Signaling a further progression in their growing Pro Mod operation, Pro Stock and sportsman racing powerhouse Elite Motorsports announced today it has formed a strategic alliance with Modern Racing and its founder, noted tuner guru Justin Elkes.

Elite Motorsports will campaign three Pro Mod cars driven by Erica Enders, Alex Laughlin and Steve Matusek for the full 2019 E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by J&A Service season and Modern Racing will help oversee that transition. Elkes’ Modern Racing, whose expertise and track record is well knowing within the industry, will help facilitate the operation, aid in tuning and handle the construction and assembly of the three turbocharged entries, which include two Camaros and one Mustang, which will be driven by Matusek.

“Justin fits really well with our group and it’s kind of a magic deal for us,” said Richard Freeman, Founder, Elite Motorsports. “I’ve known Justin for a long time, and he’s just methodical in what he does and thinks outside the box. We have some really good people on our team and when you add Justin to that mix and you have magic. It’s going to be a really great addition to our program.”

After a successful career working as a crew chief and consultant with championship teams in a variety of classes, Elkes launched Modern Racing in 2016. He has continued to work with standout drivers in Pro Mod and Pro Stock as his reputation as a star tuner/business owner continues to grow, but the alliance with Elite Motorsports could make for an innovative move for both companies.

The strategic pairing will utilize the resources and depth featured on both teams and businesses, with Modern Racing and Elite Motorsports working together in a fashion that hasn’t been done in the NHRA Pro Mod ranks.

“This is extremely exciting,” Elkes said. “We’ve tried to work together for many years and it finally worked out. This really kind of fit with the business model we’re pushing. My team and I at Modern Racing will be preparing the cars over the winter and I think what we’re going to do has a chance to be groundbreaking. We know we have drivers that can win races, and it’s going to be exciting to help them achieve that and watch them grow in Pro Mod. We’re putting some great pieces together.”

Enders’ NHRA Pro Mod debut a year ago marked Elite Motorsports’ first foray into the class and now the successful organization is honed in on making an even bigger mark in the class in 2019. Elkes, a noted chassis and suspension guru, and Modern Racing are already hard at work on the trio of Pro Mod cars at their Mooresville, N.C. shop as the entire operation has big goals for 2019.

“We’ve built a championship-caliber Pro Stock program, and this alliance with Justin and Modern Racing is part of our goal to build a championship-winning Pro Mod operation,” Freeman said. “We continually seek out the chance to work with the best and brightest the sport has to offer and as we make a hard push into Pro Mod, we believe the alliance with Justin provides that.”

According to official videographer Jimmy Biggs, he has the best job on the grounds during each event for the Tulsa-based Frankenstein Engine Dynamics Mid-West Pro Mod Series (MWPMS).

Biggs with Al Tucci

“It’s a labor of love; it really is,” Biggs insists. “I consider it a privilege and an honor to tell the stories of the race teams and sponsors that make the Mid-West Pro Mod Series happen. And everybody has a cool story. With this whole industry it’s like that because everybody comes from different backgrounds and has different experiences. Plus, everyone knows 99.5-percent of all drag racers are great guys and my experience with the Mid-West Series absolutely confirms that.”

For the better part of two decades, Biggs, 62, has concentrated on providing drag racing coverage, working with the NMCA, Fun Ford, ADRL and PDRA before MWPMS owner, promoter and competitor Keith Haney came calling. Biggs estimates he posted between 150 and 200 MWPMS video clips to the MWPMS Facebook page this year.

“I can’t tell you how many drivers and crew guys come to me the next day to say they never expected to see things get posted so fast. They’re more used to seeing video from events go up a week or two, maybe more, after an event, but coming from a TV news background I work fast. I know how to shoot and edit for speed,” he says.

“Jimmy is just awesome for our racers and the series,” Haney adds. “I’ve really been impressed with what he’s able to accomplish all on his own. What he does, along with Al Tucci on the P.A. and Chad Reynolds with the live feed, really adds to the atmosphere and contributes so much information and knowledge about the Mid-West Series.”

Biggs shoots both trackside and in the pits during MWPMS races and creates short product features from MWPMS sponsor visits between events. He is the camera operator, director, interviewer and editor, typically traveling the country alone–sometimes flying, but most often driving–from his home base in Delaware, though an imminent move to North Carolina is planned.

“I used to be paired up with Brian Olson, who was one of the greatest announcers and interviewers this sport has ever known. He and I just clicked to where we pretty much knew where the other was going even before they did, but ever since Brian passed away (in 2015), I’ve pretty much been a solo act,” Biggs says.

“I make my own schedule, I go visit race shops and manufacturers when I want, and if I want to stay up and edit all night and then go for something to eat at 3 in the morning, I can do that. And all that is thanks to Keith (Haney). He lets me do my thing, make my own decisions and set my own agenda. There’s not a bit of pressure, which actually makes me want to work harder and create more stuff. Seriously, you can’t ask for anything more than that.”

The 2018 NHRA’s Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season was a continuing education for the always-learning Tim Wilkerson. This past year, the Springfield, Illinois, resident confirmed a finish in Funny Car’s top 10 for the 14th time and for the 11th consecutive season.

Looking ahead, Wilkerson will compete in his 500th NHRA nitro Funny Car race in 2019, and the Levi, Ray and Shoup Ford Mustang driver is eager to take two decades of successful experience into a new era.

“It’s great to have that No. 5 on the car for 2019,” said Wilkerson, who climbed as high as the No. 3 position during the Countdown to the Championship. “That’s the highest number I’ve had for a long time, so I’m pretty happy – but of course you always want to do better.”

Over the course of the season, Wilkerson reached three final rounds to gain valuable points towards his strong finish. Most impressively, his first final of the year came in Epping at the New England Nationals following a massive blow-up. The team rallied and recovered efficiently from the fiery engine explosion to send their boss to the 40th final round of his nitro Funny Car career.

Two months later, Wilkerson made the Countdown to the Championship with a clutch move as the sun set on the regular season at the U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis, tallying enough marks to lock in and fight for the title. When the Countdown began at the next race, Wilkerson and his team were starting their ascension from the No. 10 position, but they were more than ready to move up.

