The Drag Illustrated Winter Series event #2 roared to life this past weekend at US Street Nationals, bringing some of the fiercest NHRA Pro Mod competitors back to Bradenton Motorsports Park. After a thrilling Snowbirds event last month, the competition was more intense than ever, with over 67 Pro Mods vying for domination. With such a stacked field, every round counted as teams fought to make their mark in Pro Mod history.
Among the NHRA Pro Mod standouts in attendance were Sidnei Frigo, Dmitry Samarokov, Kevin Rivenbark, Stan Shelton, Billy Banaka, Jason Scruggs, Chip King, Jerico Balduf, Ken Quartuccio and Scott Wildgust. Each came prepared to battle it out, but in the end, Quartuccio left with the biggest prize. The US Street Nationals Pro Mod Winner!
Qualifying Results:
Ken Quartuccio laid an impressive 3.572-second pass at 211.36 mph, securing the No. 2 qualifying position. Right behind him was Jason Scruggs, who landed in third with a 3.579 @ 211.49. Jerico Balduf (No. 23, 3.632 @ 208.59) and Sidnei Frigo (No. 24, 3.632 @ 205.32) rounded out the NHRA Pro Mod competitors who made the field.
The Road to Victory
From the start, Quartuccio was on a mission, taking down Sidnei Frigo in the opening round. He continued his march through eliminations, facing and defeating Ty Tutterow in round two, Zach Sackman in round three, and Rian Hayward in the semi-finals. This led to a dramatic showdown against his former Scott Tidwell Racing teammate, Lyle Barnett.
In a hard-fought battle, Quartuccio emerged victorious with an impressive .001 light going 3.586 @ 208.62 against Lyles .022 light going 3.608 @ 207.62, adding another win to his impressive Bradenton track record. This victory was especially sweet after finishing as the runner-up at Drag Illustrated’s Winter Series event #1 at Snowbirds, where he narrowly lost to Kye Kelley.
Early Exits for Scruggs and Balduf
While Quartuccio thrived, other NHRA Pro Mod drivers faced challenges early in eliminations. Jason Scruggs faced Isaias Rojas in the first round but fell short, ending his weekend earlier than anticipated. Similarly, Jerico Balduf faced Jeff Rudolf in round one and could not advance.
The Championship Picture
With his US Street Nationals victory, Ken Quartuccio now sits atop the Drag Illustrated Winter Series points standings with 1,210 points. His consistent performance across the first two events has positioned him as the man to beat heading into the final showdown.
Up Next: World Series of Pro Mod
The highly anticipated World Series of Pro Mod, the final event of the three-race series, will bring the best teams together for an all-out war. With a $150,000 winner-take-all prize and ultimate bragging rights, the upcoming battle will undoubtedly be one for the history books.
Will Ken Quartuccio continue his dominant run and secure the Drag Illustrated Winter Series Championship? Or will another team rise to the occasion and take the crown? One thing is sure—fans are in for a thrilling conclusion to the 2025 Drag Illustrated Winter Series.
See you at Bradenton Motorsports Park February 27th - March 2nd!
Photo Credit: KC Photography