Jason Harris stayed out front Friday as the Snowbird Outlaw Nationals produced the quickest 32-car Pro Mod field in history. His 3.560-second run at 211.20 mph from Thursday night remained untouched through four sessions, giving the four-time PDRA champion the No. 1 qualifier award in a field separated by just .055 seconds.
The Snowbirds serve as the opening race of the 2025-26 Drag Illustrated Winter Series presented by J&A Service, a three-event points chase at Bradenton Motorsports Park. The winner earns $50,000 and the chance to pursue the inaugural Elite Motorsports Million, a $1-million bonus for sweeping all three races in the Winter Series.
Harris followed his leading pass with a 3.617 at 209.62 Friday morning, then shut off early on his final attempt when his Camaro drifted out of shape. The Harold Denton tribute ’69 Camaro, boosted by a Harts Charger, remained the benchmark as teams chased the rapidly tightening field.
As the top qualifier, Harris collected the $5,000 Jerry Bickel Race Cars No. 1 Qualifier Bonus. Winning the top spot at all three Winter Series races would secure a new Pro Mod rolling chassis valued at more than $200,000 under the Jerry Bickel Race Cars Clean Sweep Challenge.
“When you can qualify No. 1 in this field right here, you’ve gotta be one of the baddest guys out there, and that’s kind of the way I feel like we are right now,” Harris said. “We’re a lower budgeted team, so it feels good to win that $5,000.”
Harris said the opportunity for the Clean Sweep award would be “life-changing.” He also credited his father, Bob, and tuner Brandon Stroud for keeping the program consistent across both days of qualifying.
For eliminations, Harris drew Mark Micke in the random chip pairing—a matchup between this year’s No. 1 qualifier and the driver who swept all three pole positions in last year’s Winter Series. Harris acknowledged the challenge but said the entire field is capable of delivering race-winning numbers.
“I’m kind of bad at chip drawing, so I knew I was going to draw somebody who was going to be tough,” Harris said. “But No. 1 to 32 is all tough, and nobody wants me, but I don’t want anybody else.”
Jimmy Taylor moved to No. 2 with a 3.567 at 223.36 after struggling on Thursday with electrical and mechanical problems. Taylor, who recently set doorslammer world-record numbers with his twin-turbo Xtreme Racing Engines Camaro, secured his berth with the quickest pass of Friday’s early sessions.
“I ain’t gonna lie, I didn’t sleep a whole lot last night,” Taylor said. “We weren’t even gonna make the field at that point with our luck. When we come out and run a .56, I was ecstatic.”
Taylor will race Robert Davis to start eliminations.
PDRA Pro Boost champion Ty Tutterow surged to third with a 3.572 at 208.39 as his father, Todd “King Tut” Tutterow, managed tuning duties. The Quik Fuel ’69 Camaro made its best run in the final session, pushing the young champion into the top tier of the ladder.
“To be in the field itself is a great task to accomplish,” Tutterow said. “And to be near the front is an honor.”
Defending Snowbirds winner Kye Kelley returned with a purpose-built Pro Mod after winning last year’s race in a steel-roof-and-quarters Camaro. His new Larry Jeffers Race Cars ’25 Camaro, nicknamed “Uncle Larry,” posted a 3.575 at 209.62 for the No. 4 position.
Kelley, who will face fellow Street Outlaws: No Prep Kings alumnus Scott Taylor, said the new car’s consistency is rooted in tuner Jeff Pierce’s approach.
“When I strap in that car, I know I have a tune-up that’s gonna go right down the racetrack,” Kelley said. “It makes me confident as a driver, and I go out there every time thinking I’m gonna win.”
Eric Gustafson, the former NMCA Xtreme Pro Mod champion, rounded out the top five with a 3.576 at 210.01 in his ProCharged Coast Packing Co. Camaro.
Pro 10.5 competitors also completed two sessions Friday, though none improved on John Carinci’s 3.879 at 209.69 from Thursday. Carinci continued his strong form after also qualifying No. 1 at this year’s WSOPM at Bradenton.
Jerry Morgano kept the No. 2 position with a 3.900 at 203.03, while Ohio’s Bill Lutz jumped to third with a 3.906 at 194.10. Former NFL standout Fletcher Cox dropped to fourth with a 3.907 at 190.32 in his nitrous-assisted Camaro.
Radial competitors in Limited Drag Radial and Ultra Street added one Friday session to their Thursday baselines. Bradenton racer Brett LaSala maintained the top spot in Limited Drag Radial with a 3.900 at 196.85 in the “Snot Rocket” Mustang, while Indiana’s Terry Wilson stayed No. 1 in Ultra Street with a 4.425 at 157.80.
Saturday’s schedule opens with index qualifying at 8 a.m. Pro Mod eliminations begin at 10 a.m., with the Jet Jam Night of Fire producing shows at 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. The program includes jet Funny Cars, jet trucks, and jet dragsters.
Fans can attend for $40, with free admission for active military and children 12 and under. A livestream of the full event is available through FloRacing.