The group launched into the most critical six races by reaching the final at Maple Grove Raceway and followed up at the next event with a final round at their home track, Gateway Motorsports Park near St. Louis. A semifinal finish in Dallas capped their Countdown success.

“The cream rose to the top there at the right time,” said Wilkerson. “As soon as we got our difficulties behind us, we could see that we had a pretty good car – and everyone else could see it, too. It was a lot of fun, especially in the Countdown.”

Wilkerson looks to rake in even more achievements in 2019, when he will celebrate his 10th anniversary of making the productive move to a Ford Mustang Funny Car body. Since that time, he has cleared a top 10 finish in NHRA’s championship standings every year. Wilkerson has accumulated 10 national event wins for Ford, bringing his win total in the class to 20.

“We’re really excited about the new Ford Mustang bodies,” said Wilkerson, who has campaigned a Ford Mustang Funny Car since 2009. “We’re hearing that they should be coming out the middle of December or near the first of the year. We’ll get one of the first ones, and then it’ll go to [longtime chassis builder] Murf McKinney to mount, then we’ll send it off to have it painted. All of that takes time, so we may not have it before we do our pre-season testing, but we’re excited.

“What we’re most looking forward to in this next year is Ford coming back to NHRA in the Funny Car class,” said an elated Wilkerson. “We’ve had offers from other manufacturers to jump ship over the years, but we believed that these Ford Mustang bodies are the best. We stuck with them and won some races, and I tell you what, we’re proud to be part of the Ford family. Historically, each time there has been a new Ford body released, it’s shown improvement. I expect this new one will be as good as or better than what we’ve had.”

Next season, in addition to piloting the new Ford Mustang body, Wilkerson is dialed into what will take his team to the next level.

“What we struggled with the most early on was our procedural parameters; that’s it,” said Wilkerson, who is not only the driver of the Levi, Ray and Shoup Ford Mustang but also the crew chief and team owner of Tim Wilkerson Racing. “Next year, I’m going to be more of a stickler on getting things right, and I think that’s going to make us better as a team.

“We’ve got a real chance at continuing this performance roll we’ve been on, and I’d like to see us stay in the top 5 all season long. I believe we can. There is parity in the class, and the competition is just crazy good, but I’m up for it. We’ll be even better next year than we were this one.”

The first of the new Ford Mustang bodies being cut in Detroit. (Photo courtesy of Campbell Martketing/Ford Performance)

“You cannot influence the world by being just like it.” – unknown

After dealing with the SEMA chaos, the PRI Show was a walk in a park for us even though we were slammed with scheduled appearances and interviews. For us, PRI is a place where we can get face-to-face connections with our current sponsors, and lock in a memorable experience with potential partners. This time of the year is filled with holiday joy and excitement for the 2019 season, so it’s the best time to put the final pieces into place for the upcoming season with new marketing ideas, driver collaborations, and probable retail displays.

Megan with Cynthia Gauthier

Every PRI Show is memorable, especially with the connections that take place during the Drag Illustrated After Hours Party at Blu Lounge. I’ve made more success in my career at this show than I have at any others because of the down-to-earth people who are in the racing industry attending PRI. In the past I’ve met amazing racers in other sports, such as my good friend and Lucas Oil teammate, Shea Holbrook. This year I was grateful to meet Cynthia Gauthier, a very talented Monster Truck driver and welder, and ARCA racer Natalie Decker.

Last year we announced my 2-year partnership with NGK Spark Plugs at PRI, and this year it was thrilling to have two of my teammates, Julie and Rachel, with me at the booth to sign autographs for fans. This was the first time that all three of us have been in the same place together, and it was a blast getting to spend the day with both of them.

Megan and Rachel

Also, Rachel was inducted into the 4th annual Drag Illustrated 30 Under 30 club for the 2018 season and we are all extremely proud of her. Rachel’s hard work doesn’t go unnoticed. When she’s not racing with our team at National and Regional events, she is a full-time mechanical engineer and races her Super Comp dragster at the local bracket races on the weekends. When she is competing in Top Alcohol Dragster, she’s also known as the “Clutch Girl” who disassembles and replaces the clutch pack between every run she makes.

We are still finalizing our roster and schedule for 2019, and do not have any final decisions made yet. But, we are most likely going to be competing at Pomona again for the Winternationals in February and will announce our plans for the next season before then.

Megan Meyer is the driver of the NGK Spark Plugs/Meyer Truck Center/WELD Racing A/Fuel Dragster in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series. Follow Megan on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. 

This DRAG ILLUSTRATED Driver Blog is presented by WELD Racing. Follow WELD Racing on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and visit them online at www.WELDWheels.com. 

NGK Spark Plugs USA, Inc., the Original Equipment leader in automotive ignition technology for both domestic and import vehicles, announced during the PRI Show that it has extended its relationship with NHRA Top Sportsman drag racer Don O’Neal.

O’Neal has used NGK racing spark plugs in his 1999 Monte Carlo 632 Big Block Chevy engine with three-stage nitrous for the past five years and now O’Neal will look to use NTK engine sensors in a new race car. NTK is a member of the NGK Spark Plugs family of brands.

“This is a logical extension of our expansion into sensor technology,” said Danielle Orlando, General Manager of Marketing, NGK Spark Plugs. “There is a natural fit between the ways Don O’Neal and NGK think and do business.  We’re both moving into new markets together in 2019.  NGK is bringing its expanded NTK sensor line to consumers and into the motorsports world, while Don’s team has an exciting new race vehicle and engine combination. We are confident this will be a long-term, winning combination and are looking forward to a great partnership together in 2019 and beyond.”

O’Neal, who finished seventh in the NHRA’s national Top Sportsman standings in 2018, will compete with a different vehicle and power package in 2019. His new race car, a 2015 Chevrolet Camaro, will be powered by a Magnuson-supercharged Chevrolet 427 LS engine with VP Racing methanol. The engine will be triggered by a set of NGK racing spark plugs.

“I prefer NGK because of their quality,” O’Neal said. “They have less than a 1% failure rate. We don’t have time for any mechanical failures. We need our spark plug to light and stay lit so we can complete the run.”

