Photos by Robert Richard, Luke Niewhof
SUNDAY NOTEBOOK - KYE KELLEY'S IMPROBABLE WIN IS ONE FOR THE STORYBOOKS
1 – KYE GETS IT DONE – Kye Kelley captured the $50,000 prize at the Snowbird Outlaw Nationals, outlasting a record 32-car field in Pro Mod history. Driving his steel-roof-and-quarters ’85 Camaro, Kelley turned in his best performance, a 3.594-second pass at 207.78 mph in the final round, defeating Ken Quartuccio, who finished with a 3.688 at 194.66.
Winners in other heads-up classes included Lyle Barnett in Precision Shaft Technologies Pro 275, Greg Blevins Jr. in Callies Performance Products Limited Drag Radial, Chris Holdorf in TBM Brakes Outlaw 632, and Dave Fiscus in TRZ Motorsports Ultra Street.
Kelley entered the inaugural Drag Illustrated Winter Series as a standout among Pro Modified drivers. Rather than competing in a traditional Pro Mod, Kelley opted to race his No Prep Kings-legal, screw-blown “Can’t Get Right” ’85 Camaro against over 60 elite Pro Mod teams.
After qualifying for the quickest 32-car field in Pro Mod history, Kelley advanced through four rounds, winning two races on holeshots to reach the final. He faced veteran Ken Quartuccio, who left first but had to lift, allowing Kelley to secure the win.
“It was all I could do to not wreck the car down there,” Kelley said. “I was in there celebrating, cheering, punching stuff. It’s just an unbelievable feeling to even race at this stage. But to win at this stage? I’m gonna own it because it happened tonight.”
Kelley’s weekend began with strong pre-race testing, where he recorded multiple mid-3.60-second passes. Qualifying began with a 3.665, placing him 18th after the first session. Though he slipped to 26th after Friday’s qualifying, Kelley rebounded with a 3.621 in the final session to qualify 13th out of 64 cars.
In the first round on Sunday, Kelley faced two-time Northeast Outlaw Pro Mod Association champion Mike Decker Jr. Despite traction issues, Kelley posted a 4.003 at 195.11 to advance. In the second round, he narrowly defeated Decker’s son, Mike “Hollywood” Decker III, with a 3.661 at 204.48 over Decker III’s 3.662 at 206.64.
Kelley continued his impressive run in the third round, cutting a .013 light and recording a 3.626 at 205.88 to defeat 2023 World Series of Pro Mod winner Spencer Hyde. He scored another holeshot victory in the semifinals, running a 3.62 at 206.73 to eliminate 2023 WSOPM runner-up Kurt Steding, who set the low elapsed time of race day with a 3.592 at 208.26.
2 – JUST BRING THE NO-PREP CAR – Kelley initially aimed to partner with a Pro Mod car owner for the Winter Series, but tuner Jeff Pierce encouraged him to bring his No Prep Kings car. The decision proved effective, as Kelley qualified, won the race, and recorded a final-round performance that tied for 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 told me what I needed to buy, ordered all my stuff for me, and showed 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.”
Pierce expressed enthusiasm for both the car’s performance and Kelley’s driving skills. Together with Kelley’s small team of young crew members, they showcased their talents 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 explained. “That is an ’85 Camaro body that rolled off the production line. I salvaged the body for that car myself. It’s just 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 test runs. He wanted to do the best he could at this race.”
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.”
3 – PIERCE COMMENDS KELLEY – After the victory, Jeff Pierce recognized Kelley as one of the top five drivers he would trust in any vehicle he is tuning. Kelley showcased impressive reaction times during eliminations, clocking .049, .012, .013, .023, and .033.
“It wasn’t that I wanted to; it’s that I knew I needed to,” Kelley said regarding his swift 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.”
4 – QUARTUCCIO ROARS INTO FINAL – Ken Quartuccio laid a strong foundation during the first qualifying session with a time of 3.651 at 203.16, initially placing him ninth. After dropping to 19th in the second session, he rebounded to 16th with a 3.644 at 205.79 in the third session on Saturday.
