Three days of eighth-mile doorslammer racing at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park in Martin, Mich., and the record book took a beating. Paul Gargus won Stroud Safety Pro Modified on his Pro Mod debut weekend, resetting the Mid-West Drag Racing Series all-time record at 3.5470. Lyle Barnett won Radial vs. The World and ran the quickest screw-blown door car pass in history (3.454). Eric LaFerriere and Duy Bui took the Sake Bomb Lexus six-cylinder to 5.448 at 266.11 mph in a quarter-mile exhibition that rewrote the six-cylinder record book. Class winners and full results below as the permanent record of Shakedown XXIII at M’Town.
Jump to: Winners · Records Falling · From the Pits · Pro Mod · RvW · Pro 275 · LDR · X275 · Ultra Street · X255 · Gangster X · Top Sportsman · Top Dragster · Schedule · DI Coverage · Photo Gallery
Winners Across the Card
Class winners and runner-ups across the full 10-class card at Shakedown XXIII at M’Town.
Class Winner Final ET / MPH Runner-up Stroud Safety Pro Modified Paul Gargus 3.5470 / 211.47 Aaron Wells (8.3365) Radial vs. The World Lyle Barnett 3.4573 / 217.08 Chris Daniel (3.4727 / 216.97) Pro 275 Mo Hall 3.6623 / 205.10 Lyle Barnett (4.0912) Limited Drag Radial Jamie Hancock 3.8152 / 187.97 Chad Henderson (red, 3.8278 / 192.31) X275 Davey Hull 4.0573 / 178.78 Stephen Barnett (4.1153 / 175.10) Ultra Street Martin Connelley 4.4262 / 161.12 Jessie Coulter (4.4290 / 160.89) X255 Jonathan Insey 4.8778 / 144.23 Cody Poston (7.9659) Gangster X Tim Flanders – Scotty Lovell Top Sportsman Mike Savoia – – Top Dragster Jason Jensen 4.5312 / 139.15 (dial 4.48) Mike Kopko (7.9647)
The Lyle Barnett doubleheader: Won Radial vs. The World, runner-up in Pro 275 – the only driver to reach two finals at Shakedown XXIII.
Records Falling at M’Town
Three nights in, three different record books rewritten at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park. This was supposed to be an outlaw race. It is becoming the historic stop on the 2026 doorslammer calendar.
Coughlin sets MWDRS all-time record
The 3.5528 at 213.07 that put Paige Coughlin on top of Pro Mod after Q3 is the quickest pass in Mid-West Drag Racing Series history. She did it on her Pro Mod debut weekend, in a Peter Norton-owned and Rickie Jones-tuned 2024 Camaro out of Hurricane Motorsports, a deal that came together less than two weeks ago. Daughter of three-time NHRA Pro Mod world champion Troy Coughlin Sr., she made a Florida-Ohio-Indiana-Michigan road trip to get the seat poured and the car loaded in time. Read Craig Cook’s full backstory here.
Barnett: quickest screw-blown door car ever
Saturday morning at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park. Lyle Barnett in the Tommy Youmans-owned, screw-blown “Elvira” Camaro. Chris Daniel in the other lane. The two of them threw down the quickest screw-blown door car pass in history side-by-side: Barnett 3.454 at 217.50, Daniel right behind at 3.460 at 218.13. Two cars under the all-time mark on the same hit, in the same lane assignment. The Radial vs. The World qualifying sheet has been on a one-way trip downward all weekend, and Saturday morning made it official.
The Sake Bomb: six cylinders, every record they could find
Rhode Islander Eric LaFerriere and Texas-based owner Duy Bui brought their white 2020 Lexus LC500 “Sake Bomb” to M’Town and proceeded to rewrite the entire six-cylinder record book over three days. Stock Toyota cylinder head, billet 2JZ inline-six, a single 111mm Precision turbo, a Liberty six-speed, and 36-inch Hoosier slicks. Wednesday: a 3.691 at 210.58 to take down a seven-year-old six-cylinder eighth-mile speed record. Thursday morning: a 3.648 / 213.57 to take the eighth-mile ET mark too. Thursday night: 3.630 / 215.00 on the way to a full quarter-mile exhibition shot that the facility allowed at the end of qualifying.