O’Neal’s new car, branded with both the NGK and NTK brands, was unveiled at the show in the Lucas Oil Arena feature vehicle hallway.

Drag racing has become technology-driven, O’Neal went on to say. Sensor information is now the key to a successful program and that is where the decision to align with the NTK brand stemmed from.

Top Sportsman cars are among the most interesting in all of drag racing, from a technical standpoint. The rules allow for supercharged, turbocharged and nitrous oxide-injected engines. The cars are full-bodied and typically complete their quarter-mile pass in seven seconds or less, routinely surpassing 200 mph. The Top Sportsman category is part of the NHRA’s Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series for sportsman racers. It is among the fastest categories in sportsman drag racing.

“We are making the switch from a car with three stages of nitrous boost to a supercharged car,” O’Neal said. “We wanted to make this change because we felt today’s customer could better relate to this new set-up. This new engine/vehicle combination is an opportunity for us to communicate the product message and the brand story about NGK and NTK’s OEM quality to everyday people. It’s our goal to help create customer loyalty for both NGK spark plugs and now the newly expanded NTK line of oxygen and technical sensors. These are products we’ll be putting into play and they’re also products everyday people use in their own vehicles.”

The start of the 2019 drag racing season is still two months away, but Don O’Neal has already jumped ahead.

To support the recent release of its RUTHENIUM HX spark plug line, NGK also announced the company will be dressing Megan Meyer’s Top Alcohol dragster with RUTHENIUM HX branding. Offering the latest in high-ignitability spark plug technology and comprised of the precious metal, RUTHENIUM HX consists of 25 part numbers covering over 200 million vehicles currently in operation. The new NGK RUTHENIUM HX offers higher ignitability, enhanced oxidation resistance and increased durability for today’s modern engines.

As a way to continue to offer the most unique content in the industry and continue to give drag racing fans unprecedented access, DRAG ILLUSTRATED Founder and Editorial Director Wes Buck announced today the launch of a behind-the-scenes video blog series that will appear on DRAG ILLUSTRATED’s YouTube and Facebook pages.

The comprehensive video series with Buck will give fans an in-depth, behind-the-scenes look at the popular magazine and the sport as he travels to a variety of different races, trade shows, race team shops and everything out of the ordinary at the dragstrip. After the success of the World Series of Pro Mod’s Embedded Series, which featured six vlogs on the behind-the-scenes action of the race and attracted nearly over 250,000 views on Facebook, offering further content like that became critically important for Buck.

“Since day one, it has been our mission grow and the build the sport of drag racing, and to do so by telling the stories of the incredible men and women that comprise it,” Buck said. “The people who drive these cars, that build them and work on them, and the people that make these events possible, they’ve always been the stars of the show that is drag racing, and it’s been our mission to shine as bright a light on them as possible by way of DRAG ILLUSTRATED and our print, digital and social platforms. This video blog, as well as the many other video projects we will be rolling out in the weeks and months to come, are a natural evolution of what we’ve been doing the last 13 years.”

The debut episode of the vlog series details Buck’s trip to Elite Motorsports in Winneywood, Okla., where the DRAG ILLUSTRATED Founder gets an unprecedented look at life inside and outside the Elite Motorsports’ state-of-the-art facility.

Fans will get VIP access to the ins and outs of team owner Richard Freeman’s Pro Stock and sportsman racing powerhouse, focusing on what makes the Elite Motorsports operation so successful as it jumps further into the Pro Mod world in 2018 as well. The video also documents life outside the shop for the close-knit group, giving fans incredible access to what makes the team special.

Upcoming episodes will focus on the fall NHRA event in Las Vegas, giving viewers can’t-miss access during the conclusion of the NHRA Pro Mod season, while other episodes include behind-the-scenes action the SEMA show in Las Vegas, the PRI show in Indianapolis and much more.

Every high-quality episode will be presented in a vlog-style format and will be available for viewing on Facebook and YouTube. The behind-the-scenes videos became a passion project spearheaded by lead videographer Blake Fontinel and Buck, whose popular “Selfie Videos” at races have drawn millions of views, with his weekly “Facebook Live!” show drawing tens of thousands of views each week.

“Our goal with the vlog is to simply do more of what we’re already doing, but do so in the form of an all-access, behind-the-scenes video series,” Buck said. “I’m blessed to do a lot of fun things that revolve around drag racing and spend time with a lot of awesome people, both at the drag strip and away from it, and I just want to take people along for the ride.”

US 131 Motorsports Park, “The Fastest Track in Michigan,” has entered into a multi-year sanctioning agreement with the International Hot Rod Association (IHRA).

The Martin, Michigan, facility features racing on both the eighth-mile and quarter-mile and hosts multiple big events throughout the season. In 2018, those events included the IHRA Summit Sportsman Spectacular, the IHRA Division 5 Summit Team Finals and one of the largest IHRA Summit SuperSeries programs in the country.

US 131 repeated as IHRA Division 5 (Thunder) champions in 2018, while IHRA Summit SuperSeries track champions were: Rick Morley (Top), Mark Hammond (Mod) and Trey Goodson (Junior).

“The name US 131 Motorsports Park carries prestige across the country,” IHRA Division Director Jon O’Neal said. “The small and highly dedicated staff, led by the Peterson family, have built incredibly strong racing programs by supporting the needs of their racers. We appreciate their continued commitment to a great partnership with the IHRA.”

The track has a rich history dating back to 1962 when it originally opened by John Grivins as Martin Dragway. At the time, Grivins was the youngest track operator in the country. Many of the great touring pros of the era visited the facility.

Under new ownership, the track underwent a $14 million-dollar renovation and re-opened in 2002 with first-class accommodations. The nickname “The Fastest Track in Michigan” was reinforced in September 2017 when Dom Lagana set a world record with 338.35 mph run in his Top Fuel dragster during the Funny Car Nationals.   

For more information about US 131 Motorsports Park, click here.

After a very successful year in 2018, Modern Racing, the venture formed by championship-winning tuner and motorsports electronics expert Justin Elkes, continues to expand its footprint in the drag racing industry heading into 2019.

