BRADENTON, FL – The highly anticipated 2024-25 Drag Illustrated Winter Series presented by J&A Service promises to elevate the competitive landscape of Pro Mod drag racing. The three-race championship series, contested exclusively at the legendary Bradenton Motorsports Park, will see drivers battling for the first-ever Drag Illustrated Winter Series Points Championship, culminating in the prestigious World Series of Pro Mod (WSOPM) with points-and-a-half awarded during eliminations.

With over $275,000 in purse money up for grabs across the three events and an additional $25,000 prize for the series champion, this inaugural championship is designed to bring out the best in Pro Mod competitors. To sweeten the pot, the points champion will also receive a custom-designed championship ring by Jostens, underscoring the prestige of this groundbreaking series.

“It’s been amazing to see the evolution of our Drag Illustrated-produced events,” said Wes Buck, Founder and Editorial Director of Drag Illustrated. “What started out as a once-a-year happening has evolved into a three-race championship series that is going to produce some of the most competitive drag racing in the history of our sport.” Continue reading →

BRADENTON, FL – After making his Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod debut earlier this year, Marcus Butner is upping the ante by accepting his invitation to compete in the inaugural Drag Illustrated Winter Series at Bradenton Motorsports Park. Though he’ll miss the Snowbird Outlaw Nationals in two weeks, the North Carolina native will join the action at the U.S. Street Nationals in January and the World Series of Pro Mod in March. Plus, the family business, Butner Construction signed on as an associate sponsor of the Winter Series.

Butner recently finished his first full eight-race PDRA Pro Nitrous season with a fourth-place finish in the championship points standings. He previously ran three partial seasons, including a 2023 campaign that saw him reach his first final round before earning his first career win. He’s proven himself as a driver, and tuner Jay Cox has a strong reputation of his own in the nitrous Pro Mod world. Together, the Butner Motorsports team is ready for the challenge of competing against the toughest teams in Pro Modified at the Winter Series.

“I’m expecting the baddest Pro Mod racing there is,” Butner said. “Our confidence is high. We have high hopes, obviously, but it’s the toughest thing you can ever show up to.” Continue reading →

BRADENTON, FL – As the 2024-25 Drag Illustrated Winter Series approaches, series officials have released the highly anticipated rules, regulations, and race format, setting the stage for one of the most competitive seasons in drag racing history. Known for producing some of the best side-by-side drag racing in the world today, the World Series of Pro Mod, now the final round of the new three-race Drag Illustrated Winter Series, has earned a reputation for tight fields and heart-stopping action. This year promises to push the envelope even further.

In recent years, the Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod (WSOPM) has consistently showcased just how competitive Pro Mod racing can be. In 2023, the 32-car field was separated by an astonishing .056 seconds, and in 2024, even with the addition of fresh faces and new combinations, the spread only widened to .066 seconds. These incredibly narrow margins have been the result of tireless efforts by the Winter Series team to ensure a level playing field for all competitors.

John Sears, Drag Illustrated Winter Series Competition Director, explained the driving force behind these adjustments,  “The mission I was given was to create the closest racing and tightest fields in drag racing on any level,” Sears said. “That was the stated goal from the onset, and in both 2023 and 2024, that’s exactly what we achieved—the tightest 32-car fields in the history of our sport.”

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BRADENTON, FL – Smokies Garage, a private hobby garage specializing in custom race cars, hot rods, and motorcycles, is now a major sponsor of the inaugural Drag Illustrated Winter Series, race officials announced today. The Canadian drag racing team will also field an entry in the three-race Pro Modified series, which features the Snowbird Outlaw Nationals, the U.S. Street Nationals, and the World Series of Pro Mod at Bradenton Motorsports Park.

“Mike Clark and his group at Smokies Garage believe in what we’re trying to do with the DI Winter Series,” said Wes Buck, DI founder and Winter Series promoter. “We believe the drivers and teams that compete in Pro Mod deserve a big stage, big fanfare, and big-money prizes. We also feel strongly about putting on an incredible show and an unforgettable atmosphere for our fans in the grandstands and watching at home on FloRacing. When Mike heard about this Winter Series coming together, he didn’t hesitate to reach out and offer his support. Smokies Garage was on board with the World Series of Pro Mod earlier this year, and we’re thankful to have Mike and the Smokies team on board for the three-race Winter Series.” Continue reading →

BRADENTON, FL – Drag Illustrated and Bradenton Motorsports Park announced today the creation of a three-race Pro Modified series known as the Drag Illustrated Winter Series. Featuring the Snowbird Outlaw Nationals, the U.S. Street Nationals, and culminating with the World Series of Pro Mod, the Drag Illustrated Winter Series will bring the biggest names, best drivers and most competitive race teams in the world to Florida’s Gulf Coast for three of the biggest weekends in eighth-mile drag racing. Collectively, the Drag Illustrated Winter Series will pay out more than $300,000 in the Pro Mod division alone.

“To say that I’m excited about this is the understatement of the century,” said Wes Buck, Founder & Editorial Director of Drag Illustrated.

“Fans have always looked back fondly on drag racing’s early days in Southern California, but we’re about to create a new ‘golden era’ for this sport along the Florida Gulf Coast. It’s no secret that I believe Pro Mod to be the universal language of drag racing. In my eyes, this is a brand of drag racing that is unrivaled in action, excitement and competition, but perhaps most importantly in participation. There are hundreds of Pro Mod teams in North America alone, and it’s our mission to bring the best of the best to Bradenton Motorsports Park this winter to do battle.” Continue reading →