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Race Recap — Stanfield Wins by .003 to Join Pro Mod History
WSOPM 2026 By The Numbers
Pro Mod — Aaron Stanfield, World Series Champion
NHRA Pro Stock star and three-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 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 DI Winter Series presented by J&A Service champion Peter Norton in a side-by-side race.
Stanfield’s Path to the Winner’s Circle
Stanfield qualified No. 8 in the field, marking the first time he’d qualified in a Winter Series race after debuting in Pro Mod in December. Driving a Harts Charger-boosted ’69 Camaro out of the Scott Tidwell Racing camp through a collaborative effort including Elite Motorsports, Tidwell, and Modern Racing, Stanfield drew Snowbirds runner-up Sidnei Frigo in the first-round chip draw. He left first and posted a 3.879 at 200.98 to get the win over Frigo’s 4.044.
Round 2 against Greg Blevins Jr.: Stanfield left first again and laid down a 3.651 at 209.43. Quarterfinal against past PDRA Pro Boost world champion Tommy D’Aprile: Stanfield moved first and pedaled his way to a 4.033 at 193.65 to hold off D’Aprile’s 4.335 — the first day of his life he’d ever pedaled a Pro Mod car.
Semifinal chip draw paired Stanfield with 2024 No Prep Kings champion Shawn “Murder Nova” Ellington — who lost oil pressure after the burnout and shut the car off, sending Stanfield down the track on a single. He rolled to a 3.614 at 210.37 to advance to the $150,000 final round.
The .003 Final
The final round saw Stanfield leave second for the first time all day — though only by six thousandths of a second. He reached the finish line first, his 3.576 at 210.83 putting him there ahead of Norton’s 3.585 at 210.57 by just three thousandths of a second.
The WSOPM victory joins a long list of accomplishments that includes NHRA national event wins in five different professional and sportsman classes, plus three Factory Stock Showdown world championships.
Peter Norton — 2025/2026 DI Winter Series Champion
Norton secured the championship the round prior when he defeated Randy Weatherford in a winner-take-all matchup. 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, a tractor pulling veteran, 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. He also received a $25,000 championship bonus.
Norton, arguably the most inexperienced Pro Mod driver on the property, had just bought his car from Jeff Rudolf last November. He earned the DIWS Rookie of the Year award during Friday night’s first-round chip draw. He entered the World Series tenth in points — but when three of the top six drivers in points (including leader Jason Harris) lost in the first round, the door opened. When “Stevie Fast” Jackson and Eric Gustafson, who each took possession of the points lead during eliminations, lost over the next two rounds, Norton knew he had a shot.
Wild Card Shootout — Steve King Earns Second Chance
When reigning WSOPM winner Steve King just missed out on qualifying for the main 32-car Pro Mod field, his chances at returning to the WSOPM Winner’s Circle didn’t end. Thanks to the Outlaw Light Beer Wild Card Shootout — a separate five-round race for the drivers who didn’t qualify — he got to race on Saturday.
King, in Gene Pilot’s screw-blown “Savage 3.0” Corvette, defeated Bo Butner, Frank Falter IV, and Robert Costa before going red by .002 seconds to Luis de Leon in the semifinals. When de Leon bypassed the scales, King was reinstated. He made the most of the second chance, leaving first against 2023 WSOPM Second-Chance Shootout winner Melanie Salemi in the $15,000 final round and charging to a 3.611 at 207.27. Salemi slowed to a 4.336 at 121.10.
Pro 10.5 — Fletcher Cox Sweeps Championship + Event Win
Super Bowl champion Fletcher Cox, who jumped behind the wheel of his nitrous-assisted “Training Day” ’69 Camaro after retiring from a 12-season career with the Philadelphia Eagles, went into WSOPM with a shot at the Winter Series Pro 10.5 championship. Led by multi-talented tuner Phil Shuler, Cox performed under pressure and secured both the championship and the $25,000 WSOPM Pro 10.5 event win.
Cox qualified No. 2 and set low E.T. of the opening round of eliminations, which also stood for low E.T. of eliminations. He left the starting line first every time, including the side-by-side 3.91-second race over Tim Partin in the semifinals that secured the championship, and the final round over fellow title contender Joel Wensley Jr. Cox ran 3.928 at 190.78 to Wensley’s 3.973 at 192.85.