In a standout performance during the final session, Quartuccio clocked a remarkable 3.601 at 208.94, earning him the fourth qualifying position out of 64 cars.
In the first round of eliminations, Quartuccio and Jeff Rudolf drew the No. 1 chips, making them the first pair to race on Sunday. Though starting late on the tree, Quartuccio delivered a 3.641 at 206.35, advancing past Rudolf, who was unable to recover and finished with a 5.063.
Quartuccio then faced Jason Lee, securing a win with a time of 3.645 at 206.13 against Lee’s 6.666. The next round presented a significant challenge as he lined up against Travis “The Carolina Kid” Harvey. Quartuccio launched ahead of Harvey to win, clocking a 3.619 at 206.95, while Harvey finished with a close 3.626 at 208.46.
In the semifinals, Quartuccio faced top qualifier Mark Micke, who went red by .153 seconds, allowing Quartuccio to secure his place in the final. He powered through with a time of 3.595 at 208.49, setting the stage for a promising final showdown.
5 – LYLE BARNETT WINS PRO 275 – Lyle Barnett claimed victory in the Pro 275 category at the recent drag racing event, driving Tommy Youmans’ ProCharged “Salvage Title” Mustang. Barnett, who entered multiple classes including Pro Mod and Limited Drag Radial, qualified No. 1 and posted a final-round time of 3.742 at 203.03 mph, defeating Mark Woodruff, who encountered traction issues and coasted to an 8.17, 62.26.
“If you want a better chance at winning a race, bring three cars in three different classes,” Barnett said. He expressed gratitude to car owners Tommy and Cheryl Youmans, acknowledging a less-than-ideal performance in Pro Mod but remained optimistic about future competitions, stating, “We’ll be better come U.S. Street Nationals.”
Barnett reached the winner’s circle after a series of strong runs, starting with a 3.756 at 201.73 to advance past the first round on a bye. He followed that with a 3.754 at 201.49 to defeat Jennifer Brooke, who ran a 4.169 in the second round and then clocked a 3.668 at 203.98 to eliminate a red-lighting Nick Lacerenza in the semifinals.
“This is the first weekend that my little boy’s been at the racetrack with me,” Barnett said, reflecting on the significance of the win. He noted the presence of family, including his wife and father, stating, “This is the first time I’ve won with everybody here, and it’s special. I’ve raced with my dad my entire life, and for my son to be here for the first time when I’ve won a race, and for him to be here with his grandpa, this is what it’s about.”
6 – BLEVINS SEALS THE DEAL IN LIMITED DRAG RADIAL- Greg Blevins Jr. dominated the Limited Drag Radial category throughout the weekend, securing the event win on Sunday. The No. 1 qualifier recorded a race-day best time of 3.88 at 186.61 mph in his ProCharged ’69 Camaro, defeating third-place qualifier Wally Farbaky, who slowed to 8.398 at 86.37 in his turbocharged ’20 GT350R.
“We just had a really long year, a lot of ups and a lot of downs,” said Blevins, who was named the 2024 FuelTech Radial Outlaws Series LDR season champion. “We just put our head down, honestly, and we just literally never gave up. We had a never-quit attitude; we put some long hours into test sessions, and it just all paid off.”
He praised his team, thanking Jamie Miller and the Red Hat Mafia, stating, “Jamie’s a bad dude. He’s just a bad dude, and Jimbo and Johnny, they worked their asses off on this car. We’re a big team here. There’s no hero in our camp. Everybody has to pull their weight. Everybody has to do their job. All that hard work pays off, and here we are. We get the moments like this.”
Blevins showcased consistent performance on race day, starting with a pass of 3.974 at 187.96 to defeat Jimmy Nicolette. He followed that with a 3.952 at 185.97 to top Tommy Youmans, who posted a 3.963. In the semifinals, Blevins advanced with a time of 3.919 at 186.56, besting Jamie Stanton’s 3.93.
