Welcoem to posts!!
in the future - u will be able to do some more stuff here,,,!! like pat catgirl- i mean um yeah... for now u can only see others's posts :c
THANK YOU! To Chris & Tera Graves and all of Chaos Nation in Funny Car Chaos/NITRO CHAOS - I truly appreciate your support.
It is an honor to be the recipient of the Chaos Super Star award at the Chaos Banquet Saturday night. As I stated that night, I'm able to be seen and heard because of the true super stars, that being the racers of Chaos. Your stories should be told, and I'm glad to be a part of doing just that.
The racing of Chaos was action that had caught my eye around 2020. I knew that I had to attend and cover one of the races if possible. When Chris Graves announced the first Funny Car Chaos Classic at the Texas Motorplex in 2021. I realized it was the opportunity to see something that might not ever happen again while also recalling the past of drag racing glory. I went. I realized that Chaos was the real deal! Then Chris announced the inception of Nitro Chaos at Eddyville Raceway Park. Again, that event I knew was history in the making and a must cover. On my own dime I went to Iowa for the first time for a field of nitro dreams. That event too delivered as advertised on drag racing greatness and excitement.
Chris Graves saw something. Maybe it was passion or zeal. Maybe it was a dope or sucker for drag racing. Nonetheless he made a call. That call was to have me come along with and be a part of the Chaos brand to tell the stories in Chaos from the pits to the track, on camera and through the lens.
Many racer will exclaim that "what Chris and Tera have created has allowed us to live out a dream!" Being able to race their funny car in a place where before they didn't have anywhere to do so. I can echo that same sentiment. Though I have aspirations of driving. I've always said, "If I can't drive, I want to do what Steve Evans did." I get to do just that in Chaos! From the opening intro shot, the between round pit interview, or the emotional top-end winner's chat - I've been living out a dream because Chris Graves made a call.
I'm looking forward to working with Chris and Chaos for well into the future. 2025 may look different than the 3 previous years. Whatever is ahead of me though, I will always have to appreciate and remind, that Chris Graves and Chaos gave me the shot.
Remember, win or do something spectacular to get on camera.
Thank you!
15 - 1
IT'S CHAOS TIME! Grateful to be at the Funny Car Chaos/NITRO CHAOS banquet in Tulsa.
46 - 0
𝗠𝗜𝗞𝗘 𝗖𝗢𝗨𝗚𝗛𝗟𝗜𝗡 𝗧𝗢 𝗠𝗔𝗞𝗘 𝗡𝗛𝗥𝗔 𝗠𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗧𝗔𝗜𝗡 𝗠𝗢𝗧𝗢𝗥 𝗣𝗥𝗢 𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗖𝗞 𝗗𝗘𝗕𝗨𝗧 𝗜𝗡 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱
WYNNEWOOD, Okla. (Dec. 19, 2024) – Veteran racer Mike Coughlin will celebrate 40 years of having an NHRA license by driving a Johnson's Horsepowered Garage Mountain Motor Pro Stock entry for Elite Motorsports during the 2025 JHG NHRA Mountain Motor Pro Stock season.
“Richard [Freeman, owner of Elite Motorsports] and I had been talking for a couple years now. Our families have dealt with each other for a long time in the drag racing space,” Coughlin said. “Being involved with Elite, it’s a highlight. The team is really second to none. Everything is done right and if it’s not right, they make it right. That’s just the way they roll. I’m looking forward to being around and associated with that level of professionalism and for the chance to represent Jason and Nikki Johnson of JHG.”
Coughlin, who will be joining his brother six-time world champion Jeg Jr. and nephew Troy Jr. racing under the Elite banner, began his racing career in 1985 driving in the Super Gas class. His first NHRA national event victory came in Pro Stock Truck in 1999 at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in Englishtown, New Jersey. With six wins in Pro Stock Truck, including two at the prestigious U.S. Nationals in 1999 and 2001and the final event of the now defunct Pro Stock Truck class at the NHRA Finals in 2001, Mike is familiar with the five-speed transmission.
"Our goal for the Mountain Motor Pro Stock program from the very beginning was to have rental customers just like our highly successful NHRA Pro Stock program,” said Freeman. “I started driving when we purchased the program from JR Carr along with Erica. Then our great friends Bo and Randi Lyn Butner started driving and this helped to further strengthen our successful Mountain Motor Pro Stock program on and off the track to where we are today and in the future. A big thank you to the Butner's for what they did to help get us to this point and reach the goal we started with.
"We are excited that another veteran and uber talented driver like Mike Coughlin thought of Elite Motorsports when it came to making plans for 2025,” Freeman said. “It's going to be great to see Mike back behind the wheel of a 5-speed, he was a real threat to win at every Pro Stock Truck race back in the day and this is going to be a lot of fun to see him racing with us for JHG in Mountain Motor Pro Stock and winning."
