WSOPM
Mark Micke Leads Record-Setting Field Into $100,000-to-Win World Series of Pro Mod Eliminations
BRADENTON, FL – After five thrilling Pro Modified qualifying sessions, Mark Micke claimed the $10,000 low qualifier bonus Saturday 
night at the Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod presented by Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage and J&A Service at Bradenton Motorsports Park. Micke’s 3.598-second pass from Friday night kept him and his twin-turbocharged M&M Transmission ’69 Camaro at the top of the quickest 32-car Pro Mod field in drag racing history. Mike Bowman, who won the original WSOPM in 2017, is the No. 32 qualifier with a 3.664-second effort.
Past NHRA Pro Stock world champion Bo Butner also maintained his No. 1 position in the second annual Mountain Motor Pro Stock Invitational in his Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage Camaro. Ron Green lowered his weekend best to reclaim his No. 1 spot from Friday in the inaugural Pro 10.5 Challenge in his ProCharged 2000 Firebird.
Saturday also saw two final qualifying sessions for the sportsman classes, the inaugural Intercontinental Top Sportsman Championship presented by FTI Performance and the inaugural Intercontinental Top Dragster Championship presented by FTI Performance. Friday’s provisional No. 1 qualifiers, Bryan LaFlam in Top Sportsman and Frank Falter IV in Top Dragster, held on to their top spots.
Ken Quartuccio Ready for Another Shot at WSOPM Success
BRADENTON, FL – Ken Quartuccio’s Pro Mod experience dates back to 1992, but he eventually moved to small-tire racing and stayed with 
that segment until finally jumping back into the Pro Mod ranks about four years ago. Now, he’s set to take on the best of the best in the category as he contests the 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 to run it,” Quartuccio said. “I have a lot of confidence going into it. It’s my favorite track and I always do well there. I think I’m driving better than I ever have – it’s the perfect time.”
Coming off a race win at the PDRA’s North vs. South Shootout in July 2023, Quartuccio suffered a major crash at the following PDRA event in Michigan that required rebuilding the entire car.
Pro Line Racing Supports World Series of Pro Mod as Event Sponsor
BRADENTON, FL – Pro Line Racing, a leading supplier of doorslammer racing engines and parts, has signed on as an event sponsor of the 
upcoming Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod (WSOPM) presented by Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage and J&A Service, race officials announced today. Pro Line Racing will also be on the grounds to support numerous customers competing at the $100,000-to-win event at Bradenton Motorsports Park on March 1-3.
“Eric Dillard and the whole Pro Line Racing team have made an incredible impact on the sport of Pro Modified drag racing, so their support means a lot,” said Wes Buck, Drag Illustrated founder and editorial director and WSOPM promoter. “Our racers rely on engine builders and manufacturers like Pro Line to provide the components they need to perform at such a high level. We appreciate Team Pro Line being on site to support their customers, but also to support the event as a whole.”
Pro Line Racing is a global, top-tier provider of high performance drag racing engines, parts and turnkey packages, as well as EFI software and associated tuning capabilities. Pro Line’s talented team of tuners and specialists brings a diverse range of experience to every customer. Through Pro Line’s focus on achieving customers’ goals, Pro Line-powered racers have achieved world records, event wins, and championships in numerous Pro Modified and drag radial classes and series.
Elite Motorsports Continues Partnership with 2024 World Series of Pro Mod as Official Truck and Trailer Source
BRADENTON, FL – Elite Motorsports, the leading provider of motorsports transportation solutions, has reaffirmed its commitment to the 
Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod (WSOPM) presented by Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage and J&A Service by continuing as the Official Truck and Trailer Source for the 2024 event.
The WSOPM, scheduled for March 1-3 at Bradenton Motorsports Park, will bring the best racers from seven different classes to compete for cash prizes plus bragging rights. Elite Motorsports owner Richard Freeman is looking forward to this year’s installment.
”Elite Motorsports is excited to continue supporting the World Series of Pro Mod,” stated Freeman. “We have a number of customers who will be involved in this event, and our business focuses on fulfilling travel needs in the motorsports community through our ever-changing inventory of new and used high quality units.”