7 – HOLDORF CLAIMS OUTLAW 632 TITLE WITH DOMINANT PERFORMANCE – Chris Holdorf of Clermont, Florida, delivered a commanding performance in the Outlaw 632 category. He qualified first, set the lowest elapsed time of the weekend, and captured the race victory.
The final round did not present much of a challenge, as No. 2 qualifier Kyle Salminen went red by .118 seconds, allowing Holdorf to coast across the finish line. Behind the wheel of his Nelson-powered Freedom Grow ’06 GTO, Holdorf clocked a winning time of 4.126 at 169.70 mph.
“This is pretty special, especially since it’s a home track, and I’ve always had pretty good luck at Bradenton,” Holdorf stated. He expressed appreciation for his crew, tuner Jamie Miller, engine builder Kris Nelson, and M&M Transmission.
Reflecting on his recent performances, Holdorf noted, “I think I took second here at the Snowbirds last year, then won U.S. Street. I’ve always been pretty much one/two, so to keep that going is pretty special.” He acknowledged the support from the crew, emphasizing, “Jamie and all his guys, the Red Hat Mafia, they make it pretty easy. I pretty much just get in the car and hang on.”
Holdorf began his day with a first-round bye, coasting to a pass of 10.391 seconds. In the second round, he advanced with a time of 4.179 at 168.91, eliminating FIA European Pro Stock champion Jimmy Alund. In the semifinals, Holdorf secured his spot in the final with a 4.144 at 169.51, defeating local competitor Lenny Grawburg, who finished with a 4.197.
8 – FISCUS CAPTURES ULTRA STREET TITLE – Dave Fiscus secured the win in the Ultra Street category during the recent drag racing event. Driving a Buick-powered ’93 Mustang, Fiscus achieved a .010 reaction time and clocked a 4.432 at 157.26 in the final, defeating third-place qualifier Kieffer Simpson, who finished with a 4.447 at 161.71.
“It feels amazing, especially when you’re competing with a Buick V6 with a turbo,” Fiscus said. He expressed gratitude to his supporters, including Tin Soldier Race Cars, Barker Machine, Bischoff Engine Service, TRZ, Precision Turbo, FuelTech, and RPM Transmissions.
Fiscus acknowledged the odds against him, stating, “On paper, there’s no reason why this engine should be able to compete, but we run it hard enough and make good decisions.” He credited his crew for getting the vehicle finely tuned, adding, “Cheeseburger has this thing dialed in.”
During the weekend, Fiscus set three new personal-best passes. He opened with a 4.504 at 156.14 to defeat Brian Keep, followed by a 4.44 at 156.92 to eliminate Jason Spina.
To secure his place in the final round, the Cincinnati-area racer clocked a 4.43 at 157.17 against Walter Drakeford, who posted a 4.842 in the semifinals.
9 – THE BEST OF THE REST – While Pro Modified and classes stole most of the media thunder, other 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.
10 – NEXT UP – The next major event at Bradenton Motorsports Park is the fifth annual Christmas Tree Drag Racing World Championship on Dec. 20. The Drag Illustrated Winter Series, presented by J&A Service at BMP, continues from Jan. 23-26, 2025, at the U.S. Street Nationals presented by M&M Transmission.
SATURDAY NOTEBOOK - MICKE CONTINUES HIS DOMINATION
1 – IT’S THE MICKE SHOW, ALL DAY LONG – A significant field of Pro Modified competitors gathered for one of the largest races in the division’s history. Mark Micke secured the provisional No. 1 position following two qualifying sessions on Friday, clocking a 3.591-second pass.
Micke anticipated his time would be challenged in Saturday’s additional qualifying rounds. While many drivers delivered career-best performances, none surpassed Micke’s time, solidifying his place at the top of the field.
His twin-turbocharged M&M Transmission ’69 Camaro has now earned the No. 1 qualifier spot at every race this season. This remarkable consistency reflects both Micke’s and his team’s dedication throughout the year.