"I have gotten to know Mike Coughlin the last couple of years, and he is going to make a great addition to the Johnson's Horsepower Garage family,” Jason Johnson, owner of JHG.
Coughlin has earned wins in five different NHRA categories. In addition to his six Pro Stuck Truc victories he has four in Top Sportsman, three in Super Comp and one in Top Dragster. He most recently competed in Top Alcohol Dragster with the McPhillips Racing team from 2022-2024 picking up three victories for the father-son team. He will make his Mountain Motor Por Stock debut at the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway and run the full eight-race JHG NHRA Mountain Motor Pro Stock 2025 schedule.
“I’m looking forward to driving a five-speed again. I’m excited about the challenge, all the procedure that goes with it. It really is different than anything out there,” Mike said. “It’s probably one of the hardest things to drive but also one of the most fun, it really is a good time. I’m going to enjoy Mountain Motor Pro Stock, all the power and torque they make. It’s similar to a Top Sportsman engine combination, but it’s a five-speed. It’s going to be fun.”
29 - 1
𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿 𝗛𝘆𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗗𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗻𝘆 𝗖𝗮𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗝𝗶𝗺 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗥𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱
INDIANAPOLIS (December 13, 2024) --- Pro Mod standout Spencer Hyde Racing will fill the open seat at Jim Head Racing for the entire NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series in 2025. The 33-year-old from Ontario, Canada, will immediately begin acclimating himself to the Ford Mustang Funny Car it was announced today from the NHRA on FOX stage at the PRI Show in Indianapolis. Hyde will make the requisite cross over passes to convert his Top Fuel license to Funny Car during the off-season. Last season Jim Head tuned his Funny Car to a win at Brainerd as well as seven additional semifinal finishes and seven top four qualifier spots.
“When I got the call from Jim Head honestly it was humbling to even be considered for this opportunity,” said Hyde. “I spent some time with Jim recently and we have had some great conversations. I am looking forward to this challenge. Driving a Pro Mod car is a handful because they are so unpredictable and getting to make nearly 20 passes in Paton’s Top Fuel dragster has given me the acceleration experience. I know Funny Cars are a whole different deal, but I can’t wait to give it my best.”
Hyde started racing in the Junior Dragster ranks in 2006. He graduated to racing Top Dragster, Top Sportsman, Outlaw 10.5, and a variety of sportsman and bracket classes on the regional and national level. He was recognized in 2021 by Drag Illustrated as a standout member of their 30 Under 30 class. He has most recently raced Pro Modified with PDRA in the Pro Boost class and he won the Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod in March 2023. Hyde earned his Top Fuel license in February 2023, and he competed in Top Fuel at two NHRA national events, the 2023 In-N-Out NHRA Finals and 2024 NHRA Texas Fall Nationals.
Hyde was recommended for the open seat by Jim Head’s son, Chad Head, who reached out to the aspiring nitro driver about the Funny Car opportunity. Head inquired about Hyde’s interest level as well as the possible opportunity to race a full NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season while still being involved in the family’s construction business, Hyde Construction. Balancing Hyde’s extension involvement in the day-to-day rapidly expanding and well-respected business was a topic that Hyde and Head, also an expert in the construction and engineering world talked about extensively for this relationship was finalized. Hyde examined his previous Pro Mod schedule and the transition to a Funny Car schedule was not out of reach. His conversations with Jim Head about getting behind the wheel accelerated after that realization.
“Chad was a big supporter for Spencer, and he made a good case for him,” said Jim Head, Hall of Fame driver, tuner and team owner. “He has come up through the racing ranks and I like that he is a levelheaded guy who has a passion for drag racing. The fact that he has made passes in a Top Fuel dragster and has had success in Pro Mod was a plus too. We have had a lot of success the past two seasons with Blake (Alexander) driving for us and I don’t see any reason we can’t keep turning on win lights with Spencer.”
Plans are still coming together for possible testing and cross-over licensing. Hyde will be in competition at the season opening NHRA Gatornationals, March 6-9, 2025, at historic Gainesville Raceway.
48 - 0
𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗪𝗮𝗿 𝗪𝗮𝗴𝗼𝗻 𝗣𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗮𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗙𝘂𝗲𝗹 𝗔𝗹𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱
Howard and Shane Farris, owners of the famed War Wagon nitro team announced on Thursday at the United Engine & Machine Co. booth held at the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) trade show the purchase of the highly coveted and record breaking Tim Wilkerson owned, Richard Hartman driven, Fuel Altered.
