Kallee Mills’ lifelong dream of competing – and winning – in Pro Mod took another big step forward this past weekend when she raced to the final round at the $125,000-to-win IHRA Outlaw Pro Mod Nationals at Darana Dragway in Milan, Michigan.
Driving Paul and Jeanne Hayden’s screw-blown “Scarlett” ’68 Camaro, Mills qualified No. 7 in the quick 16-car field. She opened eliminations with a first-round win over Kyle Canion, then defeated Robert Davis in the second round. In the quarterfinals, she knocked out veteran Jason Harris before taking out Ken Quartuccio in the semifinals, setting up an all-Chevy final-round matchup with No. 1 qualifier Randy Weatherford.
Weatherford was first off the starting line, .024 to Mills’ .038, and held the lead through the finish line with a 3.601-second pass at 210.38 mph to Mills’ close 3.604 at 207.47. The margin of victory was just thousandths of a second in one of the tightest races of the weekend.
For Mills, who’s in her rookie season of Pro Mod competition, the runner-up finish was about more than the five-figure payday.
“A dream come true weekend,” Mills shared on social media. “We came up a little short, but I’m so blessed. My first final in Pro Mod being on the IHRA stage competing for $125,000 is definitely one of the coolest experiences I’ve had yet.”
She was quick to credit her parents, Tara and DeWayne Mills, along with tuner Lee White, crew members Taylor Strange, and Mike Simms, and team supporters Brendan Russell and Larry Jeffers for their roles in the milestone weekend.
“I couldn’t do it without my parents – I love y’all,” Mills wrote. “My guys – Dad, Taylor Strange, and Mike Simms [keep] my car at 100-percent – giving me the confidence that everything is going to be perfect. As for Lee White, there’s no one else I’d want on the keyboard. Thanks Paul Hayden and Jeanne Hayden for trusting me to pilot ‘Scarlett’ and all the support they provide us. Thank you Brendan Russell for always supporting me even if you aren’t able to make it to the track – your encouragement means the world to me. Thank you Larry Jeffers for showing up and supporting me and being the team hype man and bringing my brother Brody. Thank you IHRA for the amazing opportunity to race for $125K.”
The final-round appearance is the latest highlight in a breakout season for Mills, who grew up watching Pro Mods and has quickly shown she can contend with some of the best drivers in the class. After putting up career-best numbers earlier this year and earning round wins at Mid-West Drag Racing Series events, she now has her first major final-round performance in Pro Mod to her name – and plenty of momentum heading into the back half of the season.
This story was originally published on August 11, 2025. 
