Jason Collins Wins NHRA Pro Mod Thunder Valley Nationals

Jason Collins picked up his second NHRA Pro Mod victory of the 2026 season this past weekend at the Thunder Valley Nationals in Bristol, Tennessee.

The win comes at a crucial point in the season, as Collins officially locked himself into the Top 10 and secured his spot in the NHRA Pro Mod Countdown to the Championship, which begins in Norwalk in two weeks.

It wasn't an easy road to the winner's circle.

During second-round eliminations against Travis Harvey, Collins experienced a scary moment when the steering wheel came loose during his burnout. The car crossed into the center of the track and made contact with the wall before coming to a stop.

Fortunately, NHRA rules do not consider crossing the centerline during a burnout a disqualification. After evaluating the car, the Scott Tidwell Racing team was able to continue racing and win the round.

Collins advanced through the remaining rounds and met Mike Stavrinos in the final.

Collins caught a break when Stavrinos red-lit by just .005 seconds in the final. From there, Collins simply needed to get the car down the track. Even after encountering mechanical issues that forced him to pedal the car and lift early, he was able to take the win and collect his second Diamond Wally of the season.

The Bristol win adds to what has already been an impressive rookie campaign for Collins. Earlier this season, he earned his first NHRA Pro Mod victory at the NHRA Southern Nationals, and now heads into the Countdown with momentum on his side.

With two wins, a spot in the Top 10 secured, and one of the strongest teams in the class behind him, Collins will be one to watch when the championship chase begins at Norwalk.