If you thought the first one was a home run, wait until the Professional Racers Organization [PRO] and the team at Bradenton Motorsports do it again. 

PRO is bringing back the SCAG PRO Superstar Shootout to Bradenton Motorsports Park from February 6-8, 2025. After making a significant impact in its inaugural year, the event showcased thrilling side-by-side racing, a one-of-a-kind chip draw elimination format, and record-setting speeds, creating a fan-friendly atmosphere.

The upcoming race will feature full-time professional teams in the Top Fuel, Funny Car, and Pro Stock categories. Following last year’s success, PRO is offering early bird tickets to fans at a discounted rate of 55 per day or 150 for a three-day pass, available until October 31.

“The inaugural shootout was a huge win for the fans, for PRO, and its members,” said Alan Johnson, PRO President. “Our goal with the SCAG PRO Superstar Shootout is to give motorsports fans a unique event and to get them excited for the start of the 2025 NHRA season. Last year, we put on an amazing show that saw Doug Kalitta (Top Fuel), Austin Prock (Funny Car), and Erica Enders (Pro Stock) drive to exhilarating victories. This year, we will be looking to once again offer fans an unparalleled drag racing experience. We know interest in the PRO Superstar Shootout will be very high, which is why tickets are going on sale now to ensure fans from around the world can secure their entry.”

Doug Kalitta, driver of the Mac Tools Top Fuel team, reflected on his experience at the inaugural event, stating, “On the heels of winning my first Top Fuel championship, winning the first PRO Superstar Shootout was pretty cool. We were all happy to win that race, but making the eight-car field was incredibly tough. The whole deal was just really cool. It was something different for the drivers and teams, and the fans loved it. I am looking forward to getting back to Bradenton next year with our Mac Tools Kalitta Motorsports team.”

The event format from 2024 will continue in 2025. After qualifying on Thursday and Friday, Saturday’s elimination round matchups in the eight-car field will be decided by a chip draw, a defining characteristic of the SCAG PRO Superstar Shootout. Higher-qualified drivers will choose chips with names to determine first-round matchups, while subsequent rounds will also involve random draws, ensuring an element of unpredictability.

Bob Tasca III, who set a record with a 341 MPH run at last year’s event, shared his enthusiasm for the format. 

“We will be doing chip draws every round, and we’ll also highlight some strong Top Fuel versus Funny Car racing again in 2025,” Tasca said. “We want this race to have a different feel and experience than a traditional national event. The drivers and teams like the format because it’s unpredictable and fun, and the fans let us know they loved it!”

The event will feature sportsman categories, including Top Sportsman, Stock, and Super Stock, in addition to Top Fuel and Funny Car races. Fans can look forward to autograph sessions, driver question-and-answer opportunities, and additional entertainment elements. The PRO Superstar Shootout will be broadcast on FloRacing throughout the three-day event.

Victor Alvarez, owner of Bradenton Motorsports Park, expressed his excitement about hosting the event again. 

“Last year was an amazing event that I couldn’t imagine not doing again,” Alvarez said. “Bradenton has a unique vibe. I take a lot of pride in that, and I’m extremely proud of our staff and everything that went into making last year such a success. When I bought that track, a dream of mine was to get the facility to a point where we could host special events like the PRO Superstar Shootout. I can’t wait to work with PRO to make this year’s event even better for the drivers, the sponsors, and most importantly, the fans.”