Headlining the expanding footprint is a strategic alliance between Modern Racing and the powerhouse team of Elite Motorsports. During last week’s Performance Racing Industry (PRI) trade show in Indianapolis, Elite Motorsports announced that it will campaign three Pro Mod cars driven by two-time Pro Stock world champion Erica Enders, rising star Alex Laughlin and Aeromotive Fuel Systems founder Steve Matusek for the full 2019 E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by J&A Service season. Elite Motorsports and Richard Freeman have retained the services of Modern Racing to facilitate the operation, aid in tuning and handle the construction and assembly of the three turbocharged entries, which include two 5th-generation Camaros piloted by Enders and Laughlin, and one 2013 Mustang driven by Matusek.

“This is extremely exciting,” Elkes said. “We’ve tried to work together for many years and it finally worked out. This really kind of fit with the business model we’re pushing. My team and I at Modern Racing will be preparing the cars over the winter and I think what we’re going to do has a chance to be groundbreaking. We know we have drivers that can win races, and it’s going to be exciting to help them achieve that and watch them grow in Pro Mod. We’re putting some great pieces together and we’re looking forward to having Elite Motorsports on our client list.”

In addition, Modern Racing will continue to build on the momentum it created during the 2018 Professional Drag Racers Association (PDRA) season by working once again with several top Pro Nitrous teams. Notably, Elkes and Modern Racing guided Danny Sauro to a world record elapsed time and his first national event victory in 2018, while also providing tuning, consulting, wiring, and fabrication services for several teams.

While making its presence felt on the track, Modern Racing’s off-track presence at PDRA events will also expand in 2019, as it recently acquired a new mobile support trailer that will allow the company to offer an even broader array of products and services for PDRA racers. The trailer will also travel to high-profile drag radial and outlaw doorslammer events throughout 2019.

“Our mobile support trailer was very well received in 2018, and we’re doubling down on it for 2019 with a new trailer and new products from new vendors, in addition to our selection from last year. We’re proud to support racers in every way we can,” Elkes said.

Working with racers and manufacturers across the entire spectrum of the drag racing industry is an important element in Elkes’ vision for Modern Racing, and a new partnership with Pat Musi Racing Engines will allow Modern Racing to also serve the sportsman contingent.

“We’re excited to announce that Modern Racing will provide the wiring harnesses included with Pat Musi’s new 632 cubic inch crate engine for fast sportsman racers,” Elkes said. “This new engine made a big splash at PRI, and it’s a high-profile project with Pat Musi Racing Engines and Edelbrock, two well-known companies in the industry. I think including a clean, high-quality wiring solution with the engine really completes the package.”

Krista Baldwin has acquired the Nitro University A/Fuel dragster team for the 2019 season. Baldwin has been the driver for the team since 2016. She plans to make 5 races for her ownership debut. Former owner, Anthony Dicero, has accepted a full time position at Justin Ashley Racing.

“Every year since I was a little girl, my parents asked me what I wanted for Christmas and, of course, it was always, jokingly, my own racecar,” says the 25-year-old racer. “And now my wish finally came true.”

Krista Baldwin

Baldwin attended the Nitro University to receive her Top Alcohol Dragster crossover license in 2015. She made her national event debut at the 2016 Winternationals with team owner Anthony Dicero. Ever since then she has raced and crewed for Dicero with multiple drivers at the wheel.

“First I need to thank Anthony Dicero, his wife Jess, and their daughter Kolette for trusting me with their racecars over the years. They have invited me into their family and we hustled together to keep our dreams rolling down the road. We’ve seen a lot, learned more than I can imagine, and now it’s time to take the next step of owning a car.”

Baldwin plans to make 5 events this upcoming year with her new ownership including national events in Joliet, Indianapolis, and Norwalk and regional events in Division 3.

“I have been around a dragster my whole life, I understand the amount of work and up keep these cars require. This last year, I have stepped back from primary driver on the A/Fueler and was able to learn more of what happens behind the cockpit and how to run a successful team. Every weekend was a learning curve whether I was driving or crewing, or sometimes I was doing both. I want to thank Anthony for supplying the tools I need for running a team.”

Baldwin will continue her efforts as the Creative Director at McLeod Racing and will be involved with Paul Lee Racing. Paul Lee just announced his involvement with the Straightline Strategy Group and will be returning to nitro funny car racing in 2019.

“I believe 2019 will be the year that will define who I am as a business woman, racer, car owner, and team member,” says the third generation nitro driver. “I am beyond excited to see Paul (Lee) jump back into the game. I cannot put into words how grateful I am to have him on my side. He is a wonderful mentor and I couldn’t ask for anything else.”

Baldwin will continue the Nitro University program for perspective students who wish to work or drive the A/Fuel dragster.

“Nitro University is where I got my start and I want to make sure people still have a place to learn,” says Baldwin. “You will be able to join the crew for the weekend course to learn how to pull the heads, or service the clutch, or learn how the basic operations of the car. If people are interested in obtaining their license, I would be glad to help. This past year I have helped Jordan Vandergriff and Jasmine Salinas get their start and now they are both looking at promising 2019 seasons.”

Krista Baldwin Racing and Nitro University have continued support from CP Carrillo, Manton, Clevite/MAHLE, Weld Racing, Shelton’s Poultry, Apple Girl Art, XRP, PXP Racewear, Manley Performance, Boninfante Friction, and TBM Brakes. Without these wonderful companies, Baldwin would not be able to accomplish this goal.

2019 will be very busy, but Baldwin believes her passion and determination will shine and now she turns the page.

Professional Drag Racers Association (PDRA) race director Bob Harris will step down from his position with the all-eighth-mile series on January 1, 2019, it was announced Sunday evening via email. Harris, who served as race director since the PDRA was formed in 2014, will be replaced by interim race director Tyler Crossnoe. 