The machine purchased from 24-time NHRA Nitro Funny Car winner Tim Wilkerson just a few years ago became the first Fuel Altered ever to dip below the 5 second mark with a scintillating 4.920 elapsed time and the first to break the 300 mile per hour barrier in the quarter-mile with a speed of over 304.53 miles per hour. The feat was accomplished at the renowned Texas Motorplex during the first Funny Car Chaos Classic in 2021, at the time titled Nitro Madness. No pun intended, the nitro madness continued that weekend with the War Wagon AA/FA driven by multi-talented wheelman Kebin Kinsley, upping the speed mark to a blistering 304.59 mile per hour record. A record that still stands to this day. On all counts these two high powered Altereds which are McKinney Corp chassis are undoubtedly the quickest and fastest Fuel Altereds on the planet.
Shane Farris, head wrench on the War Wagon operation, remarked on the trip to PRI that his father, Howard Farris, “had a hair-brained idea the other day to buy Tim Wilkerson’s Fuel Altered.” In trying to grasp why they would add another wagon to the team that already has a stable of three cars (Fuel Altered, Nitro Pro Mod, & Nitro Front Engine Dragster), Shane simply wondered “why?” “Well, we could match race ourselves and be the first side by side 300 mile per hour Fuel Altereds,” is the answer that Howard provided. That was enough on this PRI trip to swing by Tim Wilkerson’s shop, make the deal, and take another nitro wagon back home to Texas.
With two historic Fuel Altereds now in their possession, the purchase does pose the question of who will drive the second car? That answer came from an optimistic and excited Howard Farris who stated “Well, I’m going to go to gym– start working out lose a little bit of weight, and see if I can still do it.” Howard is no stranger to wrangling a Fuel Altered down the dragstrip, having experience that dates back to the 1980s. If Howard feels that he isn’t capable of saddling up once again, he assures that a driver will be put in the car.
The now former Tim Wilkeson owned Fuel Altered has sat since that record breaking performance in 2021. Now in the hands of Team War Wagon, they have their own nitro rodeo that they’re ready to let the gate open on with plenty of experience and wins to back their efforts. The frequent Funny Car Chaos, Nitro Chaos, and match racing drag racers are ready to bring side by side 300 mile per hour plus Fuel Altered passes at a dragstrip near you. Maybe sooner than you ever imagined.
For booking information contact Shane Farris at 817-523-5060 or email to farrisracingengines@yahoo.com
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Kye Kelley Makes Statement With $50,000 Pro Mod Win at Snowbird Outlaw Nationals
BRADENTON, Fla. (Dec. 8, 2024) – Kye Kelley, known for competing on the hit television show Street Outlaws: No Prep Kings, turned heads Sunday night when he outlasted the quickest 32-car field in Pro Mod history to win the $50,000 Snowbird Outlaw Nationals presented by Motion Raceworks. Driving his steel-roof-and-quarters ’85 Camaro, Kelley fired off a stunning 3.594-second pass at 207.78 MPH in the M&M Transmission Outlaw Pro Mod presented by FuelTech and PJS Racing final round to defeat Ken Quartuccio and his 3.688 at 194.66 in the first race of the three-race inaugural Drag Illustrated Winter Series presented by J&A Service.
Winners in the other heads-up classes at the Snowbirds included Lyle Barnett in Precision Shaft Technologies Pro 275 presented by Mickey Thompson Tires, Greg Blevins Jr. in Callies Performance Products Limited Drag Radial presented by Energy Manufacturing, Chris Holdorf in TBM Brakes Outlaw 632 presented by Rife Sensors, and Dave Fiscus in TRZ Motorsports Ultra Street presented by Precision Turbo & Engine.
Victories also went to Mac McAdams in 4.60 Bike, Carl Mitchell in 5.50 Index, Scott Travers in 6.50 Index, Anthony Hodges in 7.50 Index, Klein Simpson in Advanced Jr. Dragster, and Tre Collins in Intermediate Jr. Dragster.
Kallee Mills won the Florida N/T Racing No-Time Shootout presented by Pro Line Racing and Ray Morton won the Larry Jeffers Race Cars No-Time Truck Shootout presented by Innovative Racecraft.
PRO MOD
Kye Kelley rolled into the first race of the inaugural Drag Illustrated Winter Series presented by J&A Service as one of the drivers from beyond the Pro Modified ranks who was hoping to make a statement in the three-race Pro Mod series at Bradenton Motorsports Park. As qualifying and eliminations unfolded at the Snowbird Outlaw Nationals, it became obvious that Kelley wasn’t just a participant, but a serious contender in the Winter Series. Rather than field a purpose-built Pro Mod, Kelley brought his No Prep Kings-legal, screw-blown “Can’t Get Right” ’85 Camaro to compete against 60-plus elite Pro Mod drivers and teams.
