Jeff “The Sheriff” Rudolf emerged from the inaugural Drag Illustrated Winter Series with a top-10 points finish among the most cutthroat Pro Mod fields on the planet. Qualifying 16th at the $100,000-to-win World Series of Pro Mod—and bowing out in the second round to eventual winner Steve King—proved Rudolf’s ProCharged ’69 Camaro can go toe-to-toe with the best of the best. Now, as he heads to the PDRA Summit Racing Equipment East Coast Nationals at GALOT Motorsports Park, Rudolf has his sights set on capitalizing on all that momentum.
“I’ll tell you what, that Winter Series was a shark tank,” says Rudolf, referencing the massive fields that included top-tier racers from NHRA, Mid-West, and PDRA. “If we could hang in Florida, we can hang with anyone in the world. You learn a ton racing against guys who can go .50s or .60s at the drop of a hat.”
Rudolf repeatedly credits his tuner, Brandon Stroud, and a dedicated, mistake-free crew for helping him qualify solidly and go rounds in the face of Florida’s stacked lineup. Though his progress ended in the second round at the WSOPM, he was encouraged by the consistency he displayed and the data he gathered—both of which should pay off in the Red Line Oil PDRA Drag Racing Series.
“You go from one shark tank to another,” Rudolf says of stepping back into PDRA competition. “Pro Boost is absolutely loaded with talent. That’s what drives me, though. It’s the real deal: no easy paths, just world-class racers making world-class laps.”
Finishing 10th in the Winter Series points chase, Rudolf has proven his ability to adapt under pressure—an asset he expects will translate seamlessly at GALOT. Known for its tight, quick turnaround times, the PDRA opener tests every aspect of a team’s readiness, from tuning calls to driver focus. Rudolf isn’t fazed.
“We just have to do our thing,” he says. “Stay consistent, keep our heads down, and trust the process. Brandon’s got a great tune-up, and the crew knows exactly what it takes to turn the car around in record time. I feel like we’re ready for anything.”
While it’s still early in the year, the Brownsburg, Indiana–based racer wants a strong jumpstart on a potential championship season. He’s already seen what it takes to compete against the best in Bradenton; now he’s eager to see how that translates at GALOT and beyond.
“This team showed we can run with the toughest there is,” Rudolf says. “Florida was just the start. I can’t wait to show the PDRA world what this team can do.”
This story was originally published on April 2, 2025. 
