Jimmy Dale is jumping back into the fire this weekend, and that’s exactly where he wants to be.
The fan-favorite small-tire standout is set to drive Ryan Tolley’s single-turbo LS-powered Chevy Nova at the upcoming $100,000-to-win Small Tire Shootout at Beech Bend Raceway Park in Bowling Green, Kentucky – an event that has quickly become one of the hottest tickets in drag racing.
Dale, who kicked off his 2025 season with a win in Lil’ Gangstas competition at the Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod, is widely known for his fearless, pressure-driven mindset – and says this race checks every box.
“We started the year going to Lights Out and came up short in the finals – went .005 green and still didn’t have enough,” said Dale. “So we really focused heading into WSOPM, and we got it done, took home the win. At WSOPM, I realized I’m kinda chasing something different than I used to. I used to want to win just to say I won – but now, it seems like I’m chasing pressure. I want that weight on my shoulders and the chance to deliver. I’m sure with 100K on the line this weekend, I’ll feel that same pressure, and I couldn’t be more excited. Huge thanks to Ryan for giving me this opportunity.”
The opportunity came together fast. Tolley and his team originally planned to focus exclusively on their ProCharged Dodge Challenger with Shelby Lynn – Tolley’s girlfriend – behind the wheel. But plans changed the moment Dale was available.
“We’ve been focused on taking Shelby’s ProCharged HEMI Challenger,” said Tolley. “We weren’t planning on taking the Nova at all, but when I saw Jimmy looking for a ride, it seemed like a great opportunity to get a second chance at the $100,000 on the line.”
The event, organized by Speed Promotions Racing (formerly No Prep Kings) and spearheaded by Chris “BoostedGT” Hamilton, is the first of two guaranteed $100K-to-win small-tire races this year. The second will take place in October at GALOT Motorsports Park.
The Bowling Green shootout – set for June 20-21 – is a no-prep, off-the-trailer, anything-can-happen slugfest. Cars must run on 28×10.5 tires, have steel roof and quarters, and no wheelie bars. No testing, no time slips, just pure competition. Supporting classes include Lil Gangstas, Big Tire Open, and 7.0 Index.
Interest in the race exploded as soon as registration opened. The initial 64-entry cap was hit within an hour, and after multiple expansions, a hard cap of 128 cars was reached in less than 24 hours. The response has validated what small-tire racers have been saying for years: they’re ready for the spotlight.
“This is really putting small tire on the map,” said Hamilton. “They heard the racers loud and clear. There’s a lot of money on the line, and anything can happen.”
And with Jimmy Dale in the mix, there’s no doubt the pressure – and the spotlight – will be turned all the way up.
This story was originally published on June 17, 2025. 