After qualifying for the quickest 32-car field in Pro Mod history, Kelley made his way through four rounds – winning two on holeshots – to reach the final round. He faced veteran doorslammer driver Ken Quartuccio, who won the 2023 U.S. Street Nationals in Pro Mod at Bradenton. Quartuccio left first in his screw-blown ’69 Camaro, but he eventually had to lift to a 3.688 at 194.66. Meanwhile, Kelley threw down a career-best 3.594 at 207.78 to turn on the win light worth $50,000 and the DI Winter Series points lead.
“It was all I could do to not wreck the car down there,” Kelley said. “I was in there celebrating, cheering, punching shit. It’s just an unbelievable feeling to even race at this stage. But to win at this stage? It’s something I know will probably never happen again under these circumstances, so I’m just going to live it up. I’m gonna own it, because it happened tonight.”
Kelley’s incredible weekend began in pre-race testing, where he recorded multiple mid-3.60-second passes, though the scoreboards weren’t on. He turned heads once qualifying began, starting with a 3.665 to put him No. 18 after the first session. He improved to a 3.659 in Q2 but slipped to No. 26 to wrap up Friday qualifying. Kelley slipped another couple spots in Q3, and by the time he made it to the starting line for the final fourth session, he was bumped out of the field. He threw down a 3.621 at 207.21 to move all the way up to No. 2. By the time the session was complete, Kelley qualified No. 13 out of 64 cars.
In the first-round chip draw on Saturday night, Kelley drew two-time Northeast Outlaw Pro Mod Association champion Mike Decker Jr. On Sunday, Kelley left first with a .049 reaction time, and though both drivers struggled with traction, Kelley recovered quicker with a 4.003 at 195.11 to Decker’s 9.306. He then drew Decker’s son, 2024 NEOPMA champion Mike “Hollywood” Decker III, in the second round. It would’ve been a side-by-side race, but Kelley grabbed a sizable starting-line advantage and ran a 3.661 at 204.48 to beat Decker III’s 3.662 at 206.64. Kelley was on his game yet again in the third round, where he cut a .013 light and ripped off a 3.626 at 205.88 to defeat 2023 World Series of Pro Mod winner Spencer Hyde and his 3.624 on a holeshot. Another holeshot win came in the semifinals, with Kelley laying down a 3.62 at 206.73 to knock out 2023 WSOPM runner-up Kurt Steding, who set low E.T. of race day with his 3.592 at 208.26.
Kelley hoped to partner with a Pro Mod car owner for the Winter Series, but tuner Jeff Pierce convinced Kelley to bring his No Prep Kings car. The move obviously paid off, as Kelley qualified, won the race, and lit up the scoreboard with a final-round performance that tied the third-quickest pass of the event.
“It’s just phenomenal,” Kelley said. “I decided to go screw blower – we were big nitrous guys – and Jeff and Jon Salemi, they both told me what I needed to buy, ordered all my stuff for me, told me how to set it all up…Jeff came over, we went to a test session, he jetted it up like it needed to be jetted up, showed me the ropes, and he just took it from there. We won a championship in NPK the first year Jeff was there, and we’re still doing the same thing. Jeff’s here, and we’re winning.”
Similarly, Pierce was thrilled with the car’s performance and Kelley’s driving abilities. The duo, along with Kelley’s small team of young crew members, put on a clinic at the Snowbirds.
“It's a 104-inch wheelbase. Typical Pro Mods are 112 to 115 [inches]. It's the rules for NPK. You gotta have that and you gotta have a steel body,” Pierce said. “That is an '85 Camaro body that rolled off the production line. I salvaged the body for that car myself. It's just freaking incredible that we can do that. We learned more about that car this week, and [Kelley] put everything into this. He came here Sunday and started testing on Monday. We made I can't even remember how many test runs. Ten freaking test runs. He wanted to do the best he could at this race.”
Pierce praised Kelley as one of the top five drivers he’d put in any car he’s tuning, and it’s easy to see why. Kelley had reaction times of .049, .012, .013, .023, and .033 in eliminations.
“It wasn’t that I wanted to, it’s that I knew I needed to,” Kelley said of his quick reaction times. “These guys are fast, and I didn’t think my car was as fast as them. I was doing everything I could to kill that tree and stay out front.”
Quartuccio established a solid baseline in the first qualifying session when he recorded a 3.651 at 203.16 to sit No. 9 and later drop to No. 19 after the second session. He moved up to No. 16 with his 3.644 at 205.79 in the third session on Saturday. The Connecticut-based wheelman made a major statement in the final session, though, as he ripped off a 3.601 at 208.94 to qualify fourth out of 64 cars.