True 10.5 — Russell Stone Breaks Through for $40K
After reaching the True 10.5 final round at the Winter Series-opening Snowbird Outlaw Nationals, Russell Stone broke through to get the $40,000 win at WSOPM. Driving his screw-blown ’69 Camaro, Stone set low E.T. in two of the five rounds and took the tree on a semifinal bye run to meet Bill Lutz in the final.
Lutz was shut off on the starting line because his screw-blown ’67 Camaro was leaking fluid. Starting line officials then directed Stone to take the tree, and he coasted to a 15.315 at 43.44 to get the win.
Index Action — Five Local Sportsman Class Winners
The World Series of Pro Mod lineup has always incorporated local sportsman racers, but that went to a new level in the 2025/2026 Winter Series with 4.60 Bikes, 6.50 Index, 7.50 Index, and Jr. Dragsters joining Super Pro.
Lil Gangstas — Chris Scarlata Doubles Up
Chris Scarlata doubled up in the Strange Engineering Lil Gangstas Championship Series presented by Melling Performance, securing the Winter Series championship and getting the event win. He drove his ’70 Nova to the final-round win over Breanna Edwards in her ’84 Buick Regal.
Super Pro — Mitch Kalitta’s First Career Win
Mitch Kalitta, son of two-time and reigning NHRA Top Fuel world champion Doug Kalitta, earned his first career win in Super Pro behind the wheel of past NHRA Pro Stock world champion Bo Butner’s ’20 Miller dragster. His six-round path to the winner’s circle included a perfect .000 reaction time in the third round and a 4.404 on a 4.40 dial-in in the final round over Corky Markwart’s 4.734 on a 4.73 dial-in. It was Kalitta’s .007 reaction time that gave him the win.
4.60 Bikes — Rashad Jones Dominates
Carthage, Mississippi’s Rashad Jones dominated 4.60 Bikes, where he qualified No. 1 aboard his ’89 Suzuki and started eliminations with a single before taking out Joe Procopio, Mantez Thompson, and Mike Lingo to reach the final. There, Jones ran a 4.608 to defeat Bob Foster and his 4.625.
6.50 Index — Mark Horton on a Holeshot
The 6.50 Index final round was over on the starting line when Pat Nanney in his ’00 Dodge Dakota went red by .006 seconds, handing the win to Mark Horton in his ’82 Camaro. Horton ran a 6.534. The Callahan, Florida-based driver defeated Jeff Mount, Vic Singer Jr., Joshua Mills, and Scott Travers to reach the final.
7.50 Index — Hometown Win for Dean Thompson
Sarasota’s own Dean Thompson raced to the win in 7.50 Index driving his ’72 Nova. On his way to the final, he knocked out Peyton Shook, Jacob Graeve, Jason Renninger, and James Pearce. Thompson ran a 7.540 to runner-up Matt Tritsch’s too-quick 7.478 in his ’97 Sierra.
Jr. Dragster — Cameron Rich on Wade Rich’s Home Track
Cameron Rich, son of BMP track prep specialist Wade Rich, picked up his latest Jr. Dragster victory with a final-round win over Cash Mattingly. Both drivers broke out, but Rich was closer to the 7.90 index with his 7.883, while Mattingly posted a 7.839. Rich raced past Owen Buchner, Alissa Fargo, and Carson Murphrey before getting a bye to the final.
Photo Gallery — Champion’s Moment
Winner’s circle moments from Aaron Stanfield’s WSOPM 2026 victory. Click any photo to enlarge.
Features & Stories From the Weekend
Eric Gustafson — Lead Can’t Slow Down No. 1 Qualifier
Winter Series championship contender Eric Gustafson added 32 points to his tally when he locked down the No. 1 qualifier position. In the first of three Friday qualifying sessions, Gustafson threw down a 3.553 at 211.16 mph to unseat Thursday’s provisional low qualifier, Derek Menholt, and lead the second-quickest 32-car field in eighth-mile Pro Mod history.
