Mike Stawicki drove to a hard-fought win in the marquee Pro Mod Powerfest at Empire Dragway this past weekend, overcoming a stout field of competitors and clinching the final-round victory over Canadian standout Jay Santos.
The Western New York veteran delivered a strong performance all day, first defeating Bob Bauer in the semifinals before lining up against Santos in the final. Santos had advanced by taking out Buffalo’s Melanie Salemi in the opposite semi-final matchup.
Although the event faced time constraints that ultimately cut short the final rounds of the Quick 32 Sportsman Series and Pro Bike & Sled Series, the Pro Mod eliminations were completed, giving fans a thrilling highlight for the weekend.
Johnny Camp topped the qualifying charts in Pro Modified with a blistering 3.6049-second, 206.04-mph pass, but it was Stawicki who emerged victorious when it mattered most.
Despite the schedule setbacks, the event featured strong turnouts across all categories, including Top Dragster, Top Sportsman, Pro Bike, and Pro Sled. Finals in those classes will be revisited in upcoming events, with the next race weekend set for August 15–16 at Empire Dragway.
Drag Illustrated contributing photographer David Hilner and videographer Kyle Christ were on site capturing all the action.
This story was originally published on July 23, 2025. 