The quarter-mile finish: 5.448 at 266.11 mph. The first car of any kind to run a 5.44 with fewer than eight cylinders, the seventh-quickest turbocharged doorslammer of any engine configuration in history, the tenth-quickest passenger car of all time. LaFerriere said in the pits afterward the car had a mid-to-low 5.40 in it – they kept it conservative to finish the run.
The eighth-mile 3.63 puts the Sake Bomb inside the conversation with the World Series of Pro Mod’s quickest entries. DI founder Wes Buck says rules revisions are coming so the Sake Bomb can run with the quickest and fastest Pro Modifieds on the planet this winter. Bret Kepner’s full feature on the run.
From the Pits at M’Town
Kelley vs. McNeal: a $5,000 grudge race – and the perfect setup for round 1
Two days of trash talk on social media built up to Thursday night. Kye Kelley and Jacob McNeal lined up for a $5,000 grudge race – $2,500 on the tree, $2,500 on the win light. McNeal went -.023 red. Kelley took the cash with a 3.595, the talking points, and the bigger margin: he qualified sixth after Q1 at 3.595, McNeal slotted eighth at 3.600. Both are now inside the top eight of the Pro Mod field after Q3 (Kelley fourth, McNeal fifth) and could draw each other in the bracket Saturday night.
What happened here today is pressure busts pipes. He got over there in that right lane and his ol’ knee was shaking while he was holding that brake. He knew he was racing Kye Kelley. He went -.023 red. We were racing on Thursday and he left on Tuesday.– Kye Kelley
McNeal lost the cash and the round but didn’t lose the appetite. He still has a screw-blown Cuda and a Saturday night to put it in the winner’s circle.
We’re good buddies. He’s a class act. But you know, a man plays chess. Kids play checkers. This little checkers game he won last night, y’all gonna see soon there’s a little bit of chess play I got going on here.– Jacob McNeal
Mills opened it: ‘We tore down the whole motor’
Kallee Mills walked into M’Town on Thursday night and walked back to her trailer the Pro Mod No. 1 qualifier – a 3.5755 at 210.08 that paced the field after Q1. The field has gone faster since, and Mills now sits sixth on the same number, but the workmanlike approach that put her on top tells the story of how the Mills camp is operating this weekend.
Being No. 1 qualifier is just a testament to how hard my team works. We went number one and went back to the trailer and tore down the whole motor. But we are willing to do those things to run up front. I’m so thankful for them and the hard work they put in.– Kallee Mills, after Q1
Event Facts
| Event | Shakedown XXIII at M’Town – AJPE-presented |
| Sanctioning | Mid-West Drag Racing Series × FuelTech Radial Outlaws Racing Series |
| Track | U.S. 131 Motorsports Park, Martin, Mich. (eighth-mile) |
| Dates | May 26-30, 2026 (qualifying Thu/Fri, eliminations Saturday night) |
| Headline class | Stroud Safety Pro Modified (16-car field) |
| Streaming | FloRacing.com – qualifying and eliminations live |
| Promoters | Duck X Productions (Donald Long, Radial Outlaws) · Mid-West Drag Racing Series |
How to Watch on FloRacing
Every round of Shakedown at M’Town – qualifying Thursday and Friday, every elimination round Saturday – streams live on FloRacing.com. FloRacing is a Drag Illustrated partner and the home of every meaningful eighth-mile race in the country in 2026. Subscriptions get you the live feed plus on-demand archive. If you’re not at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park in person, that’s the only screen worth watching this weekend.
Storylines to Watch
Mills sets the tone – and Thornton has more in the car
Kallee Mills opened with a .017 light and a 3.5755 at 210.08 – clean, on the chip, and the quickest pass of Q1. Jason Lee (3.5773) and Paul Gargus (3.5826) are right behind. But the speed leaderboard tells its own story: Ed Thornton snuck inside the 16 at the bump spot with a 3.6754 – and ran 218.77 mph doing it, the fastest trap speed in the field. If Thornton can convert that mph into ET, the Q1 leaderboard is going to look very different by the end of Friday. Watch Paige Coughlin (3.6033 / 211.57) and Jason Lee (3.5773 / 211.37) as the mph chasers between Mills and Thornton.
