WSOPM
XFWD Superstar Nichole Elff Ready to Break Records, Win Inaugural Xtreme Front Wheel Drive Challenge at WSOPM
BRADENTON, FL – Standout Xtreme Front Wheel Drive racer Nichole Elff has accepted her invitation to compete at the inaugural Xtreme 
Front Wheel Drive Challenge at the 2023 Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod. Elff will be the only female competing in the class of invited drivers.
“I’m super excited about the invitation because of a couple of things,” Elff said. “They’ve done a really good job of getting a good variety of racers, and some of the fastest in the world are going be there. It’s going be a shark tank, and I think it’s going to be the fastest bump that we’re ever going to see in X-Front Wheel Drive.”
Elff is currently the only female fielding a car in the XFWD class and has been holding her own. She won the World Cup Finals Import vs. Domestic in 2021 and is the first woman to run 7 seconds in XFWD. Additionally, Elff has the ninth fastest car in the world in XFWD.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if the 16 cars competing are all going to be 7-second cars, which I’ve never heard of in one of our x-Front Wheel Drive events so far,” Elff continued.
Erica Enders Named 2022 Drag Illustrated Racer of the Year
FT. WORTH, TX – Five-time and defending NHRA Pro Stock world champion Erica Enders was named the Drag Illustrated Racer of the 
Year for 2022, the magazine announced Wednesday during a special edition of The Wes Buck Show. Enders and over a dozen other award winners are also recognized in the second annual DI Awards Issue, which is now available to read online and will hit subscriber mailboxes next week.
Enders and the Elite Motorsports team were a dominant force in NHRA Pro Stock throughout the 2022 season, which saw Enders secure her fifth world championship. She earned 10 wins in 19 races for a round win record of 55-9. The DI editorial team chose her as the Racer of the Year due to her recent success and a relentless pursuit of greatness on and off the track.
“It’s no secret that we’re big Erica Enders fans at Drag Illustrated,” said Wes Buck, founder and editorial director, Drag Illustrated. “I personally believe she’s not only one of the best Pro Stock drivers of all time, but one of the flat-out best drivers in drag racing’s history. Erica proved that with her 2022 performance. She was in the winner’s circle seemingly every other weekend, and it was one of the best season-long performances in recent Pro Stock history.”
Jason Galvin Tapped as Second Announcer for 2023 World Series of Pro Mod
BRADENTON, FL – World Series of Pro Mod officials announced today that Jason Galvin has been named the second announcer for “the 
biggest and baddest Pro Mod race in the history of the known universe.” Galvin joins veteran drag racing announcer Al Tucci, previously named as one of the voices of the 2023 Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod.
“It’s a huge honor,” said Galvin. “I’m still – I guess you could say the new guy – when it comes to announcing major drag races, and in the world of Pro Mod, this is absolutely the event to be at. Honestly, I was shocked and humbled when the DI team approached me. I can’t wait to get to Florida and get going. The money, the grudge matches, the star power, it all already feels so big. I’m stoked.”
“We’re very excited to have Jason on board as our second announcer for the Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod,” said Mike Carpenter, Drag Illustrated COO. “Jason is a rising star on the mic, and I think he will be the perfect complement to our lead announcer, Al Tucci. When we set out to brand our events, we feel the announcing crew is a key part of that, and to have a unique pairing of world-class announcers calling the race will be a great addition for the fans, whether they’re enjoying the event in person or streaming it live on FloRacing.”
Charles Carpenter, ‘Godfather of Pro Mod,’ Named Grand Marshal of 2023 Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod
BRADENTON, FL – World Series of Pro Mod officials announced Charles Carpenter, the “Godfather of Pro Mod,” as the Grand Marshal of 
the 2023 event March 3-5 at Bradenton Motorsports Park. Carpenter will give the command and flip the starter switch for the first pair of Pro Mod eliminations on Sunday morning.
“It’s a very big honor for me,” said Charles. “This is the biggest Pro Mod race ever. I would love to be a competitor in it, but I’m not able to do that yet, but this is as close as I can be to it.”
“It seems only fitting to have Charles Carpenter, the ‘Godfather of Pro Mod’, as the grand marshal for the Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod,” said Wes Buck, WSOPM promoter and Drag Illustrated founder. “His impact on fast doorslammer drag racing is immeasurable. If it wasn’t for Charles and his ‘World’s Fastest ’55 Chevy’, it’s hard to know where the Pro Modified eliminator would be today. A world-class racer and mechanic, sure, but Charles also was extraordinarily media savvy. He ‘played the game’ extremely well – bringing mainstream media attention to the sport, major marketing partners, and was a pioneer in the licensing/naming rights realm for drag racers.”
Strange Engineering Joins World Series of Pro Mod as Racer Welcome Party Partner
BRADENTON, FL – The 2023 Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod and Strange Engineering have partnered to bring a Racer Welcome 
Party to the elite roster of racers set to compete at the Bradenton Motorsports Park event on March 3-5. The WSOPM Racer Welcome Party presented by Strange Engineering will kick off the festivities Thursday night, March 2.
“We’re going back to our youth and throwing a pizza party. There’s a lot of pressure at WSOPM, but on Thursday night, before qualifying begins, we want to give our racers and sponsors an opportunity to take the edge off with a cold beverage and a hot slice,” said Drag Illustrated Founder and WSOPM Promoter Wes Buck. “We’ve partnered with a couple local Italian eateries to make it a special experience and provide us with great food. Of course, we’ll have DJ Jason Logan in the house, setting the mood and ensuring we have a good time.”
