Winter Series
Peter Norton Claims DI Winter Series Pro Mod Championship, Rookie of The Year Honors
BRADENTON, FL – Tractor puller turned Pro Mod contender Peter Norton secured the 2025/2026 Winter Series presented by J&A Service 
points championship Saturday night at the Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod presented by Red Line Oil when he defeated Randy Weatherford in a winner-take-all semifinal matchup at Bradenton Motorsports Park. Piloting his Harts-Charger-equipped, Hurricane Motorsports ’69 Camaro, Norton used a .011 reaction time and 3.608-second pass to outrun Weatherford, who got loose and slowed to a 4.877.
Norton was picked up at the top end after the victory and given a police escort back up the track, where he was presented with the crystal trophy awarded to the points champion. Norton also received a $25,000 championship bonus.
“It’s surreal,” Norton said of the experience. “You look down here, you look at all these fans. I mean, you come through here burning the tires off and people standing around you. It’s the stuff you watch on TV. It’s the stuff you dream about as any motorsport you want to do.” Continue reading
Aaron Stanfield Enters Pro Mod History Books as 2026 World Series of Pro Mod Champion
BRADENTON, FL – NHRA Pro Stock star and multi-time Factory Stock Showdown world champion Aaron Stanfield added another 
significant accomplishment to his résumé Saturday night when he won the $150,000-to-win Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod (WSOPM) presented by Red Line Oil at Bradenton Motorsports Park. The final round was decided by just .003 seconds as Stanfield drove around newly crowned 2025/2026 Drag Illustrated Winter Series presented by J&A Service champion Peter Norton in a side-by-side race.
“All these racers are great racers – they are some of the baddest racers our sport has to offer,” said Stanfield, who made his Pro Mod debut in December. “It’s been cool to mix it up with them, and it’s unbelievable we’re gonna park it in the winner’s circle.”
Reigning WSOPM event champion Steve King didn’t qualify for this year’s 32-car field, but he won the Outlaw Light Beer Wild Card Shootout for non-qualifiers. WSOPM victories also went to Fletcher Cox in Pro 10.5, Russell Stone in True 10.5, Chris Scarlata in Lil Gangstas, Mitch Kalitta in Super Pro, Mark Horton in 6.50 Index, Dean Thompson in 7.50 Index, Rashad Jones in 4.60 Bikes, and Cameron Rich in Jr. Dragster. Continue reading
Eric Gustafson Secures $10,000 Low Qualifier Bonus at World Series of Pro Mod
BRADENTON, FL – Drag Illustrated Winter Series presented by J&A Service championship contender Eric Gustafson added 32 points to his 
tally Friday night when he locked down the No. 1 qualifier position at the Winter Series finale, the Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod presented by Red Line Oil. In the first of three Friday qualifying sessions at Bradenton Motorsports Park, Gustafson threw down a 3.553-second pass at 211.16 mph to lead the second-quickest 32-car field in eighth-mile Pro Mod history.
Gustafson went into the World Series of Pro Mod ranked third in Winter Series points standings after consistent late round finishes at the Snowbird Outlaw Nationals and the U.S. Street Nationals in his ProCharged Coast Packing Company “Lard Machine” ’69 Camaro. Gustafson’s combination was dealt a weight penalty after the last race, but tuner and teammate Jason Lee and the team went to work and picked up where they left off by qualifying No. 1.
Gustafson earned a $10,000 Low Qualifier Bonus from Jerry Bickel Race Cars, and he ended up drawing a No. 16 chip in the random chip drawing. That means he’ll be in the final pair of the opening round of eliminations on Saturday morning. He’ll face Travis “The Carolina Kid” Harvey. Continue reading
ProCharger Joins World Series of Pro Mod as Associate Sponsor
BRADENTON, FL – ProCharger, manufacturers of high-performance centrifugal superchargers, will serve as an associate sponsor of the 
upcoming Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod presented by Red Line Oil, race officials announced today. With more than 70 drivers competing for the $150,000 winner-take-all prize, the World Series of Pro Mod is the ultimate proving ground for eighth-mile Pro Modified racers, including those relying on ProCharger superchargers for power. Set to take place Feb 26-28 at Bradenton Motorsports Park, it’s the final race of the three-race 2025/2026 Drag Illustrated Winter Series presented by J&A Service.