26 cars, 16 spots – bump-spot watch
Twenty-six Pro Mods showed up for sixteen spots, and the cars on the outside looking in after Q1 read like a who’s-who of small-tire/Pro Mod regulars: Craig Sullivan, Ryan Bush, Don Klooster, Keith Haney, Justin Swanstrom, Don Walsh Jr., Aaron Wells, Greg Blevins Jr., Jim Widener, and Jason Kalso. Q2 Thursday night and Q3/Q4 Friday will move the bump number, and Swanstrom – a regular top-half qualifier – sitting 21st after Q1 is the kind of starting point that ends in a Friday night statement run.
The MWDRS × Radial Outlaws mash-up
Donald Long’s FuelTech Radial Outlaws Racing Series running on the same weekend, at the same track, alongside the Mid-West Drag Racing Series Pro Mods is the kind of card that didn’t exist a few years ago. The MWDRS Stroud Safety Pro Mods bring the big-tire, blown-and-nitrous-fueled heavy artillery. The Radial Outlaws side delivers Radial vs. The World, Pro 275, Limited Drag Radial, X275, and the rest of the small-tire ladder. Different rule books, different combinations, same starting line – and one Saturday night to settle it.
Stroud Safety Pro Modified: Paul Gargus Wins, Resets the MWDRS Record
Paul Gargus won the Stroud Safety Pro Modified title at the Shakedown XXIII at M’Town on his Pro Mod debut weekend, beating Aaron Wells in the final with a 3.5470 at 211.47 in the silver-and-black Scott Tidwell Motorsports ’69 Camaro – the same chassis Aaron Stanfield drove to the 2026 World Series of Pro Mod win earlier this year. The 3.5470 also reset the Mid-West Drag Racing Series all-time record, beating Paige Coughlin’s 3.5528 from qualifying. A drag radial veteran in his first Pro Mod weekend, Gargus put down the quickest pass of Saturday night to take the trophy.
Wells got there on one of the wildest paths to a final round you will see this season. He red-lit (-.077) in the first round to qualifying No. 1 Paige Coughlin, but Coughlin crossed the centerline and was disqualified – Wells reinstated. He cleaned up Peter Norton‘s -.316 red light in Round 2 to keep moving. He lost on track to Jacob McNeal in the semifinals, but McNeal failed post-round tech inspection and was disqualified, putting Wells back in for the final round he had no business being in. He coasted across in 8.33 to Gargus’s record pass.
Pro Mod Slammers Second Chance Race: Jason Lee Wins
Jason Lee took the Pro Mod Slammers Second Chance Race for first-round losers at Shakedown XXIII. Lee had qualified eighth in the main field but fouled on his Round 1 attempt against Peter Norton, then turned around and won the consolation race to salvage the weekend.
Sunday Eliminations – Bracket
Round 1
| Winner | Loser | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aaron Wells (#16) 4.0036 / 153.95 | def. | Paige Coughlin (#1) 3.9008 / 154.43 | Coughlin DQ – crossed the centerline. Wells reinstated despite -.077 red light. |
| Peter Norton (#9) 3.9049 / 193.22 | def. | Jason Lee (#8) LB3A / – | Lee fouled the start. |
| Jason Collins (#7) 3.6161 / 209.50 | def. | Robert Costa (#10) 3.6218 / 207.76 | |
| Jacob McNeal (#5) 3.6477 / 203.44 | def. | Victor Alvarez (#12) 3.6216 / 210.48 | Alvarez quicker and faster but slow on the tree (.081 to .014). |
| Kye Kelley (#4) 3.6038 / 209.30 | def. | Shawn Ellington (#13) 3.7057 / 204.36 | |
| Greg Blevins Jr. (#11) 3.5931 / 209.99 | def. | Kallee Mills (#6) 3.6161 / 209.99 | Identical trap, Blevins by .023 on ET. |
| Paul Gargus (#3) 3.5973 / 211.76 | def. | Wes Distefano (#14) 3.6235 / 209.69 | |
| Ryan Martin (#2) 3.6012 / 211.76 | def. | Keith Goolsby (alt) 3.6684 / 204.82 | Goolsby reinstated as 1st alternate after Craig Sullivan (#15) broke before the call. |
Round 2 (Quarterfinals)
The red-light parade: three of the four pairs lost on the tree. Norton, Kelley, and Collins all fouled.