“To be No. 1 against this group, that just puts an exclamation point on our season,” Micke stated following the qualifying rounds. He will face Derek Ward, the winner of the 2024 Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod, in the first round of eliminations.
Micke acknowledged the effort put forth by his team, emphasizing the significance of this achievement. “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,” he said.
With the competition heating up, Micke remains focused. “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,” he added.
2 – WHO’S RACING WHO? – 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.
3 – WHO DIDN’T MAKE IT – When you have 64 cars shooting for a spot in a 32-car field, there are big names bound to come up short in qualifying. Missing the 3.677 bumps were well-known drivers Jason Scruggs, Kevin Rivenbard, Stan Shelton, Zach Sackman, Lyle Barnett, Justin Swanstrom, Antron Brown, and past WSOPM winner Mike Bowman.
4 – HARRIS MAKES A BIG MOVE – Two-time reigning PDRA Pro Boost world champion Jason Harris qualified second for the upcoming race, recording a 3.594-second pass at 209.62 mph in his ProCharged Southern Diamond Company “Party Time” ’69 Camaro during the final qualifying session. He will face former Pro Nitrous rival Jay Cox, who has returned from retirement with a new twin-turbocharged entry.
“This is the best of the best right here,” Harris said, acknowledging the strong competition. He credited his success to tuner Brandon Stroud, Pro Line Racing, and several partners, including Southern Diamond Company, SP Tools, ProCharger, and Hoosier Tire.
Harris expressed surprise at his qualifying time, admitting he did not expect a .59 to hold. “I really didn’t think a .59 would stick, but it did,” he said.
Despite the competitive field, Harris remained focused on one goal. “I really didn’t have anything to lose,” he added. “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.”
5 – SALEMI FINDS HER GROOVE – Melanie Salemi secured a top-three finish with a 3.599-second pass at 207.21 mph in the final session, driving her screw-blown Al-Lee Installations “Purple Reign” ’68 Firebird. This marks a positive stride for Salemi and her Buffalo, New York-based team after struggles to qualify in previous seasons at the World Series of Pro Mod.
“This is a reassuring performance for us, considering we brought out a new car earlier this season,” Salemi noted. The team faced challenges in the massive field, but the finish positioned them competitively moving forward.
“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,” Salemi said. She will compete against Brazil’s Roderjan Busato in round one.
Salemi expressed hope that this performance sets a positive trend for the Winter Series. “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,” she added.
6 – PRO 275 QUALIFYING REMAINS UNCHANGED DUE TO WEATHER AND OIL – Cold weather and a late-night oil-down prevented the PRO 275 class from completing its fourth qualifying session. As a result, the top qualifiers remained unchanged from Friday’s sessions.
Lyle Barnett claimed the top position with a 3.676-second run at 202.30 mph in Tommy Youmans’ ProCharged “Salvage Title” Mustang. Barnett is competing in multiple classes this weekend, including Pro Mod and Limited Drag Radial.
Nick Lacerenza qualified in second place, posting a 3.773-second pass at 199.70 mph in his ProCharged 1990 Mustang. Chad Opaleski maintained his third position with a 3.803-second time at 198.79 mph in his screw-blown 1966 Chevelle.
7 – TURN-KEY OPERATION – Modern Racing is now the Official Turn-Key Solution for the Drag Illustrated Winter Series. Based in Mooresville, North Carolina, Modern Racing offers a variety of services, including wiring, plumbing, fabrication, and tuning, establishing itself as a trusted resource for drag racers.
“Everyone here at Modern Racing is thrilled to be part of such a large race series,” said Justin Elkes, owner of Modern Racing. “This partnership gives us the chance to give back and support our current customers, and it also allows us to introduce ourselves to other racers we’ve yet to reach.”
Modern Racing’s reputation is built on extensive experience with performance parts and exceptional customer support. The company has worked with a range of teams, from NHRA Pro Stock to PDRA Pro Nitrous record holders.
