Richard Freeman isn’t a guy who minces words or hides behind corporate speak. When he says he wants to shake up the world of drag racing, he means it. And with the announcement of the Elite Motorsports Million, the largest performance-based prize in drag racing history, he just might do exactly that.
“Let’s do something that shakes the world up a little bit,” Freeman said during an episode of The Wes Buck Show, his Texas drawl carrying a mix of mischief and dead-serious conviction. “Let’s give these guys something worth chasing. Something that gets people talking.”
That “something” is the Elite Motorsports Million — a staggering $1,000,000 bonus offered to any driver who can sweep all three races of the 2025-2026 Drag Illustrated Winter Series: the Snowbird Outlaw Nationals, the U.S. Street Nationals, and the World Series of Pro Mod.
Raising the Stakes
“Drag racing needs a shot in the arm,” Freeman said. “We need to create real buzz, get fans and racers fired up again. You don’t get that with a $5,000-to-win bracket race. You get that by dangling a million dollars in front of them.”
Freeman isn’t wrong. While drag racing has long been built on grassroots energy and regional loyalty, it’s struggled to grab national headlines in a crowded sports and entertainment landscape. The Elite Motorsports Million is designed to change that. It’s a bet not just on performance, but on spectacle, storytelling, and the spirit of competition.
“We’re a marketing company at the end of the day,” Freeman said, referencing the broader goals of Elite Motorsports and the ecosystem around it. “And what better way to market our sport than by making history?”
Big Risk, Bigger Reward
Putting up a million bucks isn’t just about attention. It’s also about pushing the limits of what’s possible.
“It’s not supposed to be easy. That’s the point,” Freeman said. “You win one of those races, you’ve done something special. You win two? You’re on a tear. But if you win all three? You deserve a million dollars. Plain and simple.”
Each event in the DI Winter Series already stands on its own as a marquee show, but the added stakes unify them into something even greater. A Triple Crown for Pro Mod drag racing. A three-part proving ground for the elite of the elite.
“What I love is that it’s not just about the money,” Freeman continued. “It’s about putting something on the line. It’s about guys showing up hungry, prepared, and ready to throw down. That’s what people want to see.”
Betting on Pro Mod
Freeman has long been a champion of Pro Modified drag racing. He believes it’s the most entertaining class in the sport — fast, wild, unpredictable, and diverse. The Elite Motorsports Million is his way of planting a flag for the class and giving it the spotlight he believes it deserves.
“We believe in Pro Mod,” Freeman said. “It’s the blue-collar class. These are the guys who still get their hands dirty. It’s relatable. It’s exciting. It’s the best show in drag racing.”
And in typical Freeman fashion, he didn’t shy away from challenging others to match the move.
“I hope this sets a new bar. I hope other series step up. I hope people start thinking bigger. We’ve been playing small for too long.”
Putting His Money Where His Mouth Is
Of course, it’s one thing to talk big. It’s another to back it up.
“I’m not doing this for show. We’re putting up real money. Real opportunity. And if someone pulls it off? I’ll be the first to shake their hand and hand them that check.”
Freeman’s commitment to the sport runs deep. From owning one of the most successful Pro Stock teams in NHRA history to his involvement with rising stars and legacy racers alike, his fingerprints are all over modern drag racing. But the Elite Motorsports Million might be his most impactful move yet.
“We’re trying to grow this deal. We’re trying to make drag racing matter to the mainstream again. You don’t do that by being safe. You do that by swinging for the fences.”
The Bigger Picture
Ultimately, the Elite Motorsports Million isn’t just a promotional gimmick or cash grab. It’s a rally cry.
“If this gets one more kid to dream bigger, one more racer to double down on their effort, one more fan to buy a ticket — then we did our job,” Freeman said. “We moved the needle.”
As drag racing looks toward its future, Freeman believes this kind of bold, unapologetic energy is what the sport needs.
“Drag racing has always been about doing what they said couldn’t be done. That’s what this is. It’s a moonshot. And I think it’s exactly what we need.”
So who will be the one to chase it? Who will risk it all to take a swing at drag racing immortality?
Freeman just grinned.
“I can’t wait to find out.”