Harris’ full statement appears below:

With a heavy heart as of January 1, 2019 I’m stepping down as director of the Professional Drag Racing Association (PDRA). I have spent the last 5 years working every minute to make PDRA a great family racing association. I think I and others have accomplished that. It’s time for new blood and different ideas. I am 65 years old and for 42 years raced, owned a racetrack or headed up a racing association. It’s time to go racing with my son Jason and enjoy my grandkids. I owe it to them, my wife and myself. I would like to thank the Franklins, the racers, the crews, the families, the media, sponsors, and most of all the employees that work at PDRA. It’s time to move in a different direction and start smelling the roses. I wish the PDRA and its family of racers the very best. I plan on being in the pits with the Boone-Harris PN World Champion Team. I hope the person that takes my place does a better job and puts as much love in PDRA as I have.

Please continue to support PDRA because we need this wonderful place to race.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone.

Sincerely,

Bob Harris

PDRA owner Tommy Franklin released the following statement to thank Harris for his service and to address the future of the race director position.

I’m very thankful for what Bob Harris has given to the PDRA for the first five years of existence and we wish him well and look forward to seeing him along the tour. We are very excited about PDRA’s future as 2019 is shaping up to be a great season with a lot of positive changes in store to make our show even better than it’s been in the previous years. In the meantime, PDRA has named Tyler Crossnoe the interim Race Director, so please direct any questions to him at (731) 345-9058 or tyler@pdra660.com.

The quickly expanding conglomerate formed by Elite Motorsports and Modern Racing has taken another step forward. The team is proud to announce the addition of record-setting tuner and engine management expert Shane Tecklenburg to the braintrust led by Modern Racing’s Justin Elkes.

The arrangement calls for Tecklenburg to supply the team’s three turbocharged NHRA Pro Modified entries piloted by Erica Enders, Alex Laughlin and Steve Matusek with complete vehicle management systems.

“I look forward to combining the resources of my firm, ST Consulting, with those of Elite Motorsports and Modern Racing. I think each business compliments the other and each brings a high level of expertise in their respective fields,” Tecklenburg stated. “I look forward to working with Justin Elkes to help ensure the team is on the leading edge of technology and performance each time we pull to the starting line.”

Although he has never competed directly in E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Pro Mod presented by J&A Service, Tecklenburg has worked behind the scenes to supply teams in the series with his custom software for the MoTeC engine management system.

Outside of NHRA Pro Mod, Tecklenburg’s experience in writing custom software and tuning record-setting drag racing vehicles spans from the sport’s quickest and fastest doorslammer, the EKanoo Racing Lexus RCF, which covered the quarter mile in 5.379 seconds at 278 MPH earlier this year, to the Team Tekno Toys Modified Pro Compact Nissan Silvia S15, which just last month claimed the title of the world’s fastest 4-cylinder doorslammer with a 6.228-second pass at 229.55 MPH.

During NHRA Pro Stock’s switch to electronic fuel injection, Elkes tapped Tecklenburg to assist the teams Elkes was working with, laying the groundwork for the new arrangement with the Elite Motorsports turbocharged Pro Modified teams.

“I’m really looking forward to having Shane in our corner,” Elkes said. “It was a very successful partnership when we worked together in NHRA Pro Stock, and we clicked right from the start. I have long respected Shane and I can’t wait to see what he brings to this new Pro Modified team.”

Elite Motorsports founder Richard Freeman echoed Elkes’ confidence in Tecklenburg.

“We continually seek out the chance to work with the best and brightest the sport has to offer as we make a hard push into NHRA Pro Mod,” said Freeman. “We have worked with Shane in the past and we like what he can add to this group.”

Race Winning Brands (RWB), a portfolio company of Kinderhook Industries, LLC, has called upon automotive industry veteran Robert “Bob” Bruegging to serve as the organization’s Vice President, Product Management.

Race Winning Brands (RWB) is a leading manufacturer of racing and high-performance parts sold to the automotive and powersports aftermarkets. RWB is the preferred source for high-end pistons, as well as engine blocks, cylinder heads, connecting rods, crankshafts, clutches and other engine and driveline-related performance components. 

Furthering RWB’svision for leveraging adjacent parts advantageously, Bruegging will work closely with Chief Executive Officer Brian Reese and brand leaders to monitor the evolving needs of customers and develop innovative solutions for racing and performance. The University of Kansas Alumnus will oversee product management and product development, managing cross-functional teams across several locations. 

“Bob Bruegging brings RWB a wealth of leadership, product and sales experience,” said Reese. “As RWB continues to grow, it’s important that we keep stacking our organization with talented individuals who can identify new opportunities in the marketplace and work cooperatively with our sales, marketing and engineering staffs. Bob’s unique background and leadership experience will also serve as a tremendous complement to our Executive Leadership Team. Given Bob’s expertise and impeccable credentials, we think he’s a perfect fit for this new role.”

Bruegging comes to RWB from Cometic Gasket where he led new business development efforts over the last three years. Prior to his time with Cometic, Bruegging spent over two decades in executive leadership roles with the Mr. Gasket Corporation.

“The opportunity to join Race Winning Brands was an easy decision for me,” offered Bruegging. “The team that Brian Reese has assembled is an amazing group of talent, and the chance to come in and help build their Product Management department is a challenge I look forward to. As we continue to add brands and companies to the RWB portfolio, it’s important that we never lose the spirit that built all the various brands and companies. Ownership of each brand and product category is at the center of our quest. Simultaneously, we look to use best practices from each business unit for product development and commercialization. This is an exciting and high energy business – and we will continue to grow and bring on high energy brands.”

The race for the 2019 Mello Yello NHRA Pro Stock world championship is expected to be wide open and Rob Tucker Racing, anchored by driver Shane Tucker, has opted to take advantage by joining forces with veteran engine supplier and consultant Nick Ferri.

The Statesville, N.C.-based Rob Tucker Racing team will run all the NHRA national events in Pro Stock next season for the first time, with an eye toward qualifying for the Countdown to the Championship for the first time as well.

“We have been working on our own for a number of years with some assistance here and there,” explained Shane Tucker. “We were building our Auzmet Architectural business here in the States so we could only run select events.

“We are excited to finally be able to focus a little more on racing and working with Nick Ferri Racing shows how serious we are. Nick has done amazing things with previous world champions and we have that same kind of championship attitude here at Rob Tucker Racing.”

