Drag Illustrated
John DeFlorian Accepts First Invitation to $25,000-to-Win Mountain Motor Pro Stock Invitational
BRADENTON, FL – There are few people who get as excited about Mountain Motor Pro Stock racing as class veteran John DeFlorian. That’s 
one of the reasons why he was the first driver invited to take part in the inaugural $hameless Racing Mountain Motor Pro Stock Invitational (MMPSI) presented by Seminole Paving. Taking place during the Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod, March 3-5, 2023, at Bradenton Motorsports Park, the MMPSI is a $25,000-to-win invitational.
“To be invited first, I’m extremely humbled by it,” DeFlorian said. “I never would’ve expected it. This is going to be a lot of fun. This will be the best of the best. When you go down there for $25K, you’re going to have guys throwing down, and you better bring your A-game if you’re gonna try to get it done. We’re so wound up and excited about it. This is the first year for it, and I don’t think it’ll do anything but grow and get bigger and bigger every single year from here on it. Glad to be on the ground floor of it.”
Since joining the Mountain Motor Pro Stock ranks in 2012, DeFlorian has just about done it all, including win races in five different series and sanctioning bodies. He’s competed against championship drivers along the way, and he’s expecting the toughest competition yet at the Mountain Motor Pro Stock Invitational.
Tickets on Sale for 2023 Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod at Bradenton Motorsports Park
BRADENTON, FL – After high demand, tickets to the richest Pro Mod drag race, the 2023 Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod, are now 
on sale. The WSOPM is set for March 3-5, 2023, at one of the nation’s premier drag racing facilities, Bradenton Motorsports Park in Bradenton, Florida.
“The World Series of Pro Mod is set to change the sport of drag racing forever as in just under three months the best drivers and teams on the planet will take to the legendary drag strip at Bradenton Motorsports Park and do battle for $100,000,” said Wes Buck, event promoter. “It’s going to be something that no one will want to miss, and the energy and enthusiasm for the race is already building. We know our passionate fans here in the U.S. and those from around the world will want to be there to witness the biggest, richest Pro Mod drag race in the history of the known universe first hand. We can’t wait for March 3rd, 2023.”
Fans can purchase various tickets to the highly-competitive doorslammer race, where they will see the best Pro Mod drivers compete for the winner-take-all $100,000 cash prize. The 2023 WSOPM will feature an eighth-mile outlaw format. Only the quickest 32 of the 40-plus invited drivers will qualify.
Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod to Air on CBS Sports
INDIANAPOLIS – The 2023 Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod will air on CBS Sports, event officials announced Thursday during a 
press conference at the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Show in Indianapolis. Masters Entertainment Group will produce the show covering the stars and action of the $100,000-to-win invitational, March 3-5, 2023, at Bradenton Motorsports Park.
“CBS Sports is the ideal partner for the World Series of Pro Mod, allowing us to put the biggest, richest Pro Mod drag race in the history and our incredible roster of drivers in some 69 million households,” said Wes Buck, Drag Illustrated Founder and Editorial Director. “This deal represents an unparalleled increase in exposure for our racers and partners, and sets us up for continued growth and success alongside a committed, innovative, and world-class broadcast partner.”
CBS Sports’ coverage of the World Series of Pro Mod will feature a minimum one-hour show, with the possibility of expanding to a two-hour show. Along with showing the thrilling competition on track, the show will highlight the many different personalities that have been invited to take part in the $100,000 winner-take-all shootout.
Mark ‘Tydo’ Werdehausen to Race in Memory of Tim Slavens at WSOPM
BRADENTON, FL – As the longtime crew chief for the late Tim Slavens, Mark “Tydo” Werdehausen never thought he would be driving the 
twin-turbocharged “Wolverine II” ’69 Camaro Pro Mod that was built for Slavens before his untimely passing in early 2022. But after a record performance at the 51st annual Snowbird Outlaw Nationals, Werdehausen is ready to chase the $100,000 prize at the 2023 Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod in memory of Slavens.
“I’d rather [Slavens] be here driving,” Werdehausen said. “He’s the one who got us to where we’re at. I just get to take over. I just wish he could be here to enjoy it with us.”
Slavens, a fan favorite in small-tire classes like Radial vs. the World, passed away Jan. 7, 2022, after a hard-fought COVID battle just weeks after debuting the “Wolverine II” at the Snowbirds. With the support of Slavens’ family, Werdehausen and car owners Matt and Anita Zimmerman and Mark Michael forged ahead with the 2022 season, dedicating it to Slavens.
Travis ‘The Carolina Kid’ Harvey on WSOPM: ‘Just Getting in Felt Like Winning’
BRADENTON, FL – Like so many other Pro Modified drivers, Travis Harvey was waiting by his phone for an invitation to the 2023 Drag 
Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod, March 3-5, at Bradenton Motorsports Park. The driver known as the “Carolina Kid” recently got that call from Drag Illustrated Founder and Editorial Director Wes Buck, and he’s locked in to race for $100,000 along with an all-star cast of over 40 other drivers.
“When I answered the phone and [Buck] asked me about the race, it was like a win for me,” Harvey said. “It’s an honor to be a part of this deal with all these great drivers. Just getting in felt like winning the race.”
Over the course of a diverse driving career, Harvey has established a strong fan base, especially in his native North Carolina. He started out bracket racing at Piedmont Dragway, where he won track championships as well as two Big Dog Shootout championships. His sportsman racing accomplishments also include a PDRA Top Dragster world championship, multiple IHRA divisional titles, and numerous big-money bracket wins. He’s also an accomplished grudge racer, recently reaching the $50,000 final round at Mike “The Hitman” Hill’s Year End Finale.
