Drag Illustrated
2022 NMCA Xtreme Pro Mod Champion Randy Merick to Compete in 2023 Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod
BRADENTON, FL – Coming off a successful 2022 season in which he secured four NMCA wins and the Xtreme Pro Mod championship, Glen 
Allen, Missouri’s Randy Merick was invited to participate in the 2023 Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod to be held March 3-5, 2023 at Bradenton Motorsports Park.
“Wes [Buck] called me and congratulated me and asked me if I would come, and you can’t turn that down,” Merick said of the coveted invitation to the WSOPM race.
Owner of the Twin Lakes Whitetails hunting ranch and a farmer as well, Merick is a longtime, big-tire racer who has raced Pro Modified since 1997. He also competed in the wild Super Chevy Nitro Coupe class from 1999 throughout the early 2000s, and set both E.T. and speed records for the class and doorslammers worldwide.
While he didn’t intend to run for NMCA championship in 2022, he hit five of the six races, and after winning the St. Louis event mid-season, he kept the throttle down and was able to sweep the remaining three races despite considerable challenges from Derek Ward, Jim Widener, and defending champion Chip King.
PDRA’s Tommy Franklin Set to Race for $100,000 at 2023 World Series of Pro Mod
BRADENTON, FL – As a co-founder of the PDRA and a two-time Pro Nitrous world champion in the series, Tommy Franklin has made a 
lasting impact on the eighth-mile Pro Mod scene over the last 10 years. Now, Franklin is hoping to add another title to his resume – World Series of Pro Mod winner.
Franklin, driver of the Musi-powered “Jungle Rat” ’69 Camaro, was the second driver invited to compete in the 2023 Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod, March 3-5, at Bradenton Motorsports Park. The winner of the 32-car, invite-only race will walk away with $100,000.
“First and foremost, I’m gonna go for that $100,000, but if it’s not me, I’ll definitely be pulling for one of my PDRA teams for sure,” said Franklin, who owns the PDRA and Virginia Motorsports Park along with wife Judy. “I want one of my guys to win that deal. I want to be arrogant and say one of my guys is going to win it. I’ve said it many times, I’ll stack our racers up against anyone.”
Mark Micke Accepts First Driver Invitation to 2023 Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod
BRADENTON, FL – Mark Micke has made significant contributions to the world of doorslammer drag racing, both as a driver and as the 
owner of M&M Transmission. He holds the record for the fastest eighth-mile pass in Radial vs. the World history, and his company’s transmissions, torque converters, and shifters have been used by some of the most accomplished racers in Pro Mod, drag radial, Street Outlaws: No Prep Kings, and beyond.
Micke was also the first advertiser in Drag Illustrated magazine back in 2005, and he’s maintained an ad in all 177 issues after that first edition. With all those factors in mind, DI Founder and Editorial Director Wes Buck chose to extend the first driver invitation for the $100,000-to-win 2023 DI World Series of Pro Mod, March 3-5, at Bradenton Motorsports Park to Micke.
“I remember telling [Micke] ‘We don’t have the magazine done yet, but I promise it’s going to be badass.’ He goes, ‘I believe in you, Wes. Send me an invoice.’” Buck said as he introduced Micke on the Nov. 3 edition of The Wes Buck Show. “This gentleman has been a part of the Drag Illustrated family ever since. I wanted to make sure the very first invite to the WSOPM went to the same guy who believed in me 17 years ago as we embark on this next chapter of the DI journey.”
World Series of Pro Mod Returns at Bradenton with Invite-Only, $100,000-to-Win Shootout
BRADENTON, FL – Drag Illustrated announced today the return of its popular World Series of Pro Mod (WSOPM), an invitation-only, 
$100,000-to-win event celebrating the Pro Modified division. New for 2023, the race will take place March 3-5 at Bradenton Motorsports Park in Bradenton, Florida, with an outlaw eighth-mile format. Forty drivers will be invited, and 32 drivers will qualify for the main field.
“Pro Mod is the universal language of drag racing,” said Wes Buck, founder and editorial director, Drag Illustrated. “This is the largest inventory of pro-level, heads-up race cars on the planet. This is a brand of drag racing that has a unique cult following and, in my opinion, is home to many of our sport’s biggest personalities and most competitive racers. It’s a style of drag racing that has grown by way of regional series all across the country and around the world that are healthy and thriving. It’s our goal with the World Series of Pro Mod to bring racers from all those various sanctions and series and let them race for the largest purse in Pro Modified history, on the grandest stage and under the brightest lights possible.”
Drag Illustrated Partners With Simpson Race Products for New Giveaway
FT. WORTH, TX – Drag Illustrated’s new Giveaway series will continue in November with products from Simpson Race Products, the 
magazine announced today. The winner of the November DI Giveaway, which opens Nov. 1, will receive a Simpson luggage set, a $600 value.
“Our first two Drag Illustrated Giveaways were a huge success, so we’re excited to continue the program this month with the support of Simpson Race Products and Holley,” said Mike Carpenter, Drag Illustrated’s Chief Operating Officer. “Simpson is an iconic name in drag racing – and motorsports in general – and their products have helped countless drivers stay safe as they hit the track. I know our readers and followers will be excited about the opportunity to win some Simpson gear.”
Simpson, a member of the Holley family of brands, is the leading provider of critical motorsports and motorcycle safety equipment. Backed by best-in-class technical expertise, the company has built a loyal following in the motorsports community among both professional and amateur drivers.
