Drag Illustrated’s Pound-for-Pound Pro Mod Rankings are back with a vengeance, unveiling a fiery Top 20 update that showcases drag racing’s toughest competitors across NHRA, PDRA, DI Winter Series, MWDRS, and beyond. Powered by xAI’s cutting-edge AI and seasoned with the raw insight of Pro Mod’s most-serious insiders, this list is shaking things up – new faces crash the party, veterans make bold moves, and Ken Quartuccio remains the kingpin atop the throne.
Released today, the updated Top 20 is a barnburner: Quartuccio holds strong at #1 and NHRA’s Mike Stavrinos clings to #2 with a blistering run of low ETs, while JR Gray rockets into the Top 5 with his Four-Wide Nationals domination. Regional riser Scott Lang muscles into #15, proving grit at the legendary Piedmont Dragway and Rockingham Dragway, and Tommy Franklin climbs to #11, his veteran prowess overtaking rookie sensation Tim Paap. Kye Kelley and Erica Enders see a reality check, with Kelley’s Snowbird shine landing him at #14 and Enders’ steady DIWS runs and status amongst Pro Mod’s best leavers settling at #20.
“We’re thrilled with the reaction to the P4P rankings,” said Wes Buck, Drag Illustrated Founder and Editorial Director. “Beyond obviously showcasing and highlighting the baddest guys and gals in drag racing today, we want to spark and drive conversation and debate amongst our fan base. That’s what we’re seeing and hearing, as well as a lot of feedback and excitement from drivers, team owners, and sponsors – which is fantastic.”
This update introduces version 2.0 of the rankings model, adding new metrics and parameters to spotlight car setup superiority under pressure. The result? Stavrinos’ NHRA sweeps and status as a perennial low-ET threat vault him to #2, Gray’s 4 low elimination-round ETs cement his #5 spot, and Lang’s Big Dog hustle at Piedmont earns him #15.
“We’ve also introduced a few new metrics to our math model and provided even deeper context than the some 300-pages of written research content we poured into our AI large language model that we believe is important,” Buck added. “We’re basically on version 2.0 now, some six weeks post launch.”
Spanning a dozen events – from the eighth-mile chaos of the DI Winter Series to the quarter-mile battles of NHRA and the regional grit of Piedmont Dragway – the P4P Rankings don’t play favorites. They find the drivers who define Pro Mod’s relentless fight, updated after major races to keep the conversation alive. Big movers like Gray and Lang, veterans like Franklin, and steady forces like Quartuccio ensure there’s plenty to debate.
“Giving our fans something to talk about, keeping this conversation going—it’s what our sport needs,” Buck said. “This Top 20 is about making Pro Mod the hottest topic in drag racing, every day.”
2025 Drag Illustrated Pound-for-Pound Pro Mod Top 20 Rankings
- Ken Quartuccio – Quartuccio remains unshakable in the top spot with his incredible performance at the Drag Illustrated Winter Series that culminated in a championship, his status as one of Pro Mod’s best leavers, despite a rare stumble at the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals. Not to mention he and the Scott Tidwell Motorsports hot rod’s absolute dominance in Radial vs. the World competition in recent months.
- Mike Stavrinos – NHRA’s newest force-to-be-reckoned-with hangs tough with his Gatornationals and Arizona Nationals sweeps, bolstered by five low ETs and the collective performance of the Al-Anabi Racing camp led by tuners Todd Tutterow and Mark Savage for Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Thani. Looking to translate his small-tire success and desire to solidify himself amongst some of the most established and respected names in drag racing make him a relentless force.
- Melanie Salemi – The PDRA’s First Lady stays fierce at #3, her PDRA East Coast Nationals Pro Boost win, overall consistency and overall car-and-team performance delivering for her across seven races since December 2024. A .028s RT keeps her a problem for anyone on the opposite of the ladder.
- Steve King – The WSOPM Hero locks #4 with his World Series win, PDRA semifinals appearance, and increasing number of low ET marks. His 154.62 points/event across 5 races and 0.051s RT show he’s a big-stage beast, holding steady at No. 4 in the world.
- JR Gray – It was only a matter of time before notorious grudge-racer-turned-class-racer JR Gray’s name appeared in the P4P conversation. With a fresh start in 2025 as part of the newest wing of the Al-Anabi Racing operation alongside Mike Starvinos, Gray’s well-established driving chops are pairing well with the supreme confidence he has in the race car underneath him.
- Jason Harris – The PDRA superstar stalwart moves to #6, climbing from #8 with DIWS top-5 runs, strong start to the PDRA Pro Boost season and perennial top-contender status. He’s amongst the best – if not the best – there is on the starting line in Pro Mod today. His .026s RT average over 5 races prove he’s got the clutch gene to get the job done wherever he and his doorslammer father, Bob, unload the “Party Time” Camaro.