“With the ‘build season’ coming up, we’re excited to help our customers take their rides to the next level,” Elkes said. “We’re more interested in meeting our customers’ needs and getting them down the track as easily, safely, and fast as possible.”
8 – BLEVINS DOMINATES LIMITED DRAG RADIAL WITH RECORD TIME – Greg Blevins Jr. solidified his position as the top qualifier in Limited Drag Radial by posting a 3.872-second pass at 191.84 mph. This marked an improvement over his previous best of 3.899 seconds recorded on Friday, making him the only driver in the class to dip into the 3.80s.
Following Blevins, Matt Bell improved his time to 3.911 seconds at 195.25 mph in his turbocharged 1993 Mustang, maintaining the No. 2 spot.
Wally Farbaky moved up to third place with a time of 3.918 seconds at 196.59 mph in his turbocharged 2020 GT350R.
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.
9 – PEVLOR BREAKS E.T. RECORD IN ULTRA STREET WITH STRONG PERFORMANCE – Shawn Pevlor continued his dominant performance in the Ultra Street class by setting a new E.T. record of 4.374 seconds at 161.87 mph in John Kolivas’s 1993 Mustang. This impressive run solidifies Pevlor’s position as a top contender for the weekend.
Davey Hull and Kieffer Simpson also made notable strides, both breaking into the 4.30s to secure their own qualifying positions. Hull finished with a time of 4.378 seconds at 160.63 mph in his 1992 Mustang, earning the second spot in the field.
Simpson qualified third with a time of 4.398 seconds at 163.47 mph in his “American Xpress” 2013 Mustang. With these times, the competition in Ultra Street is clearly tightening as drivers push their limits.
9B – INTERNATIONAL FLAVOR – European standout and former US Pro Stock racer Jimmy Alund is Bradenton this weekend competing outlaw 632
10 – HOLDORF TOPS OUTLAW 632 – Chris Holdorf delivered a strong performance in the final qualifying session for Outlaw 632, recording a time of 4.123 seconds at 170.30 mph. This run earned him the No. 1 qualifying position, edging out Kyle Salminen by just one-thousandth of a second.
FRIDAY NOTEBOOK - MARK MICKE DOES MARK MICKE THINGS ON FRIDAY, BARNETT TOPS PRO275
1 – OH MICKE! – Mark Micke, driving his twin-turbocharged M&M Transmission ’69 Camaro, secured the No. 1 qualifying position at the Snowbirds event. He recorded the quickest times in both Friday qualifying sessions, first with a 3.625-second pass at 217.21 mph, edging out six-time NHRA Pro Stock world champion Erica Enders, who ran 3.628 seconds.
Micke reclaimed the provisional top spot in the second session with a 3.591-second run at 218.87 mph, surpassing Canadian Pro Mod veteran Kenny Lang’s previous best of 3.624 seconds.
“We were trying to run a little faster [in Q1] but the car shook a little early,” Micke said. “Luckily, this car recovered, and we got lucky to beat Erica by just a little bit. We came back, looked at everything, the guys went to work, made a stator change in the converter, and changed some stuff on the car. I honestly thought everybody else was gonna step up a bunch, so when Kenny went that number, I’m like, ‘All right, I’ve got a bunch of fast-ass cars behind me.
“We need to go .59-.60 to hold on to No. 1.’ I really felt that. Luckily, the car made the rip and did what we wanted it to. I think everybody else is struggling a little bit with the bald spots up there a little bit. We just got a hold of it.”
Micke plans to continue improving during Saturday’s qualifying sessions, which will determine the 32-car field for Sunday eliminations.
“Our mindset this weekend is we want to win this deal, period,” he said.
He also acknowledged the challenge ahead, stating, “You’re gonna see other guys step up tomorrow, I promise because the air is gonna cool off.”
Lang moved up to the No. 2 position with a 3.624-second pass at 209.17 mph in his screw-blown ’69 Camaro. Enders finished the day third with a 3.628-second run at 205.22 mph in a ProCharged Elite Motorsports entry.
