For many drivers, rolling back into the shop after a rough weekend might mean licking wounds and questioning next steps. For Chris Juliano, however, it’s more about getting back on the jobsite, reloading for the next outing, and looking to make some serious waves on the biggest stage in doorslammer drag racing.
Fresh off the inaugural race of the Drag Illustrated Winter Series presented by J&A Service – the famed Snowbird Outlaw Nationals at Bradenton Motorsports Park – the Iberia, Missouri-based racer is eager to prove that his 46th-place qualifying effort, while short of the top-32 bump, is no reflection of his team’s true capabilities. The owner and driver of a striking 1967 Ford Mustang Pro Mod, Juliano knows that just making the trip down to Florida in December and standing out among a 64-car field loaded with the best Pro Mod racers on the planet is an achievement in itself.
“The deal at the Snowbirds was, without a doubt, the baddest collection of Pro Mod cars ever,” says Juliano, who pushes a 969 cubic-inch, nitrous-breathing Reher-Morrison powerplant under his classic Mustang’s hood. “We rolled in there knowing we had the goods to get in the show. We’ve been 3.64 [seconds] multiple times back home in the Midwest air. We know what we’re capable of.”
Unfortunately for Juliano and his crew, the stars didn’t quite align during qualifying, where the tightest 32-car field in doorslammer history emerged – a staggering 3.647-second bump spot that instantly cemented the event’s legendary status. Juliano posted a 3.677 at over 200 mph, which in nearly any other scenario would be right in the thick of things. But on this weekend, it landed him in the unenviable role of a spectator come eliminations.
“It’s disappointing, but not discouraging,” he insists. “We had a cam sync issue and a miss through the weekend, and when it came time to take our last shot, the nitrous purge solenoid stuck open. Just one of those weird deals you can’t plan for. But we learned a lot. We know we can run better, and trust me, we’re going to do just that.”
Even after a whirlwind weekend, by Monday morning Juliano was back at work on a construction site in Kirksville, Missouri, swapping out the roar of his Pro Mod for the hum of heavy machinery. Yet his focus remains laser-sharp on the forthcoming U.S. Street Nationals presented by M&M Transmission, the second stop on the Winter Series tour. The team’s flights are booked, accommodations are set, and they’ve got a clear roadmap to improved performance.
“We’re geared up and ready for the next one,” he says confidently. “We can go bottom 3.60s and be in the hunt. Not too shabby for some rednecks from Missouri, right?”
With the stiffest of competition waiting in the next round of the Drag Illustrated Winter Series presented by J&A Service, Juliano’s underdog story could be just what the sport needs. While he didn’t light up the scoreboard at the Snowbirds, there’s no doubt he’s earned plenty of respect and attention heading into the U.S. Street Nationals. And given the magnitude of what he’s already accomplished – battling toe-to-toe with the best in the game – there’s every reason to believe that this time, he’ll be coming out swinging and aiming for a deep race-day run.
This story was originally published on December 17, 2024.
The post Nitrous Pro Mod Racer Chris Juliano Looking to Rebound at Drag Illustrated Winter Series U.S. Street Nationals first appeared on Drag Illustrated.