The pursuit of the Elite Motorsports Million narrowed sharply after the opening round of the Drag Illustrated Winter Series, with Jason Harris emerging as the lone driver still eligible for the $1 million bonus following his victory at the Snowbird Outlaw Nationals.
The bonus, offered by Elite Motorsports, will be paid to any driver capable of sweeping all three Winter Series events, a feat that has yet to be accomplished in modern professional drag racing.
Harris’ win in the series opener placed him at the center of the Winter Series storyline, while also magnifying the difficulty of what remains ahead. The next two races — the U.S. Street Nationals and the World Series of Pro Mod — represent a gauntlet against one of the deepest Pro Mod fields assembled.
Elite Motorsports owner Richard Freeman acknowledged the magnitude of the task while stressing that drag racing history leaves room for the unexpected. He framed the challenge as one that requires precision, timing, and circumstances aligning over multiple race weekends.
“Anything is possible,” Freeman said. “It’s not going to be easy, and it might not be pretty either. I think there has to be some luck involved, but we’ve seen some remarkable things in drag racing. Winning the Elite Million, winning these three races, that would be at the top of the list. I’d ultimately like to see someone do it.”
The victory also shifted the competitive dynamic for the remainder of the field. While Harris carries the pressure of perfection, nearly 80 other teams now enter the remaining events with a single objective: prevent a sweep.
“I think the pressure ramps up for sure, at least for Jason,” Freeman said. “For the rest of the field, the pressure is kind of off. There’s nothing extra on the line if they win, except the bragging rights. Everyone now has two chances – two races left – to block him from winning the Elite Million.”
History suggests that qualifying position and reputation offer little protection in this series. The Winter Series has repeatedly demonstrated that any team capable of reaching the 32-car field can contend for a win on a given weekend.
“You’ve got the best of the best out here racing,” Freeman said. “There’s a whole list of drivers who are capable of preventing Jason from winning the Elite Million. It’s the driver, it’s the team, it’s the car, it’s the track. All are huge factors, and they don’t always all come together every run. It’s so tight. Spencer Hyde won from the last qualifying spot one year. It goes to show you it’s anybody’s game.”
Freeman’s interest in the outcome is not purely promotional. Elite Motorsports fields two entries of its own, driven by Aaron Stanfield and Erica Enders, and Freeman made clear he would welcome one of his teams playing spoiler.
“I hope we can knock him off,” Freeman said. “He’s got to be perfect and probably hope that other people make some mistakes.”