Nick Ferri Racing will supply engines and consult with Tucker and his team on the set-up. In the past, Ferri worked with JEGS, Cagnazzi Racing, Mike Edwards Motorsports and most recently Elite Performance for a combined five world championships in Pro Stock.

“We have had a lot of success with our engine building program working with Jeg Coughlin, Mike Edwards and Erica Enders-Stevens,” said Nick Ferri. “I am excited to join forces with Rob Tucker Racing starting in 2019. The passion and determination Rob and Shane Tucker have shown over the years gives me a lot of confidence that we can build a partnership that will win a lot of races.”

In addition to supplying Rob Tucker Racing with power, Ferri also plans to provide engines to other teams competing in Pro Stock during the 2019 season.

Rob Tucker Racing will begin testing for the 2019 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing season in January. The team will be ready to make a run at their first NHRA Mello Yello championship at the 58th annual Lucas Oil Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona on February 7-10, 2019.

As the NHRA Mello Drag Racing Series off-season reaches its midway point, the drivers of John Force Racing took some time to reflect on a challenging 2018 season. The finale to 2018 may not have ended with the championship celebration many had predicted but the teams all finished inside the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Top 10 for the 35th time in the past 36 seasons. Robert Hight came close to defending his 2017 championship finishing in second, with Courtney Force ending a career-best season in the sixth spot. Team namesake and CEO John Force finished ninth and in Top Fuel Brittany Force finished fifth.

Although he didn’t get the monumental 150th NHRA tour victory, John Force and his PEAK Coolant and Motor Oil Chevrolet Camaro came one step closer with a victory at the Mile-High Nationals in Denver to tally 149 and finished the 2018 season in far better shape than he started it. The 16-time champion began the year outside the Top 10 following car control problems, engine explosions and a crash. The 69-year-old veteran’s season record was set at 25-22, the 32nd year he has won more racing rounds than he’s lost and the 36th year he has finished in the Top 10.

“Obviously not the season we set out for,” Force admitted. “We set out every day to win, that’s our job. Courtney was on fire all year, Robert got hot at the end, thought we had something there. I was on fire just not in the right way. We’ll call it bad luck. We’re already looking to 2019. It’s not just about making it in the Countdown, it’s about winning the championship and that’s what we’re going after next year. I had a bad year, but I’m getting right for next season.”

Robert Hight and his Auto Club of Southern California Chevy Camaro team earned four event wins this season, boosting his career total to 45, third-all time behind only boss and teammate John Force and veteran Ron Capps. His first win of the season in Chicago ensured he became the only driver in NHRA history to win a tour event in 14 consecutive seasons to start a career.

An explosion in the St. Louis final round broke his collarbone but did not slow down Hight who two weeks later won the AAA Texas Fall Nationals to remain in contention during The Countdown. The 45-time winner battled through the pain and had the Automobile Club of Southern California Chevrolet Camaro in championship contention for every qualifying run and elimination round until the final day of the season. He finished his 14th season in second place.

“We were right where we wanted to be this season, in contention for another championship.” said Hight. “Being in the fight for a title through the last day of the season is exactly the kind of season you want to have. Coming out of 2017 and winning the championship to finishing second in 2018, that kind of consistency shows that we are the Funny Car to beat and give us confidence moving forward. We faced some adversity but we didn’t let it stop us. Jimmy Prock, Chris Cunningham and this whole team worked hard all season long and it showed right up until the final day of the season.”

Courtney Force ended the season sixth in the point standings, a number that does not represent the career best season the winningest female in NHRA Funny Car history had. Force and her Advance Auto Parts team earned four event victories in six final rounds with 11 No. 1 qualifiers and led the points standings for 12 consecutive events. Force picked up her first victory at the Arizona Nationals and proved to be the Funny Car to beat through the middle of the season, collecting her wins and the bulk of her No. 1s in the first 14 races.

“After a career best season with 11 No. 1 qualifiers, four national event wins and leading the points for 12 straight races, I’m incredibly proud of my Advance Auto Parts team and all of our accomplishments in 2018,” said Force. “We had the car and team that gave us a shot at the title this year which was our goal. Although we came up short and finished sixth in the standings, I feel that the 2018 season was one to be extremely proud of. My team really pulled together through the highs and the lows and I’m so fortunate to be working with a group of guys who are always motivating me to be my best and never give up.”

Brittany Force’s highlight win of 2018 came in Houston at the SpringNationals where her Monster Energy team debuted a brand-new dragster after an intense crash at the Winternationals that ruined the dragster her team had built over the off-season. Force secured a No. 1 qualifier with her sister Courtney at the Charlotte Four-Wide Nationals in the spring and the fall Carolina Nationals in Charlotte where she also raced to a runner-up finish. Force now has eight national event wins and 10 No. 1 qualifying positions.

“The 2018 season was one of trials for JFR,” Force reflected. “Every driver, crew chief, and crew member were pushed to their limits, but as a team we never backed down. Courage and strength are built through hard times. This year strengthened me as a driver and reminded me that with the right people, true heart and the determination to never give up, you can battle through anything. All my teammates and I finished in the top 10. I’m proud of another incredible season and I’ll be ready to step it up next year.”

The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series ends its hibernation with preseason testing at Wildhorse Pass Motorsports Park in Chandler, Ariz. at the end of January before getting underway with the 59th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals February 9-11 at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona in Pomona, Calif.

Two-time NHRA Pro Stock world champion Erica Enders recently announced a contract extension with Melling Performance at the PRI show in Indianapolis. The 2019 NHRA MelloYello Drag Racing Season will mark the third season of the partnership between Elite Motorsports and Melling Performance.

“What started off as an associate sponsorship has grown into a full blown partnership,” Enders said. “Everything we do at Elite Motorsports and Performance is family and people based. It was a perfect fit with Melling as they run their business the same way.”

Mark and Matt Melling, along with their families and employees are no strangers to the motorsports industry, but the Elite Motorsports Pro Stock team is the first title sponsorship within the NHRA for Melling Performance.

“We were thrilled with the results with Erica and Elite. It was an absolute no brainer to come back,” said Melling Performance’s Mark Melling.