Original WSOPM Champion Mike Bowman Looking to Make History Again
BRADENTON, FL – At the beginning of this year, Mike Bowman wasn’t sure he’d even be at the 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.
The 2017 WSOPM champion was still unwinding from a grueling 2023 season on Street Outlaws: No Prep Kings, and considered spending 2024 simply racing Jr. Dragsters with his daughters. But one of his television co-stars quickly – albeit unknowingly – changed his plans.
“To be honest, I was pretty burned out on NPK,” said Bowman. “My wife Kristy and I were sitting there having a drink, and I saw [Justin] Swanstrom was going to be at WSOPM. It kept popping up on my phone, and I’m like, ‘Hell no. He’s going and I’m not going? Are you kidding me right now? You know what, I think I want to go.’ Once I decided I was going to go, I got really excited and the next morning I was working on the car.”
Stroud Safety Named Official Safety Solution of the World Series of Pro Mod
BRADENTON, FL – Stroud Safety has been tapped as the Official Safety Solution of the Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod (WSOPM) 
presented by Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage and J&A Service, race officials announced today. This partnership marks a significant milestone for both organizations, emphasizing their shared commitment to the safety and performance of drag racing’s elite.
“This is the premier event of the year for door car racing, and that lets us be on that same platform with our product,” said Tommy Cunningham, owner of Stroud Safety. “Wes [Buck] put together a group of people around him that understands racers just as much as he does, and I think that’s a plus. It’s a good family environment, and we enjoy that.”
Stroud Safety, founded in 1989 by Bob Stroud, has been at the forefront of motorsport safety innovation, crafting high-quality parachutes and safety equipment that have become the standard in drag racing. Under the ownership of Pro Mod racer Tommy Cunningham since 2019, Stroud Safety has expanded its vision, blending the rich heritage of racing innovation with cutting-edge safety technologies. Stroud’s products, born from the ethos “designed by racers, for racers,” embody the spirit of competition and the paramount importance of safety in motorsports.
Past NMCA Pro Mod Champion Eric Gustafson Gearing Up For WSOPM Debut
BRADENTON, FL – After winning the 2020 NMCA Xtreme Pro Mod championship, Eric Gustafson took a planned hiatus from driving to 
focus on business and family. He put the team in the capable hands of his crew chief Cameron Hensley and co-crew chief/tuner Jason Lee, who took over driving duties for the next few years.
What Gustafson didn’t know is that he would suffer two significant personal health setbacks during this time, but being the competitor that he is, has returned to full health and is ready to take on the best of the best at 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.
Gustafson, who made his return to competition at the U.S. Street Nationals at Bradenton in late January, will get back behind the wheel of his 1969 Coast Packing/R&E Racing Camaro Pro Mod, which was recently rebuilt top to bottom by Lyons Custom Motorsports.
Bill Miller Engineering Renews World Series of Pro Mod Partnership
BRADENTON, FL – Bill Miller Engineering (BME), an industry leader in forged aluminum pistons and connecting rods, has renewed its 
support of the Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod presented by Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage and J&A Service, March 1-3, at Bradenton Motorsports Park. BME is the latest industry leader to support the $100,000 Pro Mod event, now in its fifth year overall and second year in Bradenton, Fla.
A noted powerhouse in motorsports, BME has manufactured championship-winning aluminum connecting rods, forged racing pistons, wrist pins and superchargers for more than four decades. Operating out of a state-of-the-art facility in Carson City, Nev., BME has stayed at the forefront of machine tool technology.
“As a longtime supporter of Drag Illustrated and their World Series of Pro Mod, I’m excited for this year’s event,” said Bill Miller, founder, BME. “Many of the Pro Mods competing will be using our components, most notably Mark Micke and his record-setting turbocharged Camaro. Mark uses our new Pro Mod Rod, along with BME pistons and wrist pins, to withstand the extreme conditions created when generating nearly 5,000 HP.”
PJS Racing Joins WSOPM as Event Sponsor
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.
Strange Engineering Joins Forces Again with Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod as Racer Welcome Party Partner
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.