“The folks at ProCharger are no strangers to the Winter Series and the World Series of Pro Mod, but having them jump on board as an associate sponsor is special,” said Wes Buck, Drag Illustrated founder and Winter Series promoter. “The Winter Series is many things for many people, but it’s evolved into a platform where the industry’s engine builders, chassis builders, power adders, and other manufacturers can battle it out and put their products to the test. Our drivers and teams are showing what these products can do in the most competitive eighth-mile Pro Mod fields of all time. We’re thrilled that ProCharger sees the value in that and wanted to be a bigger part of the World Series of Pro Mod.” Continue reading
Red Line Oil Named Presenting Sponsor of World Series of Pro Mod
BRADENTON, FL – Red Line Oil, producers of high-performance motor oil and lubricants, has been named the presenting sponsor of the 
Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod, race officials announced today. Set for Feb. 26-28 at Bradenton Motorsports Park, the $150,000-to-win Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod presented by Red Line Oil serves as the grand finale for the 2025/2026 Drag Illustrated Winter Series presented by J&A Service following the Snowbird Outlaw Nationals and the U.S. Street Nationals.
“Red Line Oil has proven time and time again that they’re deeply invested in Pro Modified racing, and we’re excited to elevate that partnership with Red Line stepping in as the presenting sponsor of the World Series of Pro Mod,” said Wes Buck, Drag Illustrated founder and series promoter. “We’re intentional about aligning with partners who share our vision for where this series and the sport are headed, and Red Line absolutely fits that mold. Their commitment goes far beyond branding. They support racers at every level, and their products are trusted by the top engine builders and teams in drag racing worldwide.” Continue reading
$25,000 Wild Card Shootout Added to World Series of Pro Mod
BRADENTON, FL – Drag Illustrated has announced the addition of the $25,000 Winter Series Wild Card Shootout to the Drag Illustrated 
World Series of Pro Mod, further expanding race-day opportunities and reinforcing the Winter Series’ commitment to delivering the most competitive and inclusive Pro Modified program in drag racing.
The new Wild Card Shootout will feature qualifiers 33 through 64, paying $15,000 to win and contested over five full rounds of eliminations on race day at Bradenton Motorsports Park. In addition to the winner’s payout, the Wild Card Shootout will pay $5,000 to the runner-up and $2,500 to the semifinalists, offering $25,000 in total payouts.
The program replaces the Chicago-style shootout format previously utilized at WSOPM and represents a significant evolution in how Drag Illustrated approaches race-day competition. Continue reading
Side-By-Side 3.50-Second Races Highlight First Round of Pro Mod Eliminations at U.S. Street Nationals
BRADENTON, FL – Following historic Pro Mod qualifying that resulted in the sport’s first all-3.50-second 32-car field, the first round of 
eliminations at the U.S. Street Nationals presented by M&M Transmission featured several side-by-side 3.50-second races between some of the biggest names in doorslammer racing. The second of three races in the Drag Illustrated Winter Series presented by J&A Service will crown a $75,000 Pro Mod winner on Sunday.
Eliminations also got underway in Pro 10.5, True 10.5, Lil Gangstas, and the FuelTech Radial Outlaws Racing Series drag radial classes. Eliminations in all classes will continue Sunday.
The first round of Pro Mod kicked off in a big way, as 2023 World Series of Pro Mod champion Spencer Hyde paired up with reigning WSOPM winner Steve King. Hyde, in the screw-blown Tidwell Nesloney Racing ’69 Camaro, got around the reaction time advantage of King and won with a 3.575 at 210.14 to King’s 3.599 at 208.55 in Gene Pilot’s screw-blown “Savage” Corvette. Continue reading
Jimmy Taylor Stays No. 1 as U.S. Street Nationals Records First All-3.50-Second 32-Car Pro Mod Field
BRADENTON, FL – Pro Mod racers at the U.S. Street Nationals presented by M&M Transmission made history Friday night at Bradenton 
Motorsports Park as the bump spot fell to a 3.597-second pass, establishing the first-ever all-3.50-second 32-car field. Though numerous drivers improved during the two Friday qualifying sessions, Thursday’s provisional No. 1 qualifier Jimmy Taylor held on to the top spot with his 3.555-second pass at 224.77 mph from Thursday’s opening session. Pro Mod will run one more qualifying session Saturday morning to set the field for Saturday evening’s first round of eliminations at the second of three races in the Drag Illustrated Winter Series presented by J&A Service.
