The U.S. Street Nationals presented by M&M Transmission, part of the three-race Drag Illustrated Winter Series presented by J&A Service is set for this weekend at Bradenton Motorsports Park (BMP) in Bradenton, Florida.
With the success of the Snowbird Outlaw Nationals presented by Motion Raceworks and the surprise underdog win by Kye Kelley, the stage is set for a huge event. With 65 Pro Mods on site for the Snowbirds, the competition was at an all-time high. Now, the U.S. Street Nationals is expecting more than 70 Pro Mods fighting, clawing, and thrashing their way into the 32-car field.
The Mid-West Drag Racing Series (MWDRS) racers and crew are about to go to war, carrying the support of the MWDRS fans and families on their shoulders as they head to Bradenton.
Mark Micke
Mark Micke is returning with the No. 1 qualifying Camaro. Bryce Micke, nephew and crew member on the car, shared they serviced the car to keep it in top form for this race. Only two cars went into the 3.50s during the Snowbirds, one of Micke who landed in the No. 1 qualifier spot at 3.591. Micke will also be tuning on the Camaro driven by Shawn “Murder Nova” Ellington, which is a near clone of the car Micke drives. And if we know Micke, he’ll want Ellington to go as quick as the car is capable of.
Keith Goolsby
Keith Goolsby, after Snowbirds, removed the blower from the “Black Pearl,” sending it for a new performance coating at PSI Superchargers to add more horsepower. Rick Ducusin is now in Florida to reassemble the car and get it ready ahead of testing.
Goolsby shared, “I’ve been living on my practice tree.”
Additionally, Goolsby wanted to extend a special thanks to Ducusin for “getting the car race-ready all year! The car has been the best it’s ever been with Rick as the car chief. I know the car is rock-solid anytime I’m behind the wheel. Also, Rick was asked by the Tutterows to assist with a car in Qatar the past few weeks. This ask by one of the best teams in the business shows the ability Rick brings to the table.”
With Goolsby in Scottsdale, Arizona, at one of the largest auctions, only time will tell if he’s able to get away to fly to Florida to pilot the “Black Pearl.”
Chris Juliano
Chris Juliano told MWDRS earlier in the year he “got it [‘67 Mustang] figured out” and he was right. His ETs continued to drop with each race and test session. As he told Drag Illustrated after the Snowbirds, “We had a cam sync issue and a miss through the weekend, and when it came time to take our last shot, the nitrous purge solenoid stuck open. Just one of those weird deals you can’t plan for. But we learned a lot. We know we can run better, and trust me, we’re going to do just that.”
On a call this morning, he said they have the electrical gremlins sorted and are “ready to make our first test hit of many this week.”
Keith Haney
Keith Haney has prepared for the U.S. Street Nationals by stocking up on extra motors from renowned engine builder Pat Musi. He hasn’t driven the car since October, but he has hundreds of passes behind the wheel. With more power from the Musi engine and Switzer Dynamics nitrous setup, Haney is planning to begin testing on Tuesday or Wednesday. Coming from Tulsa, Oklahoma, the weather at BMP will make more power than ever. With Haney going 3.614 as a personal best at the Ronnie Hobbs World Finals at Tulsa Raceway Park in October, the car is capable of running at the front. Now, it’s time to light the candles.
Shawn “Murder Nova” Ellington
If you have been watching the 187 Customs YouTube channel, you know the team has been hard at work getting the car prepped for Shawn “Murder Nova” Ellington to drive. They picked “Blue” up from Blake Housley after it made nearly 5300 hp, the most powerful car Ellington has ever raced. With the horrible weather in Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma the last few weeks, the first chance for him to make a pass will be in Florida this week. Since the car was built and raced by Matt Zimmerman and, later, Mark “Tydo” Werdehausen, it should not take many passes to get it in fighting shape with Ellington behind the wheel.
“We’re going to give it everything we’ve got,” Ellington said in a livestream in January. “Qualifying would be a win in itself, but we’re aiming higher. The plan is to test, adapt, and prove that ‘Blue’ belongs on the track with the best of them.”
Scott Palmer
“I plan to come there and haul ass, that’s my goal,” Pamer said. We know Scott is capable of driving a car to its absolute potential, and we’ll see him do that in Florida. As a guest on The Wes Buck Show, he revealed that Jeff Pierce offered assistance with tuning for the weekend, which we know will help him go faster. Pierce has proven that.
“Since Mark Micke has helped me, I’ve raced that more than I ever have,” Palmer added on the show. “I used to race that car once a year.”
BMP track owner Vic Alvarez also told Wes Buck, Mike Carpenter and JT Hudson, on The Wes Buck Show ep. 371, “The air is going to be phenomenal and Wade [Rich] has really figured out how to keep that track with a lot of teeth in it when it is cold. So, you’re going to be able to run whatever your combination is capable of running. There are guys testing right now. And if testing is any indication, they are going to be in great shape. If you want to do something crazy, U.S. Street is the time to do it.”
The cars that come out of the MWDRS are front runners and are ready for the best competitors on the planet to pull in the opposing lane.
This story was originally published on January 21, 2025.