Former multi-time Pro Stock national event winner Shane Gray will return to NHRA competition this weekend at the 72nd annual Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, driving in the JBS Equipment NHRA Pro Modified Series presented by Elite Motorsports.
Gray, who calls North Carolina home, will make his Pro Mod debut driving the Elite Motorsports / Modern Racing / Mason Wright Racing Pro Mod entry formerly driven by Mason Wright and Aaron Stanfield.
“It’s been a while since I’ve been here at Indy…2017 or 2018,” Gray said. “I was fortunate enough to win this this thing in 2014 in Pro Stock so I’m comfortable. We’ll just go out there, see how we do, and have a good time. It’s a great race. I’ve got all my friends and family here, my grandson’s coming tomorrow…it couldn’t be better.”
“We’ve had a long-standing history with the Gray family,” said Richard Freeman, owner of Elite Motorsports. “We used to race in Competition Eliminator with him and his brother Johnathon. We rented Shane’s motors in 2013 when he was still racing Pro Stock. Pretty sure he made it to a handful of final rounds that year. One thing that has always stayed consistent was our mutual respect for each other. It feels right having him come on board.”
In his Pro Stock career, Gray raced to a total of 13 national event final rounds with a total of five victories. He raced to five final rounds alone in 2013 with one win. His last win came at the NHRA Gatornationals in 2017.
Gray retired from Pro Stock racing at the end of the 2017 allowing his son, 2018 Pro Stock world champion and current NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series competitor for TRICON Garage, Tanner Gray, to take over driving duties for the family team. With Tanner and his brother Taylor, who races for Joe Gibbs Racing in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, set on their motorsports paths, Shane felt the time was right to make his return to the driver’s seat.
The screw-blown Camaro Gray will be driving at Indy is tuned by Modern Racing’s Justin Elkes. Elkes was also previously Gray’s crew chief in Pro Stock. when they won the prestigious NHRA U.S. Nationals in 2014. But despite having won “The Big Go” in the past, Gray enters the weekend without any weight on his shoulders of replicating that performance.
“I don’t really have any expectations. I’m just happy to be here,” said Gray. “I’m grateful for the people that gave me the opportunity to be here. I’m just gonaa go have a good time. There’s zero pressure.”
Qualifying for the JBS Equipment NHRA Pro Modified Series presented by Elite Motorsports begins on Friday, September 4 at 5:20 p.m. eastern Qualifying continues on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. and 2:40 p.m. Final qualifying will take place at 11:10 a.m. on Sunday, with first round of eliminations to follow at 4:45 p.m. Eliminations will conclude on Monday, September 7.
This story was originally published on September 4, 2026.
The post Shane Gray Set to Make Pro Mod Debut With Elite Motorsports and Modern Racing at NHRA U.S. Nationals first appeared on Drag Illustrated.