Drag Illustrated Partners With Publication Printers to Upgrade Flagship Print Magazine
FT. WORTH, TX – Drag Illustrated remains proud and committed to its print product and continues to prove that by announcing today that 
the company has partnered with Publication Printers in Denver, Colo., to produce the magazine.
“Drag Illustrated magazine is our flagship product. The print magazine is the foundation that everything else we do is built on,” said Wes Buck, Drag Illustrated Founder & Editorial Director. “That said, it’s paramount that the magazine be of the highest possible quality because that’s what our brand is known for, and it’s what our readers expect. Racers are detail-oriented; aesthetics matter to this community, and by aligning ourselves with the team at Publication Printers, we can ensure that every subscriber gets a showpiece in their mailbox.”
Drag Illustrated has been the home to the most talented and respected photography, design, reporting and writing in the drag racing space. Making the move to Publication Printers was the next step in elevating the at-home experience for Drag Illustrated’s subscribers.
Drag Illustrated Launches The DI Top 8 Online; A Decade Long Project Comes To Life On The Web
FT. WORTH, TX – Drag Illustrated today announced the most comprehensive online record book in the history of drag racing. This living and breathing document is a major move for DI on its mission to educate, inspire and inform racers and fans in all types of drag racing.
“When the Drag Illustrated Top 8 program was conceived in 2008, it was designed to acknowledge and reward drivers in all aspects of drag racing who achieved performances which placed them within the eight quickest or fastest competitors in each class worldwide,” said Bret Kepner, Drag Illustrated’s Chief Statistician & Historian. “It was a lofty idea which required an inordinate amount of work, intense confirmation research and constant surveillance of all activity in the sport around the globe every week. Moreover, it was an effort never before undertaken by any individual or publication in the history of drag racing periodicals. However, Drag Illustrated made it happen.”
The Wes Buck Show Live Broadcast to Help John Force Racing Kick Off NHRA U.S. Nationals Week at Media Summit
FT. WORTH, TX – The Wes Buck Show [WBS] podcast announced today it will broadcast live from the John Force Racing facility in 
Brownsburg, Indiana, on Wednesday, August 31st. Drag Illustrated Founder & Editorial Director, along with co-hosts Mike Carpenter and JT Hudson, will be on-site and ready to start the show at its regularly scheduled 3 PM EST time slot.
“We couldn’t be more excited to be invited to participate in John Force Racing’s Media Summit as part of the lead up to the NHRA U.S. Nationals,” said Wes Buck, host of The Wes Buck Show.
“That Brownsburg, Indiana, area – home to a slew of drag racing’s biggest teams – is iconic, and to have the opportunity to be a part of that community even for a couple hours while we film an episode of our show is a true honor,” Buck explained. “If you know anything about drag racing, you know John Force, and to be associated with his team and this event is, honestly, beyond our wildest dreams.”
Stacy Hall Appears on Cover of Drag Illustrated’s 12th Annual Sportsman Issue
FT. WORTH, TX – Stacy Hall, a world champion in the PDRA’s sportsman ranks, appears on the cover of Drag Illustrated’s new Sportsman 
Special Issue, which was released on August 1. Along with Hall, the 12th annual Sportsman Issue includes features on numerous other sportsman racers, as well as tributes to a few of the people the sport has lost over the last two months.
Hall, who won the 2020 PDRA Top Sportsman world championship and recently won the Summit Racing PDRA ProStars race in Top Dragster, shares the stories behind his career in racing. He started as a teenager sweeping the floors at Gene Fulton’s Fulton Competition Engines during the week and bracket racing on the weekends. He’s since become one of the lead engine builders for Fulton, building engines and providing support for customers like three-time PDRA Pro Nitrous world champion Jim Halsey. Hall has also become one of the most respected racers in the PDRA’s increasingly competitive Top Sportsman and Top Dragster classes.
“Stacy Hall is the perfect example of the sportsman racers who make up the backbone of our sport,” said Nate Van Wagnen, editor-in-chief, Drag Illustrated. “Now 52, he’s been dedicated to drag racing since he was a teenager. He’s had incredible success behind the wheel, and as an engine builder, he’s had a hand in some of Pro Modified racing’s biggest moments. He’s stayed humble through all of this, and we’re proud to give him some well-deserved recognition on the cover of Drag Illustrated.”
Mike Carpenter Named COO of Drag Illustrated
FT. WORTH, TX – Mike Carpenter, a member of the Drag Illustrated team for 15 years, has been named the company’s chief operating 
officer (COO), the magazine announced today. While overseeing the day-to-day operations of the company’s efforts across print and digital platforms, Carpenter will also continue his role as the design & production director for the magazine.
“Mike Carpenter has been an invaluable part of this team since he joined us in 2007,” said Wes Buck, founder and editorial director, Drag Illustrated. “His role has expanded tremendously over the course of the last decade-and-a-half, and it is no surprise to see him move into the role of Chief Operating Officer at Drag Illustrated Media. As our business continues to grow and expand, it’s important to have people that share our vision for the company and for the sport of drag racing in influential positions – especially someone as dedicated and experienced in high-level execution and operation as Mike Carpenter.”
Carpenter started working with Buck and the Drag Illustrated team as a freelance graphic designer in 2007, just a year after graduating from UNC Charlotte with a graphic design degree. His first full story layout appeared in DI #17. He’s since worked his way up to handling the layout of the entire magazine from cover to cover. Under Carpenter’s direction, Drag Illustrated recently sent its 176th print issue to press.