Quartuccio and Jeff Rudolf drew the No. 1 chips in the first-round chip draw, meaning they’d be the first pair out in Sunday’s first round of eliminations. Quartuccio was uncharacteristically late on the tree, but he laid down a 3.641 at 206.35 to move on over Rudolf, who slowed to a 5.063. He used a 3.645 at 206.13 to get the win over Jason Lee and his 6.666. Quartuccio then drew one of the biggest headline-grabbing doorslammer drivers of the season, Travis “The Carolina Kid” Harvey, for the third round. He left on Harvey and won with a 3.619 at 206.95 to finish ahead of Harvey and his 3.626 at 208.46. In the semifinals, Quartuccio double-bulbed No. 1 qualifier Mark Micke, who went red by .153 and let off the throttle. Quartuccio charged to a 3.595 at 208.49 to advance to the final round.
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Mark Micke Tops Quickest 32-Car Field in Pro Mod History at Snowbird Outlaw Nationals
BRADENTON, Fla. (Dec. 7, 2024) – Newly crowned Mid-West Drag Racing Series Pro Mod champion Mark Micke added an exclamation point to the end of his 2024 season by qualifying No. 1 in M&M Transmission Pro Mod presented by FuelTech and PJS Racing Saturday night at the Snowbird Outlaw Nationals presented by Motion Raceworks. It was the quickest 32-car field in the history of eighth-mile Pro Modified, marking a strong kick-off to the three-race Drag Illustrated Winter Series presented by J&A Service at Bradenton Motorsports Park. Micke qualified No. 1 with a 3.591-second pass at 218.87 MPH, while Bob Glenn ended up on the bump spot with a 3.647 at 204.29.
The 32 drivers who qualified in Pro Mod assembled after the field was set to determine first-round pairings through a random chip draw.
The Snowbirds also include four other heads-up classes, with No. 1 qualifier honors going to Lyle Barnett in Precision Shaft Technologies Pro 275 presented by Mickey Thompson Tires, Greg Blevins Jr. in Callies Performance Products Limited Drag Radial presented by Energy Manufacturing, Chris Holdorf in TBM Brakes Outlaw 632 presented by Rife Sensors, and Shawn Pevlor in TRZ Motorsports Ultra Street presented by Precision Turbo & Engine
PRO MOD
After taking the provisional No. 1 spot in Pro Mod in Friday’s two qualifying sessions, Mark Micke predicted that his 3.591-second pass wouldn’t hold up for the top spot after two more sessions on Saturday to set the field. Though numerous drivers improved, including pair after pair of career-best numbers in the final session, no one could get around Micke. Amazingly, Micke in his twin-turbocharged M&M Transmission ’69 Camaro has qualified No. 1 at every race he’s attended this season.
“To be No. 1 against this group, that just puts an exclamation point on our season,” said Micke, who will take on 2024 Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod winner Derek Ward in the first round. “It shows the work we did, the dedication my guys did, and just shows the program that we have to be able to come out on top of these guys. That's no small feat. I know tomorrow's a whole other day, but today, we won by qualifying No. 1 and we're gonna go to bed happy, smiling, and ready to rock and roll tomorrow.”
Jason Harris, the two-time and reigning PDRA Pro Boost world champion, fired off a 3.594 at 209.62 in his ProCharged Southern Diamond Company “Party Time” ’69 Camaro in the final qualifying session to qualify No. 2 behind Micke. He’ll take on his former Pro Nitrous rival, Jay Cox, who recently came out of retirement to field a new twin-turbocharged entry.
“This is the best of the best right here,” said Harris, who credited tuner Brandon Stroud and Pro Line Racing, as well as partners like Southern Diamond Company, SP Tools, ProCharger, and Hoosier Tire. “This is a lot of organizations all coming together to try to run fast. I really didn't think a .59 would stick, but it did. I really didn't have anything to lose. Just getting in is the only thing because the chip draw kind of throws a wrench in everything. It doesn't matter where you're at, as long as you're in.”
Melanie Salemi, who won the 50th annual Snowbirds in 2021, wheeled the screw-blown Al-Lee Installations “Purple Reign” ’68 Firebird to a 3.599 at 207.21 in the final session to round out the top three. It was a reassuring performance for Salemi and her Buffalo, New York-based team, as they brought out a new car earlier this season, and they’ve struggled to qualify in the massive field at the World Series of Pro Mod the past two seasons.
“To be able to come here with 64 cars, the baddest Pro Mod drivers in the world, plus extra drivers that are coming to drive Pro Mod this weekend, it's kind of refreshing to know that we're still up there in the top three of the baddest cars,” said Salemi, who will face Brazil’s Roderjan Busato in round one. “Hopefully this puts a good start to the Winter Series for us and we can carry it through this first race, the next race, and the World Series because I think it's time that I qualify for the World Series.”
Behind the three 3.59s, three drivers ran 3.60s, five drivers ran 3.61s, nine drivers ran 3.62s, five drivers ran 3.63s, and seven drivers ran 3.64s to qualify in the 32-car field. Pinellas Park, Florida’s Bob Glenn, who won this year’s NMCA Xtreme Pro Mod championship, took the bump spot with a 3.647 at 204.29 in his roots-blown B&K Motorsports ’67 Mustang. Multi-time Pro Extreme world champion Jason Scruggs ended up No. 33 with his 3.648.
