In a winner-take-all semifinal matchup in the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+, Jordan Lazic defeated Kris Thorne on Sunday at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway to clinch his first world championship in the category as part of the Ford Performance NHRA Nationals.
The event was the final of 10 races in NHRA Pro Mod and the last of the category’s four-race “Road to the Championship” playoffs was powered by JBS Equipment. The final round of the event will be completed on Monday.
The championship was decided when Lazic, who debuted in the class last year, met up with former world champion Kris Thorne. Thorne left the starting line first but ran into trouble and Lazic cruised to the round win – and the championship – with a run of 5.759-seconds at 247.57 mph in his supercharged Bahrain 1 Racing Camaro.
Lazic made a hard charge to the championship this season, as the Canadian missed the first two races of the season. He was the runner-up in Epping and then was consistent in the playoffs, advancing to the semifinals at the previous race in St. Louis to stay in contention for the championship.
Khalid AlBalooshi, who entered the weekend as the points leader, fell in the opening round and Justin Bond, who was second in points, lost a round later, opening the door for Lazic and Thorne. Lazic took advantage and ended up with his first world championship in the process.
“It’s crazy and I’m so excited,” Lazic said. “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.”
This story was originally published on November 3, 2024. 
