dad and my grandpa will be right there with me .” – NATE VAN WAGNEN DI
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