The randomly drawn first-round pairings are Jeff Rudolf vs. Ken Quartuccio, Kenny Lang vs. Randy Weatherford, Jerico Balduf vs. Jay Santos, Bob Glenn vs. Kurt Steding, Cameron Hensley vs. Spencer Hyde, Roderjan Busato vs. Melanie Salemi, Jason Harris vs. Jay Cox, Jason Lee vs. Chip King, Joel Wensley Sr. vs. Craig Sullivan, Matthew Deitsch vs. Keith Goolsby, Derek Ward vs. Mark Micke, Travis Harvey vs. Sidnei Frigo, Stevie Jackson vs. Mike Decker III, Steve King vs. Ty Tutterow, Kye Kelley vs. Mike Decker Jr., and Erica Enders vs. Billy Banaka.
The Snowbirds is the first of three points-earning races in the inaugural Drag Illustrated Winter Series presented by J&A Service. Following the Snowbirds, Bradenton will also host the U.S. Street Nationals presented by M&M Transmission on Jan. 23-26 and the World Series of Pro Mod on Feb. 27-March 2. The series will pay out more than $275,000 to the three race winners and overall series champion.
PRO 275
Between cold conditions and a late-night oildown, Pro 275 didn’t get to complete its fourth qualifying session. The class didn’t see any changes at the top of the qualifying order from Friday’s two sessions. Lyle Barnett, pulling triple duty in Pro 275, Pro Mod, and Limited Drag Radial this weekend, locked in the top spot with his 3.676 at 202.30 in Tommy Youmans’ ProCharged “Salvage Title” Mustang. Nick Lacerenza stayed No. 2 with a 3.773 at 199.70 in his ProCharged ’90 Mustang. Chad Opaleski remained third in his screw-blown ’66 Chevelle with a 3.803 at 198.79.
LIMITED DRAG RADIAL
Friday’s provisional No. 1 qualifier in Limited Drag Radial, Greg Blevins Jr., held on to the top spot and even stepped up from his 3.899 best from Friday. He laid down a 3.872 at 191.84 in his ProCharged ’69 Camaro to remain the only driver in the class to dip into the 3.80s. Matt Bell was the next closest with a 3.911 at 195.25, a slight improvement from Friday, to stay No. 2 in his turbocharged ’93 Mustang. Wally Farbaky moved up to third in his turbocharged ’20 GT350R with a 3.918 at 196.59.
OUTLAW 632
Chris Holdorf threw down a stout 4.123 at 170.30 in the final qualifying session to take the No. 1 qualifying position from Kyle Salminen. Holdorf in his Nelson-powered Freedom Grow ’06 GTO made the pass next to Salminen, who similarly stepped up with a 4.124 at 172.72 in his Nelson-powered ’03 Cavalier to miss out on No. 1 by one thousandth of a second. Mike Fiorelli’s career-best 4.16 at 171.03 in his ’68 Camaro from Friday held up for the No. 3 spot.
ULTRA STREET
Shawn Pevlor’s dominant weekend in Ultra Street continued when he lowered his own E.T. record to a 4.374 at 161.87 in John Kolivas’s ’93 Mustang. Davey Hull and Kieffer Simpson followed Pevlor into the 4.30s, with Hull running a 4.378 at 160.63 in his ’92 Mustang and Simpson recording a 4.398 at 163.47 in his “American Xpress” ’13 Mustang to qualify second and third, respectively.
Eliminations at the Snowbird Outlaw Nationals presented by Motion Raceworks will begin at 9 a.m. Find a detailed schedule and results at www.Facebook.com/BradentonMotorsportsPark.
General admission tickets are available for Sunday eliminations for $30. Active military and children ages 11 and under get in free. Fans can also watch the race through the official event livestream on www.FloRacing.com.
ABOUT THE DRAG ILLUSTRATED WINTER SERIES
The Drag Illustrated Winter Series is a three-race Pro Modified championship series hosted at Bradenton Motorsports Park in Bradenton, Florida. The inaugural DI Winter Series will include the Snowbird Outlaw Nationals, Dec. 6-8, 2024; the U.S. Street Nationals, Jan. 24-26, 2025; and the World Series of Pro Mod, Feb. 27-March 1, 2025. The invitation-only series will bring the best Pro Modified drivers and teams from across North America and beyond to Florida’s Gulf Coast for three high-stakes, big-money events. To learn more, visit www.TheWinterSeries.com.