“We feel strongly that our association in Pro Stock has been positive in getting the word out about our Melling Performance parts, Billet Oil Pumps in Particular,” added Melling. “Engine Parts and Racing is in the Melling DNA and we hope to be involved with NHRA and Elite in some manner for years to come.”

Enders will be competing full-time in the Pro Stock category as well as Pro Modified for the span of the 2019 season under the Elite umbrella, which is led by team owner Richard Freeman.

We couldn’t be more excited for this extension with Melling,” Freeman said. “We go into every partnership with the hopes that it is as seamless and successful as our arrangement with Melling. Each year we’ve grown together and look forward to a long lasting relationship between the Melling brothers, Melling performance, Elite Motorsports and Erica.”

Don Schumacher Racing (DSR) is pleased to announce longtime partner NAPA AUTO PARTS has extended their marketing relationship with the winningest organization in NHRA history through a multi-year agreement, beginning in 2019.

“We’ve enjoyed an 11-year partnership with NAPA and are thrilled to be able to announce that relationship will continue into 2019 and beyond,” said team owner Don Schumacher. “The longevity of our relationship speaks volumes, and we look forward to many more wins, championships and years representing NAPA AUTO PARTS.”

NAPA AUTO PARTS joined the DSR family as an associate sponsor in 2007 and became the primary sponsor of the Dodge Funny Car driven by Ron Capps in 2008. Over the past 11 years, Capps and the NAPA team have gone on to win 36 races, 15 poles, and the 2016 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series championship title.

“It’s been an honor to represent the thousands of NAPA AUTO PARTS stores and NAPA AutoCare Center owners, employees and customers for the last decade, both on and off the race track,” said Capps, whose Dodge Funny Car will once again represent NAPA AUTO PARTS as its primary sponsor at all 24 races during the 2019 NHRA season.

“Our race fans are as passionate as they come and I’m elated about our future with NAPA AUTO PARTS and our continued goal to be number one,” he added.

“NAPA is pleased to continue its primary partnership of Ron Capps and Don Schumacher Racing” stated NAPA President, Dan Askey. “Partnership is the key word as Ron, the team and the entire Don Schumacher Racing organization are true partners both on and off the track. We could not be more pleased to have them represent our brand to the many loyal NHRA fans across the country. Certainly, we want to thank the fans for their continued support of NHRA and NAPA, and we look forward to 2019 and beyond.”

Capps is set to embark on his 25^th year as a professional NHRA competitor, 15^th with DSR and 12^th with NAPA AUTO PARTS when the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season opens at the NHRA Winternationals in Pomona, California, February 8 – 10. Fans will see the 2019 NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat, which was designed with input from the veteran driver, on the track for the first time when it makes its official debut that weekend.

Since his early days as an ambassador of the NAPA brand, Capps has appeared in national ad campaigns, helped to launch new products and promotional programs, and has developed relationships with NAPA customers, store owners, and personnel across the country through in-market activation programs at each stop along the coast-to-coast NHRA tour.

In addition to in-market activation, the ongoing NAPA partnership also includes a business-to-business hospitality program, and recognition of a NAPA customer as an Honorary Crew Member at every NHRA event.

Capps, a 60-time Funny Car winner, which ranks second most of all-time in the category, collected three NHRA event wins and one pole during the 2018 season en route to a fourth-place finish. The NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Car team will continue to be led by championship crew chief Rahn Tobler and assistant crew chief Dustin Heim in 2019 as they seek their second NHRA Mello Yello series crown.

Already enjoying a steady growth as a class, 2019 could be the biggest year yet for Outlaw 632.

Thanks to work from PDRA competition tech director Ken Kershaw, the class will have a unified set of rules, not only in the PDRA, but also at all prominent tracks that run Outlaw 632, including South Georgia Motorsports Park, Bradenton Motorsports Park, Orlando Speed World Dragway and Palm Beach International Raceway.

The unified set of rules will also be in place for the class at Donald Long’s “Lights Out” and “No Mercy” races, and it’s the type of move Kersahw believes could take the class to another level next year.

“This was a really big deal for me to put together and get all the tracks unified,” Kershaw said. “It took a couple years of doing, but we got everyone to agree, which is what we need to get the class to grow. It’s very satisfying.”

The unified set of rules means a weight limit of 2,900 pounds for Outlaw 632 cars that run multiple systems, 2,600 pounds for single-kit with a 36 jet and 2,375 pounds for naturally aspirated cars.

It clears up any confusion going from the PDRA to another race at a different track, along with any extra time or money to run the class at multiple events and tracks.

Kershaw said the response he has received from racers has been extremely positive, especially those who want to run the full PDRA schedule and add in a number of other races at different tracks.

Ken Kershaw (Rick Belden photo)

“The guys are really happy,” Kershaw said. “It’s a lot more efficient for everyone. As a driver or a car owner, you’re able to race a lot more spots and just go there and race. It gives them the opportunity to run more than just 7-8 races a year. They can go anywhere to race without making any adjustments.”

For a class that caters to young drivers as an entry-level professional class, it’s a strong step in the right direction.

The class has featured a number of up-and-coming standout drivers, including PDRA world champions Dillon Voss and Johnny Pluchino, and unifying the rules could set the stage for the class to add several more in 2019 as a stepping-stone to other professional doorslammer classes.

“The rules are set tight enough where you can race efficiently and do it well at the same time,” Kershaw said. “You’ve got a lot of young guys getting involved in the class. It’s got some prestige like a Pro Nitrous class, but it doesn’t require the pocketbook you need to run a class like that.”

With a Southern-heavy base and a multitude of Outlaw 632 competitors coming from Florida, every driver and team now have several tracks within close range with the same set of rules in addition to the touring PDRA series.

It opens up a world of possibilities for a race season and that means Outlaw 632 could be on the verge of a serious breakthrough in 2019.

“I feel like it’s going to help grow the class a ton,” Kershaw said. “You’ve got three times the amount of places to race now. It took a little bit of steam to get it rolling in the PDRA, but I honestly think it’s going to grow tremendously now.”