Friday qualifying at the U.S. Street Nationals also featured two qualifying sessions for the FuelTech Radial Outlaws Racing Series drag radial classes – Pro 275, Limited Drag Radial, X275, and Ultra Street – and Pro 10.5. True 10.5 ran one shakedown session as well to prepare for Saturday’s first round.
Taylor, who’s no stranger to setting records, is confident in his ability to hold on to the top spot through Saturday’s final qualifying session. After his leading 3.555 at 224.77 in the opening session on Thursday, he added two more 3.50-second passes on Friday – a 3.583 at 216.83 and a 3.570 at 222.77 in his twin-turbocharged Xtreme Racing Engines ’69 Camaro tuned by 2018 World Series of Pro Mod champion Carl Stevens Jr. Continue reading
Jimmy Taylor Edges Out Jason Harris For Thursday Provisional No. 1 Spot at U.S. Street Nationals
BRADENTON, FL – By one thousandth of a second, doorslammer world record holder Jimmy Taylor charged to the provisional No. 1 
qualifier position Thursday night at the U.S. Street Nationals presented by M&M Transmission at Bradenton Motorsports Park, earning the $5,000 Pro Line Racing “Off The Trailer” Bonus. He edged out Jason Harris, who qualified No. 1 and won the opening race of the three-race Drag Illustrated Winter Series presented by J&A Service. Harris is attempting to complete the Jerry Bickel Race Cars Clean Sweep Challenge, which will award him a brand-new Pro Mod rolling chassis if he can qualify No. 1 at all three Winter Series events. With a 3.555-second pass at 224.77 mph, Taylor asserted that Harris will have to go through him if he wants to go back-to-back.
In addition to the opening Pro Mod qualifying session, Thursday’s action included two qualifying sessions for the FuelTech Radial Outlaws Racing Series drag radial classes – Pro 275, Limited Drag Radial, X275, and Ultra Street – as well as Pro 10.5. The increasingly popular True 10.5 category also ran one shakedown session.
While Harris stole the show at the Snowbird Outlaw Nationals presented by Motion Raceworks in early December, Taylor wasn’t far behind him in qualifying, as he ended up No. 2 on the final Snowbirds qualifying order. Determined to better that at the U.S. Street Nationals, Taylor and tuner and engine builder Carl Stevens Jr. went to work. Their efforts paid off when Taylor rolled to a 3.555 at 224.77 to come out on top of a Pro Mod qualifying session that saw 20 drivers dip into the 3.50-second range. Continue reading
Jerry Bickel Race Cars Partners With Drag Illustrated Winter Series To Launch JBRC No. 1 Qualifier Bonus & Jerry Bickel Clean Sweep Challenge For 2025-26 Winter Series
BRADENTON, FL – Drag Illustrated and Jerry Bickel Race Cars have teamed up to deliver one of the most significant performance-based 
incentive programs in the history of Pro Modified drag racing, announcing today the launch of the JBRC No. 1 Qualifier Bonus and Jerry Bickel Clean Sweep Challenge for the 2025-26 Drag Illustrated Winter Series presented by J&A Service. The program designates Jerry Bickel Race Cars as the official qualifying partner of the Winter Series Pro Mod championship and introduces a level of reward and recognition previously unseen in the sport.
As part of the initiative, JBRC will award $5,000 to the No. 1 qualifier at the Snowbird Outlaw Nationals, $7,500 at the U.S. Street Nationals, and $10,000 at the World Series of Pro Mod – a total of $22,500 in qualifying bonuses across the three events.
The headline feature of the program, the Jerry Bickel Clean Sweep Challenge, offers an unprecedented prize: if a driver earns the No. 1 qualifying position in Pro Mod at all three Winter Series events, that racer will receive a brand-new Jerry Bickel Race Cars Pro Mod rolling chassis, estimated at more than $200,000. Continue reading
