As the fourth-generation CEO of Coast Packing, Eric Gustafson is well accustomed to leading from the front—whether in the boardroom or behind the wheel of a high-horsepower doorslammer. While business responsibilities kept him out of the driver’s seat at the Snowbird Outlaw Nationals, Gustafson isn’t just watching from the sidelines. His longtime passion for drag racing still burns bright, and he’s eager to return to the driver’s seat in the coming months to represent both Coast Packing and his deeply competitive spirit.
In a recent conversation, Gustafson offered insights on the sport’s current surge of fan interest, the mounting pressure on teams to perform, and why a unified Winter Series is so crucial for Pro Mod racers of all stripes.
“A Level of Participation That Demands Your Best”
While Gustafson isn’t behind the wheel for either of the first two events, his Pro Mod entry remains in the thick of the action with longtime crew member Cam Hensley taking the reins. Hensley piloted the Coast Packing car to a 12th-place qualifying spot in the Snowbird Outlaw Nationals’ historic Pro Mod field, ultimately falling in the opening round to Spencer Hyde, the 2023 World Series of Pro Mod champion. Despite being on the sidelines, Gustafson has followed every round closely and believes the competition is at an all-time high.
“I see it with the level of participation from racers and everybody trying to be on their A-game,”Gustafson says. “You sense the increasing pressure to perform, quite frankly.”
Whether it’s the Snowbirds or the next marquee race, teams and tuners are pushing the envelope, fine-tuning every aspect of their program to keep up with a field growing more formidable by the day. Gustafson notes that this pressure is not only felt on the track, but throughout the pits and shops, where crew chiefs and drivers constantly explore new ways to squeeze out a bit more consistency or e.t. advantage.
Booming Fan Interest
A key factor fueling that intensity? The huge crowds now flocking to Pro Mod events. For many years, some believed you couldn’t sell a drag racing ticket unless Nitro was involved. Gustafson sees the Winter Series upending that assumption.
“I think you sense it with the fans and just the amount of people showing up, showing interest,” he says. “People coming to pits, asking questions, wanting to learn more about Pro Mod and racing in general.”
He credits an influx of new faces—drivers from No Prep Kings, radial racing, and other series—for generating buzz and attracting fans from all walks of life. For Gustafson, that’s a major win, as it brings fresh energy and more opportunities for the sport to flourish.
Unpredictable Outcomes & Rivalries
Perhaps nothing underscored the Winter Series’ potential for surprises more than Kye Kelley winning the series-opening Snowbird Outlaw Nationals. Gustafson sees that as a testament to the diversity and unpredictability the Winter Series delivers.
“That was the unknown benefit of how this played out,” Gustafson says of Kelley’s victory. “Him winning just created so much more excitement around the sport. It creates controversy in a way that gets people talking—almost like Yankees and Dodgers in the World Series.”
That crossover appeal, where No Prep, NHRA, PDRA, and radial racers all converge, invites new rivalries and renewed fan interest. It’s also a reminder that in a field loaded with talented teams, no one can coast on reputation alone.
Bringing Diverse Personalities Under One Banner
As a long-time participant across multiple sanctioning bodies, Gustafson applauds how the Winter Series effectively “tears down walls” between different corners of drag racing. He believes that’s precisely what’s needed for long-term growth—an environment where distinct backgrounds collide and everyone benefits.
“You’ve got such a diverse group of racers and people that follow this,” he notes. “Anyone can find someone they identify within the sport.”
Gustafson himself is a prime example: a fourth-generation business leader who balances his time between running a major food industry company and chasing Pro Mod glory. Meanwhile, other racers live and breathe motorsports full-time. The Winter Series shines because it welcomes them all.
Leaving the Sport (and Business) Better Than He Found It
One theme Gustafson returns to is ensuring that future generations inherit a stronger and more inclusive drag racing community—mirroring the same ethos he applies at Coast Packing.
“When we’re all gone, we want to make sure we’ve left the sport in a better place than it was when we entered it,” Gustafson explains, tying it back to how he handles his company. “Without our employees, we have no business; without our customers, we have no business.”
That philosophy transfers seamlessly to Pro Mod. If fans, participants, and sponsors aren’t taken care of, the show doesn’t go on. In Gustafson’s eyes, the Winter Series hits all the right notes by giving diverse racer bases a central platform and treating fans to a spectacle that keeps them coming back for more.
Ready for the World Series of Pro Mod
As the Winter Series marches on, Gustafson will soon be back at the track, jumping behind the wheel of his familiar Pro Mod. In his absence, longtime crew member Cam Hensley carried the Coast Packing torch with a notable performance at the Snowbirds. Now, the stage is set for Gustafson to regain control and push his team toward the finish line at the World Series of Pro Mod.
“Rules are rules, and sometimes the cookie doesn’t crumble in your direction,” he says, reflecting on racing’s unpredictable nature. “I’m competitive enough that I’ll never stop until the day I’m in a box. That continuous improvement mindset—that’s what drag racing is all about.”
A Vision for Growth
It’s that same “never stop” mindset that has powered Gustafson’s racing career and Coast Packing’s success story. From his early days in radial competition to his leadership roles in the food industry, Gustafson has always believed in forging relationships and building a stronger future for everyone involved.
If his unwavering belief in Pro Mod’s potential and the unity championed by the Drag Illustrated Winter Series is any indication, fans can expect the synergy of business, competition, and community to keep soaring—on and off the strip.
“Hats off to Wes and the whole team at Drag Illustrated for providing that platform,” Gustafson says. “When you can bring everyone together—No Prep, PDRA, NHRA, radial racers—it’s good for all of us. And we can’t wait to be part of it for the long haul.”
For more information on the DI Winter Series, visit www.thewinterseries.com. To livestream the U.S. Street Nationals, check out https://flosports.link/4eXM9oa.
This story was originally published on January 10, 2025. 
