The Mid-West Drag Racing Series has stripped the Jacob McNeal Racing team of all points earned at last weekend’s Shakedown at M’Town at US 131 Motorsports Park in Martin, Michigan and placed McNeal on probation for the remainder of the 2026 season, MWDRS officials announced yesterday. The announcement came after a post-race spot check found the team’s Pro Mod Cuda running an illegal blower pulley, allowing for 98% overdrive instead of the maximum 92% allowed.
The infraction was discovered Saturday, May 30, by MWDRS tech officials after McNeal won his semifinal matchup with reigning MWDRS points champion Aaron Wells. Wells was then reinstated into the final round. It was noted that McNeal’s car had passed pre-race technical inspection earlier in the weekend.
The MWDRS issued the following statement:
“Regarding the actions of the Jacob McNeal Racing Team at Shakedown Saturday, May 30, 2026 during the semifinals. The McNeal Racing Team violated rules regarding the blower overdrive on their Pro Mod. The infraction was found during a spot check (by MWDRS Tech) after the car competed in the semifinals after passing pre-race technical inspection.
“Due to the violation, the McNeal team was stripped of all points accumulated at the event. Furthermore, Jacob McNeal has been placed on probation for the remainder of the 2026 Mid-West Drag Racing Series season. Any further rule violations during this probation will result in the immediate suspension of competition privileges for the entirety of the 2026 Mid-West Drag Racing Series Season.”
The statement, dated June 1, 2026 and released on June 2, was signed by MWDRS Race Director Ellen Eschenbacher and Lead Tech Inspector Josh Scott.
The penalty has two central components. First, McNeal forfeits all points earned at Martin. Second, he is on probation through the end of the 2026 MWDRS season; if there is another rule violation, it will trigger a season-long suspension.
McNeal’s team has publicly attributed the violation to a mid-race blower change, which occurred after the second round of competition. According to statements from McNeal – including a since-deleted video posted to social media – the team broke a blower in the previous round and the wrong overdrive ratio mistakenly ended up on the replacement unit during the swap. MWDRS has neither validated nor disputed that explanation.
The MWDRS returns to US 131 Motorsports Park for the Northern Nationals July 31-August 1 for the next race on their 10th anniversary tour.
This story was originally published on June 3, 2026. 
