With a new fall date, Cecil County Dragway’s $50,000-to-win Pro Mod Invitational is back this weekend for its second iteration. Once again held in conjunction with an NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Division 1 event, the Pro Mod Invitational is set for Oct. 17-19 at the historic Rising Sun, Maryland, facility owned and operated by Jim and Cathy Halsey.
The inaugural Pro Mod Invitational was held in mid-May 2024 and saw Steve King race to the $50,000 victory in Gene Pilot’s screw-blown “Savage” Corvette. The race finished on Monday due to weather delays.
“It was obviously disappointing for everyone, but I can’t say enough about how hard my crew worked to make sure the event was completed,” said Jim Halsey in reflecting on the inaugural event. “Despite the constant rain, we still managed to finish the event, and the racers showcased their impressive driving ability and performance, with multiple runs in the 3.50s. It was just unfortunate that we had to finish on a Monday, and many of our loyal fans couldn’t make it.”
Avoiding spring rainstorms like that is one of the reasons why the event was moved to its new date in mid-October. Providing conditions conducive to setting records was further motivation.
“We’re really looking forward to the end-of-fall conditions this year,” Halsey said. “The cooler temperatures should provide ideal conditions, and I’m sure the fans will see some incredible racing.”
Drivers expected to compete in this year’s Pro Mod Invitational include defending winner King, who went on to win the 2025 Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod at Bradenton Motorsports Park in March and the Yellowbullet Nationals at Cecil County over Labor Day weekend. Halsey, who debuted his new nitrous-fed, Fulton-powered “Blacklist” ’68 Camaro at the Yellowbullet Nationals, is another contender on the list, along with two-time PDRA Pro Boost world champion Jason Harris.
Beyond Pro Mod, the weekend lineup features a full range of sportsman categories in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series.
“I think it’s a great opportunity for our local fans to attend and see the diversity of drag racing with all of the different classes,” Halsey said. “It’s also a huge benefit for the NHRA. Our loyal fan base loves door car racing and Pro Mods in particular, and by teaming up with the NHRA, we can pack the stands and put on a spectacular show for everyone.”
The schedule for the weekend starts with parking and testing on Thursday, followed by qualifying on Friday. Qualifying will wrap up Saturday before going into eliminations. Eliminations for the Lucas Oil Series event will continue on Sunday.
Learn more at www.CecilCountyDragway.com.
This story was originally published on October 16, 2025. 
