The Throwdown in T-Town lived up to the hype as the “Baddest Race on The Mother Road” as the stars and cars of the Summit Racing Equipment Midwest Drag Racing Series did battle at Tulsa Raceway Park May 8-9 for the season opener of their historic 10th season.
The event started out on Thursday with the annual MWDRS Awards Banquet, held at Tulsa Raceway Park this year, as the series honored past champions. A particular highlight was the presentation of the Midwest Drag Racing Series Legacy Award, given out to the Compressed Air Supercharging team and Wade Pennington. Wade’s family and friends, including reigning champions Jovee and Karlee Brundidge and Keith Youngblood.
After rain pushed back the opening rounds of qualifying from Friday evening to Saturday morning, it was set to be a jam-packed day of racing. Stroud Safety Pro Mod opened up qualifying with a bang as Keith Haney erupted in the very first run of the day, sending his scoop flying in the air and necessitating an engine change.
As the day turned into evening it was a familiar matchup that presented itself in the Pro Mod finals. Coming from opposite sides of the ladder, Ryan Martin – making his MWDRS debut – lined up next to Shawn “Murder Nova” Ellington. Ellington’s ProCharger-equipped Camaro, “Blue,” owned by Haney, was the No. 1 qualifier and quickest car of the weekend (3.618), but he wouldn’t need that speed as Martin redlit and solved the equation, giving Ellington the win in two consecutive MWDRS season-openers.
New competitors were featured across all classes, and nowhere was that more apparent than in Fueltech Pro 4.20. A field of 10 cars competed for the race and the new prizes courtesy of R&M Trailers and Sandlian Auto Salvage. Among those making their debut were Bobby Savedra III, Erwin Bush, Terry Teague, and JR Sandlian. Reigning 4.20 champion David Pierce would make it to the final round, but it was Michael Chitty who usurped the triple crown winner in the early morning hours north of Tulsa. Chitty would go 4.22 as Pierce broke out by .004 seconds.
It was reigning Top Dragster runner-up Kati Laughter who notched her first win in her MWDRS career. She followed in the footsteps of her teammate and reigning UEM Pistons Top Dragster champion Keith Youngblood, who went out in the second round. Travis Cannon, her fiancé and tuner, was notably thrilled in race control after the race.
Kelvin Brown made his illustrious return to Compressed Air Supercharging Top Sportsman. The 2-time champion made it all the way to the finals to line up across from his teammate Tim Cunningham, in a final that saw Cunningham take home the trophy and the check. Cunningham dialed his Honey Bros Racing machine into a 4.52 and went dead on with a one to secure the win.
Piloting his nitrous-fed Beretta, Taylor Strange took home the win in the Small Tire Shootout, defeating Brandon Sandlian and the Junkyard Stude in the final round.
In Race Star Wheels Pro Junior it would be a McCann over Kolbi Keith final in the new 7.90 index. In Zimmerman Sportsman Junior it would be Rodgers over Holt with an 8.95 dial against an 8.97 run.
The MWDRS is back in action May 28-30 as part of the Shakedown in M-Town. The race will feature the baddest cars in the radial world, as well as MWDRS Pro Mod, Top Dragster, and Top Sportsman.
This story was originally published on May 16, 2026. 