Winner Loser Note Aaron Wells (#16)
3.6276 / 209.69def. Peter Norton (#9)
4.0306 / 210.08Norton -.316 red light. Jacob McNeal (#5)
3.5804 / 210.28def. Kye Kelley (#4)
3.5777 / 209.01Kelley -.0067 red – quicker on the ET, lost on the tree. Ryan Martin (#2)
3.5748 / 212.46def. Jason Collins (#7)
3.5629 / 210.58Collins -.0087 red – third red of the round. Paul Gargus (#3)
3.5680 / 210.77def. Greg Blevins Jr. (#11)
3.5853 / 210.18
Semifinals
| Winner | Loser | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jacob McNeal (#5) 3.5626 / 210.77 | def. | Aaron Wells (#16) 6.5525 / 80.54 | McNeal wins on the track but is later DQ’d for failing post-semi tech inspection. Wells reinstated for the final. |
| Paul Gargus (#3) 3.5615 / 211.76 | def. | Ryan Martin (#2) 6.6523 / 80.04 | Martin broke at the hit. |
Final
| Winner | Loser | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paul Gargus (#3) 3.5470 / 211.47 | def. | Aaron Wells (#16) 8.3365 / 52.91 | New MWDRS all-time record on the winning pass. |
Final Qualifying Order
Twenty-nine cars attempted to qualify for the Shakedown at M’Town. Sixteen made the field. Bump spot: Aaron Wells at 3.6253. Sixteen-car field cutoff marked in red. Coughlin’s 3.5528 stood as the MWDRS all-time record until the final round Sunday.
Pos Driver ET MPH 1 Paige Coughlin 3.5528 213.07 2 Ryan Martin 3.5560 212.06 3 Paul Gargus 3.5571 210.77 4 Kye Kelley 3.5683 210.18 5 Jacob McNeal 3.5726 209.79 6 Kallee Mills 3.5755 210.08 7 Jason Collins 3.5766 210.18 8 Jason Lee 3.5773 211.37 9 Peter Norton 3.5886 209.79 10 Robert Costa 3.5886 208.24 11 Greg Blevins Jr. 3.5899 208.53 12 Victor Alvarez 3.5984 210.58 13 Shawn Ellington 3.5987 210.08 14 Wes Distefano 3.6137 208.62 15 Craig Sullivan 3.6164 204.36 16 Aaron Wells 3.6253 208.43 17 Bob Glenn 3.6264 204.45 18 Keith Goolsby 3.6456 202.70 19 Chris Russo 3.6547 205.57 20 Don Walsh Jr. 3.6644 208.72 21 Ed Thornton 3.6754 218.77 22 Ryan Bush 3.6810 204.92 23 Jim Widener 3.6849 205.95 24 Keith Haney 3.6972 205.01 25 Don Klooster 3.7039 201.07 26 Jason Kalso 3.7095 197.37 27 Justin Swanstrom 3.7129 202.98 28 Eric LaFerriere 3.7861 211.57 29 Tony Williams 6.5656 68.11
Tony Williams and Mike Cabbate are out for the weekend. Source: AccuTime / U.S. 131 Motorsports Park.
