BRADENTON, FL – PJS Racing has been named an event sponsor of the 2024 Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod (WSOPM) presented by Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage and J&A Service, race officials announced today. Taking place March 1-3 at Bradenton Motorsports Park, the WSOPM will see more than 60 of the best Pro Modified teams in the world compete for a $100,000 winner-take-all prize.

“Brandon Pesz, his wife Kimmelyn and son Cole, along with the whole gang at PJS Racing, are doing big things in the sport of drag racing right now, and I couldn’t be more excited to have them as part of our Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod family,” said Wes Buck, Drag Illustrated founder & editorial director. “I’ve known Brandon since 2006 when we met at Texas Raceway in Kennedale, Texas, and we’ve been good buddies ever since. I’ve always tried to do my best to support him and his racing career and now, as a business owner himself, he’s committed to supporting me, and that means a lot. It’s how these things are supposed to work.”

PJS Racing is known for building some of the most powerful and durable racing engines on the market, while maintaining the highest quality and quantity of parts available for their customers. They also provide tuning and suspension setups for high-horsepower race cars.

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BRADENTON, FL – Strange Engineering, a leading provider of high-performance automotive components, is proud to announce its partnership with the 2024 Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod (WSOPM) presented by Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage and J&A Service, to host an exclusive Racer Welcome Party. This event will set the stage for the highly anticipated racing weekend at Bradenton Motorsports Park from March 1-3, with the welcome festivities taking place on Thursday, Feb. 29.

The WSOPM Racer Welcome Party presented by Strange Engineering aims to provide a relaxed atmosphere for racers and sponsors alike, allowing them to unwind and socialize before the competitive action begins. According to Drag Illustrated Founder and WSOPM Promoter Wes Buck, the idea is to recreate the carefree spirit of youth.

“With the high stakes and pressure that come with the WSOPM, we wanted to continue the tradition of the pizza party where our racers can grab a slice of pizza and a cold drink,” said Buck.

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BRADENTON, FL – A six-year veteran of the Pro Modified ranks, Derek Ward had his most successful season to date in 2023, having claimed the Northeast Outlaw Pro Mod Association (NEOPMA) championship. Now, he is ready to throw down at the biggest and baddest Pro Mod event of the year, the 2024 Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod presented by Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage and J&A Service, March 1-3 at Bradenton Motorsports Park.

“I am excited for sure and it’s definitely the biggest race I’ve ever raced at,” Ward said. “I think if we keep the car consistent like we have, we have as a good a chance as any to win it.”

There’s no doubt that 2023 was challenging for Ward, who was mixing it up with some of the best Outlaw Pro Mod racers around in the NEOPMA series, but the Maryland resident also suffered a major crash towards the end of the season.

“I wrecked at Budds Creek at the end of last year. A week later, I bought this one,” he said of the burgundy hued, 2005 G-Force Race Cars-built ‘68 Firebird he is currently piloting.

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BRADENTON, FL – Pro Modified veterans-turned-teammates Stan Shelton and Kevin Rivenbark will both be looking for redemption at this year’s Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod (WSOPM) presented by Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage and J&A Service, taking place March 1-3 at Bradenton Motorsports Park.

Both drivers narrowly missed the field in 2023 – Shelton qualified 34th, with Rivenbark one spot back in 35th – after getting bumped out in the final qualifying session by Spencer Hyde. Hyde then went on to win the $100,000 prize. That setback is only motivating the pair even more this year.

“We’re really excited, because we didn’t make the show last year,” said Shelton. “We came in, we tested, but we just wasn’t good enough. But that’s what is so impressive about the show – everybody’s got a chance to win it. We’re excited about running two cars. It’s a little tougher for us, but we like what we’re learning from it. We’ve got a great combination.”

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BRADENTON, FL – When Travis Harvey rolls through the gates of Bradenton Motorsports Park for the Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod (WSOPM) presented by Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage and J&A Service March 1-3, he’ll do so with double driving duties.

Not only will Harvey be competing for the $100,000 prize in Pro Mod, he’ll also be competing in the $50,000-to-win Intercontinental Top Dragster Championship presented by FTI Performance, driving a car owned by Jeff Pittman and Angie Travis.

In Pro Mod, Harvey – the 2023 Big Dog Series champion – will be piloting his new screw-blown 2019 Chevy Camaro tuned by Steve Petty. He is hoping to improve upon his 2023 performance, where he qualified 27th and earned a first-round victory against Robert Abbott before falling to Marcus Birt in round two.