Drag Illustrated Releases 2022 30 Under 30 Issue Ahead of PRI Show
INDIANAPOLIS – The 2022 Drag Illustrated 30 Under 30 issue, highlighting the brightest and most promising young people in drag racing, is now available in digital form, Drag Illustrated announced today. Print copies will hit subscriber mailboxes starting this week. Copies will also be available at the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Show, Dec. 8-10, in Indianapolis.
The honorees who appear on the 2022 DI 30 Under 30 list will be celebrated at a special press conference at the PRI Show in the PRI Content Creator Zone on Friday, Dec. 9 at 1 p.m. ET.
“For seven years now, we’ve asked the drag racing community to submit nominations to help us fill out the 30 Under 30 list,” said Nate Van Wagnen, editor-in-chief, Drag Illustrated. “Yet again, we received thousands of nominations from passionate supporters like parents, siblings, teammates, friends, sponsors, and even nominees’ former elementary school teachers. These nominations have helped us realize just how wide the talent pool is when it comes to rising young stars. By highlighting just a fraction of these individuals in the 30 Under 30 issue, we hope to inspire them to keep it up while also reminding the world that drag racing’s future is in good hands.”
Melanie Salemi Leads Pro Mod Friday Qualifying at Snowbird Outlaw Nationals
BRADENTON, FL – After two rounds of Outlaw Pro Mod qualifying at the 51st annual Snowbird Outlaw Nationals presented by Motion 
Raceworks, Melanie Salemi is the provisional low qualifier with a 3.589-second pass at 206.95 MPH in the second session Friday night at Bradenton Motorsports Park.
Along with two rounds of Pro Mod qualifying, the complete Snowbirds lineup, from Pro 275 to Jr. Dragster classes, also received one round of qualifying to kick off the historic event.
Salemi rolled into the Snowbirds with one of the quickest cars in Pro Mod, Eddie Whelan’s roots-blown Slice-and-Ice ’19 Camaro. Throughout the 2022 season, she reached the final round at multiple independent Pro Mod races, won a PDRA Pro Boost race, and qualified No. 1 four times in Pro Boost competition. Even with a weight penalty for her combination, Salemi and her family-based team, led by husband Jon and brother-in-law Jim, managed to take the top spot.
Tickets on Sale for Drag Illustrated ‘After Hours’ Party Powered by VP Racing
INDIANAPOLIS – Tickets are now on sale for Drag Illustrated After Hours Powered by VP Racing, a party hosted by Drag Illustrated 
magazine during the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Show week. DI After Hours Powered by VP Racing will take over INVY Nightclub in Indianapolis on Thursday, Dec. 8.
“Everybody has been asking us when they can get tickets for the party, so we’re excited to finally make them available,” said J.T. Hudson, VP of business development & client relations, Drag Illustrated. “We encourage everyone to get their tickets online so they’re ready to go for the busy PRI Show week. Also, be sure to swing by the DI booth on Thursday to pick up an early access pass!”
Now in its seventh year, DI After Hours Powered by VP Racing has become a must-attend gathering during the PRI Show week, attracting attendees from all corners of the drag racing world.
Newly Crowned MWDRS Pro Mod Champion Dustin Nesloney Scores 2023 World Series of Pro Mod Invitation
BRADENTON, FL – Longtime boat racer Dustin Nesloney moved over to land-based Pro Modified drag racing in search of a new challenge. 
He found that and then some, competing in the Mid-West Drag Racing Series, where the Texas native won the 2022 Pro Mod championship. Now, Nesloney has his sights set on the $100,000-to-win 2023 Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod, March 3-5, at Bradenton Motorsports Park.
“I’m definitely proud and honored to be invited to run with some of the top guys in Pro Mod,” said Nesloney, who won three races in five final-round appearances this season. “To be able to run against people that I’ve looked up to and admire is going to be an awesome deal.”
Even though Nesloney’s ProCharger-boosted ’17 Camaro proved itself throughout the 2022 MWDRS season, it will soon be replaced by a brand-new Camaro. The new car will continue to use a ProCharger-boosted engine prepared by Pro Line Racing and tuned by Brandon Stroud.
2018 World Series of Pro Mod Champion Carl Stevens Jr. to Chase $100,000 Again at 2023 WSOPM
BRADENTON, FL – When Carl Stevens Jr. won the 2018 Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod at Bandimere Speedway, he didn’t just 
collect the $100,000 winner-take-all prize. He also earned a lifetime invitation to all future Drag Illustrated events, including the recently announced 2023 World Series of Pro Mod, March 3-5, at Bradenton Motorsports Park.
“I can’t even put into words what it means to get the chance to do it again,” said Stevens, who was also a participant in the 2019 WSOPM. “That was the baddest race I’d ever been to. The excitement and buzz that was building heading into that race, when that race went away, the buzz went away. There was no real excitement or hype like you’ve got going again. It’s pretty awesome to get a chance to be a part of that again. If I wasn’t invited, I’d be there as a spectator just because of the buzz and everything that’s around it.”
Unlike the first three WSOPMs, which were quarter-mile events based on “legal” rules, the 2023 edition will be an eighth-mile race with outlaw-style rules that allow entries from across drag racing’s numerous Pro Modified classes.