Radial vs. The World: Lyle Barnett Wins
Saturday afternoon at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park. Lyle Barnett took the Radial vs. The World final round with a 3.4573 at 217.08 in the Tommy Youmans-owned, screw-blown “Elvira” Camaro, beating Chris Daniel‘s 3.4727 at 216.97. Barnett also doubled up in Pro 275 (runner-up there) – the only driver to make two finals at Shakedown this weekend. His Saturday morning 3.454 / 217.50 in qualifying stands as the quickest screw-blown door car pass in history.
| Driver | RT | ET | MPH | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winner | Lyle Barnett | .0455 | 3.4573 | 217.08 |
| R/U | Chris Daniel | .0344 | 3.4727 | 216.97 |
Semifinalists: Klye Dvorak (.0212 / 3.6720 / 199.56), Johnny Camp (.0547 / 3.5092 / 213.17).
Four cars entered, four cars racing Saturday. The order at the top got rewritten Saturday morning with the quickest side-by-side screw-blown door car pass in history. Lyle Barnett in the Youmans-owned “Elvira” Camaro went 3.454 at 217.50. Chris Daniel matched in the other lane at 3.460 at 218.13. Klye Dvorak third. Johnny Camp rounds it out. Four-car ladder for Saturday eliminations means every round under the lights is a final-round equivalent.
| Pos | Driver | ET | MPH |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lyle Barnett | 3.454 | 217.50 |
| 2 | Chris Daniel | 3.460 | 218.13 |
| 3 | Klye Dvorak | 3.5250 | 213.78 |
| 4 | Johnny Camp | 3.5598 | 206.99 |
Pro 275: Mo Hall Wins
Mo Hall from Laytonsville, Md. took the Pro 275 trophy with a 3.6623 at 205.10. Lyle Barnett was runner-up at 4.0912 / 188.52 – the second of his two finals on the weekend (he won Radial vs. The World).
| Driver | RT | ET | MPH | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winner | Mo Hall | .0106 | 3.6623 | 205.10 |
| R/U | Lyle Barnett | .0312 | 4.0912 | 188.52 |
Semifinalists: Eddie Harrison (.1920 / 3.6535 / 204.55), Luke Smith (.0294 / 3.6923 / 204.55).
Luke Smith tops Pro 275 at 3.6573 / 205.76 in the M&M Transmissions / LAT Racing Oils-presented class. Mo Hall is second at 3.6705. Nick Lacerenza third. Lyle Barnett, who also leads Radial vs. The World, slots fourth in Pro 275 at 3.6901 / 205.67 – the only driver doubling up at the front of two classes this weekend. Paul Major is the speed bomb of the round: 213.07 mph from the No. 9 spot, more than seven mph faster than the next-quickest car in trap speed.
Pos Driver ET MPH 1 Luke Smith 3.6573 205.76 2 Mo Hall 3.6705 203.80 3 Nick Lacerenza 3.6884 201.79 4 Lyle Barnett 3.6901 205.67 5 Grantley Schloss 3.6907 204.73 6 Eddie Harrison 3.6949 202.43 7 Jared Ring 3.7025 200.62 8 Rob Golobo 3.7250 205.95 9 Paul Major 3.7783 213.07 10 Robert Adel 3.7878 207.37 11 Brad Edwards 3.7910 205.67 12 Enzo Perchini 4.0633 172.48
Limited Drag Radial: Jamie Hancock Wins
Jamie Hancock took Limited Drag Radial at 3.8152 / 187.97. Chad Henderson red-lit in the final at -.0030 – Hancock’s 3.8152 over Henderson’s 3.8278 in the losing lane. Henderson was the second-best mph car in the round at 192.31.
| Driver | RT | ET | MPH | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winner | Jamie Hancock | .0166 | 3.8152 | 187.97 |
| R/U | Chad Henderson | -.0030 | 3.8278 | 192.31 |
Semifinalists: Shane Stack (.1156 / 3.8105 / 200.80) – fastest mph of the class on the weekend at 200+. Tommy Youmans (.1038 / 4.6968 / 111.50).
Jamie Stanton still leads Limited Drag Radial at 3.8200 / 191.82 from Q1. Jay Trisel moves up to second at 3.8266. Tommy Youmans jumps from seventh to third with a 3.8313 at 200.71 – the second car in class into the 200s. Shane Stack fourth at 3.8320 / 199.03. The top four are inside a tenth and a half. Wally Farbaky moved from 19th into the top 10 with a 3.9203.
