It’s no secret that Kinetic Engineering has been on a tear lately, and the 2024–2025 Drag Illustrated Winter Series was just the latest example of their dominance in Pro Modified drag racing. With company founder Chris Bell quietly helping guide some of the baddest doorslammers on the planet, Kinetic customers locked down No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3 qualifying positions at each of the three Winter Series events – a stat that speaks for itself.
And the results don’t stop at qualifying.
At the Snowbird Outlaw Nationals, it was Kye Kelley and Ken Quartuccio – both riding on Kinetic shocks – who squared off in the final round. At the U.S. Street Nationals, Quartuccio struck back with a win over fellow Kinetic customer Lyle Barnett. Then at the World Series of Pro Mod, Steve King parked it in the winner’s circle, capping off a near-sweep for the Kinetic camp.
“We really made our point this past winter in Bradenton,” said Bell. “It’s never been about quantity for me. I’ve always wanted to work with the best – teams that I line up with and enjoy being around.”
While Bell’s customers are regularly spotted at the top of time slips and Pro Mod podiums across North America, his influence reaches far beyond U.S. borders.
“I believe our customers won essentially every race they went to in Australia this year,” Bell continued. “We’ve grown by hundreds of percent internationally in just the last few years. That tells me people are paying attention, and more importantly, they believe in what we’re doing.”
And what Bell is doing – beyond building and tuning elite-level shocks – is showing up.
“I make it a point to spend as much time at the track as possible. Even if I’m not wrenching, I want to be present, to support my customers however I can – whether that’s offering another perspective, talking through a problem, or just being someone they trust to bounce ideas off.”
With a reputation built on innovation, trust, and an obsessive level of detail, Bell’s fingerprints are all over some of the top-performing race cars in the country. And while the Pro Mod class continues to evolve and attract new fans, Bell believes it’s the tip of the spear for the sport of drag racing.
“Pro Mod is where it’s at. Look at the WSOPM – the people, the cars, the entertainment – it’s unmatched. Top Fuel had its run, but I think Pro Mod is the future if the right people keep pushing.”
With the Drag Illustrated Pound-for-Pound Rankings increasingly dominated by Kinetic-backed racers, it’s clear: Chris Bell and Kinetic Engineering aren’t just part of the conversation – they’re helping define it.
This story was originally published on June 24, 2025. 