“I’m feeling a lot better and more confident than I was last year,” said Harvey. “We had a new combination last year starting out. It was great. But this deal, we’re a lot more prepared to come and run against the fast guys now. I think we’ll be great coming out of this race.”

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BRADENTON, FL – The heavy hitters of Mountain Motor Pro Stock will return to Bradenton Motorsports Park March 1-3, 2024, for the second annual Mountain Motor Pro Stock Invitational, race officials announced today. Held in conjunction with the $100,000-to-win Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod, the Mountain Motor Pro Stock Invitational will reward the winner with unprecedented prize money.

“Pro Mod and Mountain Motor Pro Stock just go together,” said Wes Buck, Drag Illustrated founder and WSOPM promoter. “It’s hard not to be a fan of this class with its massive, naturally aspirated engines, hood scoops, and clutches. Plus, the people involved with Mountain Motor Pro Stock are truly special, and the class just continues to grow. The second annual Mountain Motor Pro Stock Invitational will be the perfect complement to the Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod.”

The inaugural $hameless Racing Mountain Motor Pro Stock Invitational presented by Seminole Paving saw class veterans John Montecalvo and Elijah Morton square off in the $25,000-to-win final round. Montecalvo turned on the win light, adding to his résumé that includes world championships in three different organizations.

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BRADENTON, FL – On the first weekend in March 2024, the stars of Pro Modified will return to Bradenton Motorsports Park for the fifth edition of the Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod, March 1-3. The event will be headlined by the $100,000-to-win Pro Mod showdown, with additional classes to be announced.

“We couldn’t be more excited to go back to Bradenton on the first weekend in March for another incredible weekend of Pro Modified racing,” said Wes Buck, founder and promoter, WSOPM. “I love the opportunity to create some continuity. As excited as I was about year one and all the good things that came from this event, I’m even more excited to build on it. To go back to the same venue is huge. That was the first time we’d ever put on an event at BMP. We learned a lot about the track itself and the local area, and we can only grow from here.”

“We at BMP are extremely excited to have the Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod back for 2024,” said Victor Alvarez, owner, Bradenton Motorsports Park. “This event was everything we dreamed up and more, and we still have so many plans to make it even better. I can honestly say this was my favorite event I’ve ever been a part of. It was special, and the vibe was unlike anything else I have ever been a part of. Working with the DI crew, we can achieve anything. We’re looking forward to taking it up a notch for 2024!”

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BRADENTON, FL – Television coverage of the 2023 Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod presented by J&A Service at Bradenton Motorsports Park will air tonight, Sunday, April 30, at 6:30 p.m. ET on CBS Sports. The hour-long broadcast will recap the $100,000-to-win Pro Mod event, where Canadian racer Spencer Hyde defeated Kurt Steding in a side-by-side final round.

“This is a huge moment for Drag Illustrated and our World Series of Pro Mod, as well as the entire Pro Mod community,” said Wes Buck, WSOPM promoter and Drag Illustrated founder. “Pro Mod absolutely, positively deserves this moment and this stage. I’ve said for years that if drag racing has a best foot to put forward, it’s Pro Mod. To know that the World Series of Pro Mod will be available in over 98 million homes today is humbling and awe-inspiring. The most exciting part, though, is that I truly feel we are just getting started.”

Voiced by WSOPM announcers Joe Castello and Jason Galvin, the World Series of Pro Mod broadcast is a production of Masters Entertainment Group. The show will include behind-the-scenes coverage and interviews with the stars of the WSOPM in addition to all the on-track action.

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BRADENTON, FL – Racing out of the No. 32 spot, Canadian Pro Mod standout Spencer Hyde made history Sunday night when he became the fourth winner of the Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod presented by J&A Service. With $100,000 on the line at Bradenton Motorsports Park, Hyde defeated PDRA Pro Boost star Kurt Steding in a winner-take-all final round decided by just thousandths of a second.

Hyde wasn’t the only driver leaving with a stack of cash. Event victories also went to John Montecalvo in the $25,000-to-win $hameless Racing Mountain Motor Pro Stock Invitational presented by Seminole Paving, David Ngo in the $20,000-to-win Xtreme Front-Wheel Drive Challenge, and Lenny Lottig in the $15,000-to-win D H Davies Racing Factory Stock Classic. Sportsman event wins went to McKenna Kitterman in $10,000-to-win Top Dragster and Brooks McMath in $5,000-to-win Super Pro.

All heads-up classes qualified on Friday and Saturday, then random chip drawings determined the pairings for all rounds of Sunday eliminations.

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