Pos Driver ET MPH 1 Jamie Stanton 3.8200 191.82 2 Jay Trisel 3.8266 186.64 3 Tommy Youmans 3.8313 200.71 4 Shane Stack 3.8320 199.03 5 Jamie Hancock 3.8389 186.41 6 Brian Weddle 3.8645 186.72 7 Mitch Mika 3.8978 185.95 8 Chad Henderson 3.9043 165.08 9 Wally Farbaky 3.9203 194.47 10 Bryan Priest 3.9334 186.95 11 Keith Rhea 3.9961 190.92 12 Paul Satterfield 4.0096 180.14 13 Logan Ferneau 4.0129 181.52 14 Jimmy Dale 4.0266 188.68 15 Greg Seher 4.0327 181.16 16 Jim Monson 4.0744 186.03 17 Tim Huspen 4.2345 181.60 18 Aaron Johnson 4.2461 171.23 19 Dale Arbogast 4.6056 131.31 20 David Buckley 5.3997 95.08 21 Randy Ford 5.5301 91.22
X275: Davey Hull Wins
X275 No. 1 qualifier Davey Hull made it count Sunday with a 4.0573 at 178.78 in the final. Stephen Barnett R/U at 4.1153 / 175.10.
| Driver | RT | ET | MPH | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winner | Davey Hull | .0687 | 4.0573 | 178.78 |
| R/U | Stephen Barnett | .0405 | 4.1153 | 175.10 |
Semifinalists: Lenny Grawburg (.0673 / 4.1204 / 175.03), Hailey Hawes (.1081 / 4.1334 / 176.33).
Davey Hull takes over the X275 lead at 4.1072 / 177.10, knocking Eric Laferriere off the top spot by five-thousandths. Lenny Grawburg made the biggest move of the round, jumping into third at 4.1521. Ron Rhodes fourth. Laferriere, by the way, is also entered in Pro Mod this weekend – a heavy lift, but he is on the property.
Pos Driver ET MPH 1 Davey Hull 4.1072 177.10 2 Eric Laferriere 4.1122 179.28 3 Lenny Grawburg 4.1521 174.49 4 Ron Rhodes 4.1636 176.89 5 Jason Terrell 4.1812 172.74 6 David Hutnick 4.2029 176.96 7 Derek Cooper 4.2062 172.74 8 Hailey Hawes 4.2110 174.55 9 Anthony Manna 4.2573 168.67 10 Philip Reichardt 4.3203 170.52 11 Austin Keen 4.3593 174.42 12 Nino Meglio 4.5770 153.90 13 Stephen Barnett 8.2407 88.69 14 Nick Kokkas 8.6100 65.87 15 Scott Carter 9.3346 77.25
Ultra Street: Martin Connelley Wins
Martin Connelley from Salersville, Ky. took the Ultra Street final at 4.4262 / 161.12, beating Jessie Coulter‘s 4.4290 / 160.89 by 28 thousandths.
| Driver | RT | ET | MPH | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winner | Martin Connelley | .0262 | 4.4262 | 161.12 |
| R/U | Jessie Coulter | .0791 | 4.4290 | 160.89 |
Semifinalists: Joshua Schwartz (.0565 / 4.4135 / 159.74), Jackson Henderson (.0711 / 4.4263 / 156.90).
Justin Johnson still leads Ultra Street at 4.4150 / 160.94. The top eight are packed inside a tenth: Schwartz, Fiscus, Henderson, Connelley, Ronny Rhodes, Diers, and Pevlor are all in striking distance. Glenn Pushis is the speed bomb at 162.98 mph from the No. 9 spot – fastest in class.