Two-time reigning PDRA Pro Boost world champion Jason Harris secured the fourth spot with a 3.633-second pass at 207.05 mph in his ProCharged “Party Time” Camaro. Jeff Rudolf completed the top five with a 3.639-second run at 205.29 mph.
Joel Wensley anchors the 32-car field at 3.680 seconds at 206.26 mph.
2 – LYLE SHINES ON THE SKINNY TIRES – Lyle Barnett secured the provisional No. 1 position in Pro 275 this weekend with a time of 3.676 seconds at 202.30 mph in Tommy Youmans’ ProCharged “Salvage Title” Mustang. This is the same elapsed time he used to qualify No. 30 in Pro Mod.
Nick Lacerenza claimed the No. 2 spot in Pro 275 with a run of 3.773 seconds at 199.70 mph in his ProCharged ’90 Mustang. Chad Opaleski of Ocala, Florida, is currently third, recording a 3.803-second pass at 198.79 mph in his screw-blown ’66 Chevelle.
3 – BE GRUDGINGLY – One of the highlights of the Snowbird Outlaw Nationals is the practice of grudge races during Friday’s qualifying. The highest profile of the callouts pitted Antron Brown, the current NHRA Top Fuel champion and driver of Manny Buginga’s Pro Modified Lexus, against Pro Modified fan-favorite Lyle Barnett.
Brown won it on a holeshot, beating Barnett, 3.673 to 3.671.
“Guess the long car guy can drive a little bit of short cars, too,” Brown said. “I love Pro Modified, and to come here and have Steve Petty turning the screws, he’s always been a hero in my mind. For Manny [Buginga] to match all this up and to come out here and do what we do, I’m having a blast.”
There was an intra-family skirmish in the other high-profile grudge match as Erica Enders beat her brother-in-law Spencer Hyde. She outran him by a 3.634 to 3.653 margin. The common denominator, Courtney Enders, was the starter for the race.
“When Spencer asked if I wanted to grudge race… I told him, “Let me see if I can do a burnout in the car first before we start talking smack,” Enders said. “I have a lot of respect for Spencer as a racer and I knew beating him would be a tall order. Coming from the NHRA side it’s way more PC, so its definitely out of my comfort zone.”
4 – AB GOES A-TO-B – So this is what Antron Brown does on a weekend off from the demanding NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series? The recently crowned four-time NHRA Top Fuel champion is racing this weekend behind the wheel of Manny Buginga’s sleek, Procharged Lexus. He is currently qualified No. 27 with a 3.672 behind the wheel of the car named “Jerome.”
“We’ve been friends with Manny and the Buginga family for some time now and have raced with them in the past, so when Manny called and said I want you to drive our red Lexus RCF Pro Mod, it was an easy decision for me,” Brown said. “It’s been a work in progress for some time, and I really enjoy going to Bradenton during the off-season and doing some eighth-mile racing, and now, with these three events in December, January, and early March, I’m super-excited. I feel like an NBA player who hoops at the Drew League in the summer.
Brown won here in 2022, claiming the Pro 275 title behind the wheel of Buginga’s non-descript Mustang, nicknamed simply “Fred.”
“It’s such a cool series with a diverse group of racers who will come to Bradenton to duke it out, and I’m very fortunate to be a part of it. I always have fun at the drag strip, but I’m always in it to win it, and that’s our goal. Why go out there if you don’t have a chance to win?”
Brown isn’t solo this weekend, as his tuner, Brian Corradi, is fielding a Pro Modified entry as well. He purchased an RH Race Cars-built Procharged 2018 Camaro that Top Dragster ace Zach Sackman is driving. Currently, the team is outside the 3.680 bump spot, No. 39, just .02 off the bump spot.
“I just wanted to dabble in [Pro Modified] and maybe get my license one of these days,” Corradi said. “Meanwhile, Zach will drive it. I went with the Procharger combination so we could see better out of the car.”