Gustafson went into WSOPM ranked third in Winter Series points 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. His combination was dealt a weight penalty after the U.S. Street Nationals, but tuner and teammate Jason Lee and the Coast Packing 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.
Gustafson drew the No. 16 chip along with “The Carolina Kid” Travis Harvey, putting the two as the final pair in the opening round of eliminations on Saturday. When only a couple drivers dipped into the 3.60s in the challenging first round, Gustafson fired off a 3.606 at 210.18 to defeat Harvey. He set low E.T. of the round again in the second round against Jacob McNeal, running a 3.610 at 210.60 while McNeal had to lift. Gustafson’s charge came to an end in round three when he went red by .115 seconds. He finished third in the championship hunt.
Jerry Morgano — Pro 10.5 No. 1 Qualifier With Near-Record Pass
Jerry Morgano continued a Bradenton hot streak that started at the U.S. Street Nationals, where the longtime Outlaw 10.5 proponent earned his first win in seven years behind the wheel of his turbocharged, small-block-powered “Copperhead” ’03 Mustang. Rather than settling, the Apollo Beach, Florida-based driver tested extensively at Bradenton between races and came out at WSOPM even stronger. After a parts issue plagued his first qualifying attempt, he came back in the second session and threw down a 3.829 at 203.98 — one of the quickest passes in Outlaw 10.5 history.
Mitch Kalitta — Next-Gen Racer Takes Flight With First Win
In February at the Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod, 25-year-old Mitch Kalitta penned his name in the legendary family’s drag racing book of history with the first win of a career that is only just getting off the ground. The son of reigning two-time NHRA Top Fuel world champion Doug Kalitta drove through the Super Pro field in two-time NHRA Pro Stock world champion Bo Butner‘s ’20 Miller dragster, clocking perfect reaction times in both time trials and eliminations on his way to the trophy.
Kalitta’s time at Frank Hawley’s Drag Racing School, along with a collaboration with his father’s Top Fuel teammate Shawn Langdon, had him well-prepared. He had made his drag racing debut at the 2025 Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals and joined forces with the Butners soon after. At the NHRA North Central Division race in St. Louis the month after Indy, Kalitta showed immediate promise in their Super Comp dragster with a perfect .000 reaction time in time trials.
WSOPM was only his third drag race. He earned a solo late in eliminations and at that point, he said, “I was like, oh my gosh, I might actually have a shot at this. Then I really started to lock in, and all three of the last rounds happened pretty fast.” A cool .007 reaction time in the final, plus a dead-on 4.404 on a 4.40 dial-in, kept the Bo Butner Racing/Jim Butner Auto Group dragster just ahead of Corky Markwart’s 4.734 on a 4.73.
Parents Doug and Josie, along with his cousin — Scott Kalitta’s son, Corey — celebrated on the starting line as the final win light of the weekend came on. Great-uncle Connie Kalitta, drag racing pioneer, watched another family name go in the win column. “I’ve been watching this my whole life and seen my dad and our Kalitta Motorsports teams be successful,” Kalitta said, “but I always put drag racing on a pedestal. As the pressure was ramping up at this race, I kind of realized that I can actually do this, and it’s really cool. My confidence has really come up, and I’d like to see where this goes.”
Photo Gallery — WSOPM: It’s a Vibe
Atmosphere from the 2026 World Series of Pro Mod at Bradenton Motorsports Park. Photos: Luke Nieuwhof.
World-Class Celebration — The WSOPM Parties
Since the beginning of the World Series of Pro Mod in 2017, getting the racers and their teams together to share a meal before racing heats up has been a key component of the event schedule. This year, the WSOPM weekend featured not just one, but two parties.
Wednesday — WSOPM Kickoff + DI 20th Anniversary at Yard House
Yard House in Sarasota’s University Town Center officially unveiled its new beer garden by hosting the WSOPM Kickoff and Drag Illustrated 20th Anniversary Party powered by Motor Sports Travel Service. Fans got the opportunity to see Kallee Mills’s screw-blown American Pride Golf Carts “Scarlett” ’68 Camaro and Billy Banaka’s pair of ProCharger-boosted ’68 Camaros on display in the parking lot before heading into the beer garden. Appetizers and drinks were available and Yard House’s Chadwick Pointer made DI and WSOPM-themed custom cakes and cupcakes.