- Kurt Steding – The pride of Pennsylvania powers into the #7 spot, up from #14 with a Mid-Atlantic win, consistency across The Winter Series and a string of killer runs. His 147.06 points/event over 6 races and 0.027s RT make him a sneaky threat, poised to continue his upward movement as the PDRA series heads into the dog days of summer.
- Lyle Barnett – While a newcomer to PDRA Pro Boost, fan-favorite wheelman Lyle Barnett is making his presence known behind the wheel of Tommy Youman’s fleet of doorslammers and sits at #8, up from #9 with a U.S. Street final and cross-over prowess on display with a first-round appearance at the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals in Charlotte. His .026s average RT make him a top-three leaver in Pro Mod.
- Rickie Smith – “Tricky Rickie” stands tall at #9 with his early NHRA success over 3 events in the series’ lone nitrous oxide-injected Pro Mod. The crafty veteran can still get the job done on the starting line and with the way his J&A Service/Parkview Ford Mustang is running there’s no doubt he’ll stay in the mix with the best the eliminator has to offer.
- Mark Micke – Driver of one of the the most-feared doorslammers on the planet secures a top-ten spot after sweeping number-one qualifying honors during Drag Illustrated’s three-race Winter Series and setting both ends of the series world record performances while continuing to demonstrate the capabilities of the M&M Transmission twin-turbocharged ‘69 Camaro test mule.
- Tommy Franklin – The Pro Nitrous veteran and multi-time champion climbs to #11 from #13, his Galot final, 2 low ETs, and PDRA champion status overshadowing Pro Mod rookie Paap. Franklin is undoubtedly one of the best there is right now and a true Pro Nitrous kingpin.
- Johnny Camp – The PDRA Pro Boost star holds steady after a fierce final-round showing at the East Coast Nationals, his WSOPM hustle keeping him in the hunt. A slick 0.023s RT across 3 races makes him a top contender on the tree, but Franklin’s champion-status nudges him down a spot.
- Tim Paap – The Pro Nitrous rookie sensation slips from #6 after his East Coast win and missing a race (with tuner Stevie Jackson filling in), his 0.021s average RT is the best in Pro Mod – showing starting line mastery across both appearances this season. Tuned by legends Stevie Jackson and Jeffrey Barker, he’s a rising force, but Franklin’s experience takes precedence.
- Kye Kelley – The No Prep king adjusts to #14, his Snowbird win and 7 round wins in Bradenton shining bright, paired with a 0.027s average RT and 1 low ET over 3 races. His star power still burns hot, but his focus on the Speed Promotions Racing Outlaw 32 series keeps him from climbing currently.
- Scott Lang – The Big Dog badass crashes the party at #15, his Big Dog Shootout win at the gritty Piedmont Dragway and Rockingham Dragway a few short days later proving his mettle with a dominant performance at both venues. He’s consistently solid on the starting line, but has some work to do to continue moving up. His early season grit is undeniable.
- Rian Hayward – The Winter Series breakout star holds firm, his DI and MWDRS runs across 3 races keeping him in the mix. A 0.061s RT shows he’s still got room to grow, but his early buzz as a name to watch keeps him steady at #16.
- Mike Bowman – The turbocharged veteran hangs tough at #17, his WSOPM R3 finish and ability to be low elapsed time anytime, anywhere driving his staying power as he turns his attention to the Outlaw 32 series. A 0.045s RT keeps him competitive, but limited races hold him back from climbing higher.
- Ty Tutterow – The workhorse son of Pro Mod icon Todd Tutterow keeps grinding at #18, his DI and PDRA semifinal runs across 4 races showcasing his heart. A 0.029s RT makes him a steady hand, staying consistent while others jockey for position.
- Travis Harvey – The Carolina Kid stays in the fight at #19, his strong performance on the East Coast Pro Mod circuit and 6-race hustle showing grit and determination that will most assuredly be a difference maker for the team as the season wears on.
- Erica Enders – While seatime in the Elite Motorsports ‘69 Camaro Pro Mod has waned as the Mission Foods NHRA Drag Racing Series picks up steam, six-time Pro Stock champion Erica Enders rounds out the list at #20. Her solid performance across DIWS and inarguable status as one of the best natural race car drivers alive keep her in the conversation.
Drag Illustrated continues to track top-tier races with strict standards, ensuring the P4P Rankings fuel the sport’s fire. A voting panel of media and industry heavyweights will soon add even more heat to the mix. While the rankings won’t dictate pairings, they’ll ignite talks at tracks, shops, and online, setting the stage for the next DI Winter Series showdown.
This story was originally published on May 16, 2025.
The post Drag Illustrated Pound-for-Pound Pro Mod Rankings See Fresh Faces, Big Moves; Quartuccio Stays on Top first appeared on Drag Illustrated.