| Pos | Driver | ET | MPH |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Justin Johnson | 4.4150 | 160.94 |
| 2 | Joshua Schwartz | 4.4525 | 158.79 |
| 3 | Dave Fiscus | 4.4539 | 160.43 |
| 4 | Jackson Henderson | 4.4578 | 155.44 |
| 5 | Martin Connelley | 4.4604 | 159.80 |
| 6 | Ronny Rhodes | 4.4683 | 162.69 |
| 7 | Lonnie Diers | 4.4808 | 160.31 |
| 8 | Shawn Pevlor | 4.4870 | 151.26 |
| 9 | Glenn Pushis | 4.4887 | 162.98 |
| 10 | Rodney Ragen | 4.4951 | 159.74 |
| 11 | Jessie Coulter | 4.4957 | 160.37 |
| 12 | Georgina Buckley | 4.5002 | 155.71 |
| 13 | Camren Massergate | 4.5196 | 157.78 |
| 14 | Ray Cox | 4.5203 | 156.90 |
| 15 | Joel Greathouse | 4.5231 | 155.66 |
| 16 | Tony Orts | 4.5311 | 152.70 |
| 17 | Brendan Harrington | 4.5312 | 153.48 |
| 18 | Ryan Wurst | 4.7442 | 149.55 |
| 19 | Austin Wilson | 4.8237 | 145.68 |
| 20 | Jesse Kernel | 5.9667 | 111.08 |
| 21 | Sonny Rasch | 6.5059 | 110.43 |
X255: Jonathan Insey Wins
Jonathan Insey from Mariette, Ohio took the X255 final at 4.8778 / 144.23. Cody Poston was R/U at 7.9659 – broken at the hit.
Driver RT ET MPH Winner Jonathan Insey .0496 4.8778 144.23 R/U Cody Poston .0208 7.9659 56.78
Semifinalists: Geoffrey Garrison (.0324 / 4.9166 / 141.24), Robert Strong (.0315 / 5.1597 / 138.76).
Brad Schehr holds the X255 No. 1 at 4.8525 / 140.63. Jonathan Insey moves into second at 4.8959 with the second-highest mph (148.22). Robert Strong third at 4.9006 with the class-fastest mph at 145.02.
Pos Driver ET MPH 1 Brad Schehr 4.8525 140.63 2 Jonathan Insey 4.8959 148.22 3 Robert Strong 4.9006 145.02 4 Wes Ervin 4.9492 141.15 5 Bill Kubiac 4.9704 141.07 6 Jeff Wightman 4.9890 144.23 7 Geoffrey Garrison 5.0080 139.71 8 Colt Scott 5.2062 132.39 9 Shelby Wendel 5.3060 137.32 10 Kevin Robinson 5.8913 134.97 11 Dean Fluhart 6.1165 136.24 12 Cody Poston 6.3152 109.17
Gangster X: Tim Flanders Wins
Battle Creek’s own Tim Flanders took the Gangster X title at home. Scotty Lovell from Hamersville, Ohio was R/U.
Driver Winner Tim Flanders R/U Scotty Lovell
Semifinalists: Maddie Malone, Trevor Wagner.
Musi Racing Engines Top Sportsman: Mike Savoia Wins
Mike Savoia from Tipton, Mich. took Top Sportsman.
Driver Winner Mike Savoia R/U (no R/U data on summary sheet)
Semifinalists: Bob Mandell III (.0396 / 4.1050 / 182.11, dial 4.04), Ron Biondo (red – .0212, 8.6841 / 51.92, dial 4.21).
Race Star Wheels Top Dragster: Jason Jensen Wins
Jason Jensen from Vicksburg, Mich. took the Top Dragster title with a 4.5312 at 139.15, dialed in at 4.48. Mike Kopko was R/U.
Driver Winner Jason Jensen R/U Mike Kopko
Semifinalists: Tim Kish (red – .0140, 4.5107 / 154.75, dial 4.52), Michael Savoia (.0040 / 4.2660 / 161.93, dial 4.27).
Classes in Action at Shakedown XXIII
| Series | Class |
|---|---|
| Mid-West Drag Racing Series | Stroud Safety Pro Modified |
| FuelTech Radial Outlaws | Radial vs. The World |
| FuelTech Radial Outlaws | Pro 275 |
| FuelTech Radial Outlaws | Limited Drag Radial |
| FuelTech Radial Outlaws | X275 |
| FuelTech Radial Outlaws | Ultra Street |
| FuelTech Radial Outlaws | X255 |
| FuelTech Radial Outlaws | Gangster X |
| MWDRS Sportsman | Top Sportsman |
| MWDRS Sportsman | Top Dragster |
Schedule
All times Eastern. Pro testing on the schedule Wednesday-Friday at $300/car.