ABOUT BRADENTON MOTORSPORTS PARK
Founded in 1974 and located in Bradenton, Florida, Bradenton Motorsports Park is one of the nation’s premier drag racing facilities. Boasting a top-quality quarter-mile dragstrip, spacious pit areas, and ample spectator parking, BMP hosts some of the biggest and baddest events in the country including the U.S. Street Nationals, PRO Superstar Shootout, Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod, The Reunion, FL2K, and Snowbird Outlaw Nationals as well as other heads-up drag races, bracket races, grudge races, private professional test sessions, and more. Bradenton Motorsports Park is located at 21000 FL-64, Bradenton, FL 34212. Visit www.RaceBMP.com for more info.
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Red Line Oil PDRA Drag Racing Series Announces Eight-Race Schedule for 2025
FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – The Red Line Synthetic Oil Professional Drag Racers Association (PDRA) announced its eight-race 2025 schedule, coming after a successful campaign through the 2024 calendar year. The series will return to the six familiar racetracks throughout the East Coast and Midwest that they ventured to in 2024 yet again, starting at GALOT Motorsports Park and finishing at Virginia Motorsports Park, as in years past.
“The goal each year is continue to grow in numerous ways and being consistent with the locations, dates, and programs so teams and fans alike can plan accordingly,” said Tyler Crossnoe, series director. “Following the 2024 season, there was not much to not like. Each event brought a detail to the season-long story that would not be complete without those details. We saw first-time winners, first-time champions, heartbreaking moments, and storybook endings.
“As we look back on 2024 and look forward to 2025, we will continue to further our motorsports platform with our racer-centric programs and events all while staying consistent with the schedule to continue pushing PDRA’s roots into these six markets to grow our fan base,” Crossnoe continued. “While we will return to the same six facilities in 2025, we have put an emphasis on even spacing on event dates while working with other series to avoid schedule conflicts so crew chiefs, drivers, vendors, and fans can overlap across their favorite professional avenues for drag racing.”
The 2025 Red Line Oil PDRA season will kick off at the traditional host of the season opener, GALOT Motorsports Park in Benson, North Carolina, on April 2-5. Virginia Motorsports Park continues as the second stop on tour, now held on May 1-3. For the fifth season in a row, the stars of the PDRA will spend Memorial Day weekend at America’s Racetrack, Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio. The PDRA will wrap up the first half of the season on Father’s Day weekend once again at Maryland International Raceway in Budds Creek, Maryland, on June 12-14.
After a six-week summer break of sorts, the series will return to US 131 Motorsports Park in Martin, Michigan, for the Northern Nationals, which also features nitro and other specialty elements across the event that has been a Michigan tradition for years. Following the trip up north, the PDRA will return to the mountains in northeast Tennessee making a return to Bristol Dragway on August 22-24 after the inaugural event in 2024. “Bristol was an exciting addition to the tour. It provided a lot of unknowns and questions, but in the end was one of the most exciting events of the year at a facility that so many had never experienced,” said Crossnoe.
The PDRA will return to GALOT Motorsports Park on Sept. 11-13 for the second time on the calendar and will complete the 12th season of eighth-mile championship drag racing at Virginia Motorsports Park on Oct. 2-5 with the Brian Olson Memorial World Finals.
PDRA officials will have additional announcements and news regarding the 2025 season during the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Show, Dec. 11-13, in Indianapolis, Indiana, along with crowning the series champions during the Red Line Oil PDRA Awards Banquet on Friday, Dec. 12 at the Indianapolis Downtown Marriott.
2025 PDRA Schedule:
April 2-5 – East Coast Nationals – GALOT Motorsports Park – Benson, NC
May 1-3 – Mid-Atlantic Showdown – Virginia Motorsports Park – N. Dinwiddie, VA
May 22-24 – American Doorslammer Challenge – Summit Motorsports Park – Norwalk, OH
June 12-14 – North vs. South Shootout – Maryland International Raceway – Budds Creek, MD
Jul. 31-Aug. 2 – Northern Nationals – US 131 Motorsports Park – Martin, MI
August 21-23 – Thunder Valley Throwdown – Bristol Dragway – Bristol, TN
September 11-13 – DragWars – GALOT Motorsports Park – Benson, NC
October 2-5 – Brian Olson Memorial World Finals – Virginia Motorsports Park – N. Dinwiddie, VA
ABOUT THE PDRA
The Red Line Oil PDRA Drag Racing Series is the top sanctioning body in the United States for the sport of eighth-mile drag racing. The PDRA’s professional categories include Pro Boost, Pro Nitrous, Extreme Pro Stock, Pro Nitrous Motorcycle, Pro 632, Pro Street, and Super Street. The series also features sportsman racing in Top Sportsman, Top Dragster, Pro Jr. Dragster and Top Jr. Dragster. The 2025 PDRA schedule consists of eight national events. For more information on the PDRA, visit www.PDRA660.com.