For Jeff Stange, second-generation owner of Strange Engineering, it’s a way for him to give back to a sport that has provided him and his family so much.
Preston Tanner Rolling into WSOPM, 2023 Season with New Strange Engineering Partnership
BRADENTON, FL – Up-and-coming Pro Mod standout Preston Tanner announced today his 2023 racing season partnership with Strange 
Engineering. Tanner will kick off his season at the 2023 Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod with the Illinois-based manufacturer onboard as the primary sponsor.
“I am really grateful for the opportunity to be able to put Strange Engineering on my race car for them this year,” said Tanner. “I want to thank Wes [Buck] and Eric Latino, another Pro Mod racer, for the introduction to Jeff Stange [of Strange Engineering]. They really helped me get this sponsorship.”
“I always take a lot of pride in being able to give back to the racers to help because they’ve helped Strange Engineering grow and develop products and be successful in our industry,” said Jeff Stange, Owner of Strange Engineering. “I always like to give back, so it’s one of the reasons we’re sponsoring Preston because he’s young and upcoming. It’s important to give back to the younger generation to help support our sport.”
NHRA Pro Stock Champion Erica Enders to Make Mountain Motor Pro Stock Debut at WSOPM
BRADENTON, FL – On the heels of a fifth NHRA Pro Stock world championship, Erica Enders will make her Mountain Motor Pro Stock 
debut March 3-5 in the $25,000-to-win $hameless Racing Mountain Motor Pro Stock Invitational (MMPSI) presented by Seminole Paving. Taking place in conjunction with the Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod at Bradenton Motorsports Park, the MMPSI will draw Mountain Motor Pro Stock’s best drivers and teams for a big-money shootout.
Though Enders has never driven a Mountain Motor Pro Stock car, she’s stepping into a proven car. She’ll drive one of the two Camaros formerly owned and driven by JR Carr and tuned by engine builder Frank Gugliotta. Elite Motorsports team owner Richard Freeman will drive the other car.
“I feel like we purchased the best program out there, which was JR Carr’s,” Enders said. “He has the nicest equipment and definitely didn’t spare any expense with any portion of his program. Being handed that program and then to put our guys in the places that they’re great at, I don’t think of any reason why we shouldn’t do well. We also are going to have the ‘Flying Meatball,’ Frank Gugliotta, who was JR’s crew chief, helping us as well.”
DH Davies Racing to Back Factory Stock Classic at WSOPM
CLEVELAND, OH – The fields and classes continue to grow for the Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod, March 3-5, at Bradenton 
Motorsports Park. In addition to the most diverse and spectacular collection of Pro Mod racers ever, a select group of Factory Stock competitors will be invited to race for $15,000 winner’s purse in the DH Davies Factory Stock Classic. The invitation-only race will feature backing from Davies, a well-known and respected Factory Stock competitor, as well as associate sponsorship support from HemiTunerPerformance.com, Warren Walcher’s Pine Country and Wesley Motorsports.
“I saw the opportunity to get some Factory Stock guys on the track at a world class event and the Drag Illustrated team was super receptive to the idea,” said Davies, who will once again be competing in the Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series in 2023 behind the wheel of his Mopar Drag Pak. “Drag Illustrated is in charge of the invites and I know they are going to put together a killer field of cars from Chevy, Ford and Mopar. It will be a fun and competitive weekend to start the season.”
The DH Davies Factory Stock Classic competitors will have two qualifying sessions on Friday and two qualifying sessions on Saturday. The races will race for the big money on Sunday before a packed house of fans from all over the country.
Inaugural WSOPM Runner-Up Steven Whiteley Returning for 2023 Edition at Bradenton
BRADENTON, FL – Veteran Pro Mod driver Steven Whiteley is no stranger to competing at the World Series of Pro Mod, but the 2023 
edition of the event – March 3-5 at Bradenton Motorsports Park – will still be a new experience.
Whiteley, who will be driving his J&A Service screw-blown 1969 Camaro, was an attendee of the first two WSOPM races in Denver in 2017 and 2018. Those events ran the quarter mile at an elevation of 5,280 feet above sea level. While the format has changed, Whiteley’s excitement has not.
“I was thrown back,” Whiteley said upon receiving his invitation from Drag Illustrated Founder & Editorial Director Wes Buck. “I remember seeing a lot of the stuff on social media, and it was making me think back to when it started in Denver years ago. When he texted me, I was like, ‘Oh yeah, here we go. We’re going again.’”
Factory Stock Classic Added to 2023 World Series of Pro Mod
BRADENTON, FL – Factory Stock Classic is the latest class to join the 2023 Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod, event promoters 
announced today. The weekend race card consists of the $25,000-to-win $hameless Racing Mountain Motor Pro Stock Invitational presented by Seminole Paving, the Xtreme Front Wheel Drive Challenge, the Factory Stock Classic, and the main event of 32 qualified Pro Mod drivers.
“Adding the inaugural Factory Stock Classic to an already packed lineup for the World Series of Pro Mod, in my opinion, really puts this event over the top,” said Wes Buck, Drag Illustrated Founder and WSOPM promoter. “These small-tire, stock-appearing cars produce some of the most incredible on-track action that exists in drag racing today. I also love the involvement and enthusiasm around this style of drag racing from America’s major auto manufacturers. Factor in that these cars are driven by some of the best racers in our sport today from multiple sanctions and series – it’s just a perfect fit, and we couldn’t be more excited.”
The Factory Stock Classic category will feature invited drivers competing for one of the 16 qualifying spots and the inaugural title at Bradenton Motorsports Park, March 3-5.
