When the 2026 Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod presented by Red Line Oil rolls into eliminations Saturday at Bradenton Motorsports Park, the spotlight won’t shine on just 32 cars.
Thanks to a new partnership with Outlaw Light Beer, positions 33 through 64 after qualifying will have their own stage – and their own purse – in the inaugural Outlaw Light Beer Wild Card Shootout, a race within the race that puts $15,000 to the winner, $5,000 to the runner-up, and $2,500 to each semifinalist.
Five rounds. Sixty-four cars competing on Saturday. One historic showcase.
The Wild Card Shootout ensures that unprecedented participation at the World Series of Pro Mod is rewarded, not sidelined.
Exclusivity has always defined the World Series of Pro Mod – bringing together the best of the best in one place, under one banner. But record car counts demand opportunity. With 60-plus Pro Mods converging on Bradenton, the Outlaw Light Beer Wild Card Shootout creates meaningful competition for the next wave of elite contenders.
“This event continues to raise the bar,” said Mark Stockseth of Outlaw Light Beer. “The World Series of Pro Mod is the most competitive doorslammer race in the world, and when you have that level of participation, you need a stage big enough to match it. The Wild Card Shootout is exactly that – high-stakes, high-energy racing that fans can get excited about.”
Outlaw Light Beer, which has built a fast-growing presence in motorsports and entertainment – including partnerships with country music superstar HARDY and activations across racing platforms – sees the Wild Card Shootout as a natural extension of its brand identity.
Independent. Competitive. Built for the bold.
For Drag Illustrated founder and WSOPM promoter Wes Buck, the partnership reinforces a core philosophy.
“Historic participation like this has to be rewarded,” said Buck. “Exclusivity is a huge part of what we do – assembling the absolute best Pro Mod racers on the planet – but it’s just as important to provide real opportunity. The Outlaw Light Beer Wild Card Shootout makes sure more of these racers get their moment on Saturday.”
The Wild Card Shootout will run alongside Pro Mod eliminations throughout the day, creating a layered Saturday program unlike anything else in doorslammer racing. From first round to final, drivers in positions 33-64 will battle through five rounds of heads-up competition, culminating in a standalone winner’s circle celebration.
It’s not a consolation. It’s a proving ground.
With $15,000 on the line and the backing of a national lifestyle brand, the Outlaw Light Beer Wild Card Shootout elevates the competitive ceiling of the event even further.
Qualifying for the 2026 Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod presented by Red Line Oil begins Thursday, February 26 at 12:30 PM, setting the stage for a weekend that will feature 64 Pro Mods competing on Saturday across two elite eliminators.
The World Series of Pro Mod continues to expand what’s possible in professional doorslammer racing. Now, thanks to Outlaw Light Beer, more racers than ever will have the chance to race for it.