Thursday — Strange Engineering Racer Appreciation Party
The festivities continued in the trackside VIP tent. The party gave teams the opportunity to grab a bite to eat and a cold beverage after day one of qualifying was in the books. Jorge Rocha and his Poblanos Mexican Grill & Bar in Bradenton provided a full spread including fajitas, rice and beans, and chips and salsa. Outlaw Light Beer kept the refreshments flowing.
Special Awards — Handing Out Hardware
The 2025/2026 Winter Series introduced new special awards to recognize top performers and efforts that caught the eye of the judges, which included the DI team and Winter Series officials.
Best Appearing Car — Jason Harris’s ‘Party Time’ ’69 Camaro
The Best Appearing Car Award went to Jason Harris’s Harts Charger-boosted “Party Time” ’69 Camaro, which pays tribute to the late Harold Denton and his iconic “Party Time” machines.
Best Appearing Crew — Kallee Mills Motorsports
The Kallee Mills Motorsports team picked up the Best Appearing Crew Award with their Scott Palmer Racing mugshot t-shirts and neon Nike tennis shoes, which honored racer Scott McKinstry, who passed in the days leading up to WSOPM following a cancer battle.
Best Engineered Car — Derek Menholt’s PBRC C7 Corvette
With so many world-class race cars on the property, Best Engineered Car was tough to decide, but it ultimately went to Derek Menholt’s PBRC-built C7 Corvette, which made its debut in the Winter Series and carried Menholt to a runner-up finish at the U.S. Street Nationals.
Rookie of the Year — Peter Norton
Twenty-four hours before he secured the 2025/2026 DI Winter Series Pro Mod championship, Peter Norton was named the DIWS Rookie of the Year.
Jerry Bickel Race Cars No. 1 Qualifier Bonus
Jerry Bickel Race Cars signed on to present the Pro Mod No. 1 qualifier bonuses that increased at each of the three Winter Series races. JBRC new owner Rick Hord and his son, Ricky, presented the checks.
· Snowbird Outlaw Nationals — Jason Harris, 3.560 ET, 211.20 MPH
· U.S. Street Nationals — Jimmy Taylor, 3.555 ET, 224.77 MPH
· World Series of Pro Mod — Eric Gustafson, 3.553 ET, 211.16 MPH
Pro Line Racing ‘Off The Trailer’ Bonus
Building on a program that started at the 2025 WSOPM, Pro Line Racing offered a $5,000 “Off The Trailer” bonus for the Pro Mod No. 1 qualifier after the first qualifying session at all three races. At WSOPM 2026, the bonus went to Victor Alvarez with a 3.571 at 210.80.
Coverage Archive — Full DI Reporting From WSOPM 2026
The full slate of Drag Illustrated coverage from the 2026 World Series of Pro Mod week. Every story, every angle, every storyline that came out of Bradenton.
- Aaron Stanfield Enters Pro Mod History Books as 2026 World Series of Pro Mod Champion — The full event recap.
- 2026 World Series of Pro Mod – Round-by-Round Results — Full ladder sheets for Pro Mod, Wild Card, Pro 10.5, and True 10.5.
- Friday Results — 2026 World Series of Pro Mod — End-of-Friday results across all classes.
- Thursday Qualifying Results — 2026 World Series of Pro Mod — Opening-day qualifying.
- Eric Gustafson Secures $10,000 Low Qualifier Bonus at World Series of Pro Mod — The 3.553 that locked in No. 1.
- World Series of Pro Mod Set to Crown Seventh Winner, Winter Series Champions in High-Stakes Bradenton Finale — The pre-event preview.
- From No Prep Kings to Pro Mod — Ryan Martin Enters the Chat at WSOPM — Crossover storyline of the weekend.
- Outlaw Light Beer Wild Card Shootout Set to Bring Even More Action — The non-qualifiers race preview.
- Inaugural World Series of Pro Mod Prayer Breakfast Set for Saturday Morning — Race-day-morning addition to the schedule.
- FloRacing 24/7 / Amazon Prime Preview Day Returning for WSOPM — The broadcast play.
This story was originally published on March 1, 2026. 