“We must all suffer from one of two pains: the pain of discipline or the pain of regret. The difference is discipline weighs ounces while regret weighs tons.” ― Jim Rohn

2018 is almost over!! No matter what anyone says about New Year’s resolutions, I personally buy into the excitement of an energetic, clean slate of the new year. I had shared earlier this year with you some goals of mine for 2018, some of which I never came close to completing, but most I was able to happily check off:

• 2018 Racing Season Accomplishments: won 5 events including 3 national events, and the Central Region Championship, again! Reset my personal best speed to 283.8 MPH.
• 2019 Racing Season Goals: compete in 17 races, make it to the final round at 8 of them, win at a track I’ve never won at before, clinch the Regional and National Championships. Become the winningest female of Top Alcohol Dragster.

• 2018 Physical Accomplishments: Joined Orange Theory Fitness and LOVE IT! Competed in the Tough Mudder 5-mile and Rugged Maniac 5k. Ran over 10 miles in a week (I’ve never ran more than 1 mile at a single time before this year!)
• 2019 Physical Goals: Finish the Tough Mudder 10-mile, Rugged Maniac 5k, and one other competition. Do more yoga and meditation. Ride my bike more. Be stricter on tracking my calorie intake and do something active every day.

• 2018 Business Accomplishments: Doubled my income from 2017 with my freelance work. Attended the Women in Auto Care conference and other seminars, and made new connections in the industry. Read these books and implemented what I learned into my business to succeed: https://www.amazon.com/shop/influencer-0f5cabca?listId=3KOS77YLJAAWL&ref=idea_share_inf
• 2019 Business Goals: Double my income again, continue to attend conferences, take better notes, rebrand my website and social media. Spend less time on the computer and phone and live in the moment.

• 2018 Lifestyle/Personal Accomplishments: Learned how to snowboard, harvested my first deer, bought a boat, and went fishing in other states (Colorado, South Carolina, Illinois, and Minnesota). Finished remodeling our guest bedroom and bathroom.
• 2019 Lifestyle/Personal Goals: Spend more time with family. Go hunting in a different state and harvest a buck. Visit new states to go fishing and catch a Northern Pike. Go camping and hiking more. Continue working on renovating our house and hopefully finish it all!

I hope to bring new creative energy into 2019. I want to have more honest, powerful conversations and stay in alignment with myself. I want to have higher profitability and growth in my graphic design business but still have fun and go on as many adventures as possible. I want to leave behind self-limiting beliefs and taking responsibility for other people’s emotions.

What would you like to leave behind from 2018? What would you like to bring to 2019? Comment below your milestones and what worked and what didn’t work for you this year.

Megan Meyer is the driver of the NGK Spark Plugs/Meyer Truck Center/WELD Racing A/Fuel Dragster in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series. Follow Megan on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. 

This DRAG ILLUSTRATED Driver Blog is presented by WELD Racing. Follow WELD Racing on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and visit them online at www.WELDWheels.com. 

Top Fuel fan favorite Scott Palmer will remain with Tommy Thompson Motorsports in 2019, campaigning the Magic Dry Organic Absorbent Top Fuel dragster in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series.

“I’m honored and humbled that Tommy wants to keep us around for another year,” Palmer said. “Our relationship goes far beyond racing. We’re good friends and partners and I know I have the best supporter in all of motorsports. We are going to do everything we can to bring attention and hopefully a bunch of trophies to the entire Midwest Organics family.”

Midwest Organics Executive Vice President Don Corsette said extending Palmer’s contract was an easy decision for the company. “Scott is such a likable guy and a true racer in every sense,” Corsette said. “His interaction with the fans and the reaction he gets from people in the pits makes him the perfect ambassador for Magic Dry and CatSpot. He’s definitely moved the needle for us and helped expose race fans to what we’re doing with our all-natural, 100-percent organic products.”

Palmer earned a spot in the elite Countdown to the Championship for the second year in a row in 2018 driving the CatSpot Organic Cat Litter Top Fuel dragster for Thompson. Midwest Organics, the parent company of both Magic Dry and CatSpot, is owned by Thompson. Both products will be promoted on Palmer’s racecar.

“We’re switching the primary position to Magic Dry to help get that product fully launched and in the hands of as many people as possible,” Palmer said. “It’s a pretty remarkable absorbent that can be used in so many different ways and drag racing fans definitely need to learn all about it.

“At the same time, we’ll continue beating the drum for CatSpot Organic Cat Litter. We’ve had so much fun teaching people about the benefits of that product and it’s been up and running for three years now and getting bigger every day. Like last year, there will be plenty of opportunities for fans to get samples at the races so they can see what we’re talking about.”

Palmer reports that his team has been working feverously during the off-season to prepare for 2019. The primary goals for the group are to win their first national level Wally trophy and to once again earn a spot in the Countdown.

“We learned a lot last year and we came into the offseason with a list of things in certain areas where we think we can improve,” he said. “We reached a point where we are consistently running with the best cars and we want to expand on that and get to where we’re in position to truly challenge for race wins every weekend.

“There will be more announcements in the coming weeks and there is plenty to be excited about as far as 2019 in concerned. Right now, it’s a thrill to know we will be racing the entire NHRA schedule.”

In addition to Magic Dry and CatSpot, Palmer will continue to receive support from Marck Recycling.

The 2018 E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by J&A Service wrapped up in late October at the NHRA Toyota Nationals with Mike Janis claiming his first world championship.

Dependable power is critical in any championship run. Janis has an exclusively designed cylinder head from Sonny’s Racing Engines. This special hemispherical 4.900 bore spacing billet aluminum cylinder head contributed to the sheer horsepower available as well as to the consistency.

These specially designed, championship-winning Sonny’s cylinder heads can now be purchased from Jan Cen Motorsports.

Mike Janis and Mike Janis Jr. noted that the valve train lives great at 10,500+ RPM. They also commented that the valve train geometry was second to none, valve springs were good and valve lash stayed consistent.

This combination utilizes a 70MM 6-journal camshaft along with a custom billet aluminum block designed by Jan Cen Motorsports, Sonny’s, and CN Blocks.

Call Jan Cen Motorsports at (716) 668-2096for more information.