Day Activity Tuesday, May 26 Gates open 8 a.m. – early parking and vendor setup Wednesday, May 27 Gates 8 a.m. · Pro testing 3 p.m. – 10 p.m. Thursday, May 28 Gates 8 a.m. · Pro testing 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. · Qualifying all classes 4 p.m. – midnight Friday, May 29 Gates 8 a.m. · Pro testing 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. · Qualifying all classes 4 p.m. – midnight Saturday, May 30 Gates 8 a.m. · Last qualifier all classes 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. · Eliminations 4 p.m. – midnight
Drag Illustrated Coverage
Drag Illustrated stories with Shakedown context – from MWDRS season-opener form lines to Radial Outlaws series news heading into Martin. This list grows as the weekend progresses.
- The WBS: Justin ‘Danger’ Nunley, Nooo Waaay Guy, Chevy Reeves, Billy The Kid, Keith Haney – The Wes Buck Show ahead of Shakedown weekend with key small-tire and Pro Mod voices.
- Mid-West Drag Racing Series Combines June and October Flying H Events Into One Double-Race – MWDRS calendar moves heading into and after Shakedown.
- Ellington, Chitty, Laughter, and Cunningham Claim Wins at MWDRS Season Opener in Tulsa – The form lines for the Pro Mods heading to Martin. Shawn Ellington is already in the Shakedown Q1 top 12.
- MWDRS Discontinues J&A Service Funny Car Class – The Pro Mods are now the headliner. Shakedown is the showcase.
- LaSala Walks Away: Snot Rocket Exits Radial Outlaws Over Mid-Season Rule Change – The Radial Outlaws season storyline that sets the table.
- “From the Outhouse to the Penthouse:” Keith Haney Discusses Impressive Showing at PDRA East Coast Nationals – Haney is in the Shakedown Pro Mod field, sitting on the outside after Q1.
- Paige Coughlin Fulfilling Her Dream, Competing in Pro Mod this Weekend at Shakedown at M’Town – Paige Coughlin makes her Pro Mod debut this weekend at M’Town – fulfilling a lifelong dream with the Mid-West Drag Racing Series.
- Eric LaFerriere and Duy Bui Astound the World with Six-Cylinder Power, Break Xtreme Import Records – LaFerriere and Bui obliterate every six-cylinder record in drag racing during Shakedown XXIII testing – 5.448 at 266.11 mph in the “Sake Bomb” Lexus LC500.
- Mid-West Drag Racing Series Records Fall, New Winners Crowned at Historic Shakedown at M’Town – MWDRS and world records fell left and right at the historic Shakedown XXIII — the full event recap of one of the most stunning displays of racing anywhere in the world.
- MWDRS Strips Jacob McNeal Racing Team Over Blower Overdrive Infraction at Shakedown at M’Town – MWDRS strips Jacob McNeal of all Shakedown points and places him on probation for the remainder of the 2026 season following a blower overdrive infraction.
Q1 Photo Gallery
Shakedown XXIII at M’Town as it happened – Thursday Q1 across Pro Mod, Radial vs. The World, Limited Drag Radial, X275, Ultra Street, and X255. Click any image to enlarge. More photos load in as Q2/Q3/Q4 and Saturday eliminations roll on. All photos: Capri Wesley / Drag Illustrated contributing photographer.
Track Info
U.S. 131 Motorsports Park · 1249 14th St · Martin, MI 49070
One of the Midwest’s premier eighth-mile facilities and a long-running home of the Shakedown brand. Gates open 8 a.m. daily.
Pro Mod qualifying results sourced from AccuTime / U.S. 131 Motorsports Park. Live and on-demand video on FloRacing.
This story was originally published on May 28, 2026. 