Interestingly, the doorslammer features a theme common to Corradi, thanks to his relationship with past two-time Pro Modified champion Mike Ashley.
5 – JONES UNINJURED IN CRASH – Wesley Jones experienced a serious on-track incident during Thursday’s testing session at Bradenton Motorsports Park for the Snowbird Outlaw Nationals. His car became airborne, made contact with the wall, and flipped onto its roof, resulting in a fire.
Despite the severity of the crash, Jones walked away unharmed. The incident occurred when the car’s front end lifted off the ground, causing it to drift toward the wall.
Jones was able to exit the car as rescue crews arrived.
6 – THAT’S CLOSE RACING – Only .089 of a second separates Mark Micke, who is off in his own zip code with a 3.591, .033 quicker than No. 2 Kenny Lang, from No. 32, the field, from Joel Wensley, who anchors the provisional field with a 3.680. Interestingly, the No. 40 spot is a 3.782.
7 – GETTING THE POINT – The 2024-25 Drag Illustrated Winter Series will feature a points championship for Pro Mod drag racers at Bradenton Motorsports Park. This three-race series will culminate in the World Series of Pro Mod (WSOPM), where points-and-a-half will be awarded during eliminations.
With a total purse exceeding $275,000, along with an additional $25,000 for the series champion, the initiative seeks to enhance competition among Pro Mod racers. The points champion will also receive a custom-designed championship ring from Jostens.
Wes Buck, Founder and Editorial Director of Drag Illustrated, remarked on the evolution of the series. “What started out as a once-a-year happening has evolved into a three-race championship series that is going to produce some of the most competitive drag racing in the history of our sport,” he said.
The series will kick off with the Snowbird Outlaw Nationals, followed by the U.S. Street Nationals, and end with the WSOPM. Points will be awarded for qualifying, elimination victories, and participation, encouraging consistent performance across all events.
Buck emphasized the importance of the series for Pro Mod racing. “It’s been our mission… to demonstrate that Pro Mod drag racing is a marquee attraction, deserving of top billing,” he stated.
The championship will feature cars that maintain their classic appearance and showcase drivers embodying the outlaw spirit of drag racing. This ethos is designed to attract both fans and competitors, fostering an engaging atmosphere.
Buck acknowledged crucial support from sponsors and racers. “None of this would be possible without the support of J&A Service and our incredible family of sponsors,” he noted.
Points will be awarded based on various criteria, including qualifying positions, elimination victories, and overall participation, with special scoring at the WSOPM. A detailed points system can be accessed on the series website, www.TheWinterSeries.com.
“The Drag Illustrated Winter Series is a season-defining championship,” Buck added. “We’ll have the attention of the drag racing masses as we work towards crowning our inaugural champion.”
9 – PEVLOR LEADS ULTRA STREET – A few competitors in the Ultra Street class recorded impressive times in the 4.40s during qualifying. Shawn Pevlor secured the fastest run with a 4.405 seconds at 161.87 mph in his ’93 Mustang.
Fellow Ohio driver Dave Fiscus followed closely, posting a time of 4.443 seconds at 156.99 mph in his own ’93 Mustang. Terry Wilson rounded out the top three qualifiers with a 4.456-second run at 155.88 mph in his ’95 Mustang.
Mike Fiorelli from Hollywood secured the No. 2 spot, posting a career-best 4.16 seconds at 171.03 mph in his Clayton Murphy-tuned ’68 Camaro. Clermont’s Chris Holdorf rounded out the top three with a 4.165-second run at 169.00 mph in his Jamie Miller-tuned, Nelson-powered Freedom Grow ’10 GTO.
10 – ON TAP FOR TODAY – Qualifying continues Saturday at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday’s schedule also features the Jet Jam Night of Fire with Rick Knobb’s “Boneshaker” Jet Truck, Hayden Profitt II’s “Hot Streak” Jet Truck, and the Larsen Motorsports Jet Dragsters. Jet shows are set for 4 and 8 p.m.