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Newly Crowned 2024 Top Fuel World Champion Antron Brown to Make Pro Mod Debut at Drag Illustrated Winter Series
BRADENTON, Fla. – Antron Brown, who recently secured his fourth NHRA Top Fuel world championship, is set to take on the next challenge in his illustrious drag racing career. Next week, he’ll make his Pro Modified debut competing in the Snowbird Outlaw Nationals presented by Motion Raceworks, Dec. 5-8, at Bradenton Motorsports Park. It’s the first of three races in the inaugural Drag Illustrated Winter Series presented by J&A Service, with Brown planning to compete in all three events to chase another championship.
While Brown typically competes in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series, he’s no stranger to Bradenton and the Snowbirds. Two years ago, he won the Snowbirds in his Pro 275 debut driving for Manny Buginga. He’s partnered up with Buginga again to make his Pro Mod debut. Brown will drive Buginga’s ProCharged red Lexus RCF tuned by legendary doorslammer tuner Steve Petty.
Brown, whose recent Top Fuel championship is his first since launching AB Motorsports, asserts that he isn’t just entering the shark-infested Pro Mod waters to participate. He’s coming to win.
“I do nothing in life to come out there just to be out there,” Brown said. “I want to come and I want to win and have a chance to win. I line up against big dogs every day. That's what I do.”
Brown will be in familiar company at the Snowbirds, as his Top Fuel crew chief, Brian Corradi, is also debuting a Pro Mod entry of his own. Two-time NHRA U.S. Nationals Top Dragster winner Zach Sackman will drive that entry.
“Everybody on my team is involved,” Brown said. “Even my crew chief, Brian Corradi, has a car and he's going to have Zach Sackman drive it. He's a Top Dragster champion and he drives the wheels off a car. Brian’s bringing back a theme from back in the day that will be pretty cool.”
Brown and Sackman will compete against more than 60 drivers from Pro Mod and beyond, with drivers from Street Outlaws: No Prep Kings, drag radial classes, and more set to make their debut in Pro Mod as well. It will make for a unique cast of characters, and Brown is excited for the opportunity to mix it up with them.
“We cut up, we have fun, we keep our head down, and when we go to the starting line, don't let the smile fool you,” Brown said. “Don't get that twisted. When I put the helmet on and my visor goes down, I don't care who you are. I don't care if you're a girl. I don't care if you're a little kid. I don't care where you come from. I give nobody no false hope. If you're going to beat me, you're going to beat me. I ain't letting nobody win.”
After the Snowbird Outlaw Nationals, the DI Winter Series presented by J&A Service will continue with the U.S. Street Nationals presented by M&M Transmission on Jan. 23-26, 2025; and the World Series of Pro Mod Feb. 27-March 1, 2025. Each race will feature a 32-car qualified field. The driver who earns the most points across all three races will be crowned the DI Winter Series champion.
The Snowbird Outlaw Nationals, U.S. Street Nationals, and World Series of Pro Mod will all also feature a wide range of classes in addition to Pro Mod. For more info and to purchase tickets, visit www.TheWinterSeries.comor www.RaceBMP.com.
ABOUT THE DRAG ILLUSTRATED WINTER SERIES
The Drag Illustrated Winter Series is a three-race Pro Modified championship series hosted at Bradenton Motorsports Park in Bradenton, Florida. The inaugural DI Winter Series will include the Snowbird Outlaw Nationals, Dec. 6-8, 2024; the U.S. Street Nationals, Jan. 24-26, 2025; and the World Series of Pro Mod, Feb. 27-March 1, 2025. The invitation-only series will bring the best Pro Modified drivers and teams from across North America and beyond to Florida’s Gulf Coast for three high-stakes, big-money events. To learn more, visit www.TheWinterSeries.com.
ABOUT BRADENTON MOTORSPORTS PARK
Founded in 1974 and located in Bradenton, Florida, Bradenton Motorsports Park is one of the nation’s premier drag racing facilities. Boasting a top-quality quarter-mile dragstrip, spacious pit areas, and ample spectator parking, BMP hosts some of the biggest and baddest events in the country including the U.S. Street Nationals, PRO Superstar Shootout, Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod, The Reunion, FL2K, and Snowbird Outlaw Nationals as well as other heads-up drag races, bracket races, grudge races, private professional test sessions, and more. Bradenton Motorsports Park is located at 21000 FL-64, Bradenton, FL 34212. Visit www.RaceBMP.com for more info.
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Lee Craft is the Monday Morning Racer bringing you racing footage and motorsports commentary.
You will encounter content from several different forms of motorsport, no discrediting here! Of those different forms you'll see the races, learn of the vehicles, and hear from the competitors themselves. From NHRA drag racing, NASCAR, local short track action, and even sim racing on iRacing you'll find it here on MMR.