{"id":101323,"date":"2025-06-20T21:18:23","date_gmt":"2025-06-20T21:18:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/racepages.com\/Videos\/drag-racing\/uncategorized\/drag-illustrated-pound-for-pound-pro-mod-rankings-erupt-with-new-king-and-fresh-blood\/"},"modified":"2025-06-20T21:18:23","modified_gmt":"2025-06-20T21:18:23","slug":"drag-illustrated-pound-for-pound-pro-mod-rankings-erupt-with-new-king-and-fresh-blood","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/racepages.com\/Videos\/drag-racing\/uncategorized\/drag-illustrated-pound-for-pound-pro-mod-rankings-erupt-with-new-king-and-fresh-blood\/","title":{"rendered":"Drag Illustrated Pound-for-Pound Pro Mod Rankings Erupt with New King and Fresh Blood"},"content":{"rendered":"

Drag Illustrated\u2019s Pound-for-Pound Pro Mod Rankings are back with a seismic shakeup, unveiling a blazing Top 20 update that spotlights drag racing\u2019s fiercest competitors across NHRA, PDRA, DI Winter Series, MWDRS, and beyond. Fueled by xAI\u2019s advanced AI and sharpened by the gritty instincts of Pro Mod\u2019s top insiders, this list flips the script \u2013 JR Gray seizes the throne, new faces storm the ranks, and veterans face the heat.<\/p>\n

Released today, the updated Top 20 is a powder keg: JR Gray rockets to No. 1 with back-to-back NHRA wins at Charlotte\u2019s Four-Wide and the Thunder Valley Nationals, backed by six low ET performances, while Mike Stavrinos holds No. 2 with what has been an absolutely relentless NHRA campaign. Rising stars like PDRA Pro Nitrous\u2019 Marcus Butner and Pro Boost\u2019s Ty Tutterow crash the top 10, with Butner\u2019s Mid-Atlantic triumph and Tutterow\u2019s North-South Shootout victory turning heads. Ken Quartuccio, stung by recent red-lights, slips to No. 5, while rookie Amber Denton and defending Pro Nitrous world champion Fredy Scriba muscle into No. 20 and No. 19, respectively, fueled by their impressive efforts in PDRA competition.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re blown away by the buzz around the P4P rankings,\u201d said Wes Buck, Drag Illustrated Founder and Editorial Director. \u201cThis isn\u2019t just about crowning the baddest in drag racing \u2013 it\u2019s about igniting debate and excitement. The feedback from fans, drivers, team owners, and sponsors is electric, and we\u2019re loving every second of it.\u201d<\/p>\n

This update marks version 2.0 of the rankings model, refined with new metrics to highlight setup mastery and performance under pressure since its debut on April 16, 2025. The payoff? J.R. Gray\u2019s string of back-breaking runs and 0.040s reaction-time average crown him king, Stavrinos\u2019 impressive run keeps him in the hunt, and Tutterow\u2019s blistering 0.019s average on the starting line signals a breakout. The mock panel, guided by 300+ pages of research poured into xAI\u2019s model, also weighed in, elevating Butner and Denton for their PDRA surges.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve tweaked the math and dug deeper into the data since launching on April 16,\u201d Buck added. \u201cVersion 2.0 is evolving, and with 15 races now in play, the conversation\u2019s hotter than ever.\u201d<\/p>\n

Spanning a packed 15-event slate \u2013 from the eighth-mile fury of the DI Winter Series to NHRA\u2019s quarter-mile showdowns and PDRA\u2019s gritty battles \u2013 the P4P Rankings unearth the drivers defining Pro Mod\u2019s relentless spirit. Big movers like Gray, Tutterow, and Butner, alongside veterans like Quartuccio and Rickie Smith, keep the debate raging on DragIllustrated.com, social media, and The Wes Buck Show.<\/p>\n

\u201cKeeping this chatter alive is the most important thing,\u201d Buck said. \u201cThis Top 20 ensures Pro Mod stays the hottest topic in drag racing, day in and day out. And, admittedly, it\u2019s debatable \u2013 a strong case can be made for almost all of these guys and gals to be higher, lower, what have you. That\u2019s what makes it fun and exciting.\u201d<\/p>\n

2025 Drag Illustrated Pound-for-Pound Pro Mod Top 20 Rankings<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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No. 1 \u2013 J.R. Gray<\/strong> \u2013 Longtime grudge racer and Pro Mod contender claims the top spot with NHRA wins in Charlotte and Bristol, six low ETs, a 0.040s RT average, and an altogether dominant run over 6 races. Al-Anabi Racing\u2019s collective firepower makes him Pro Mod\u2019s new king.<\/p>\n

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No. 2 \u2013 Mike Stavrinos<\/strong> \u2013 NHRA\u2019s fresh-faced star holds No. 2 with final round appearances in Gainesville, Phoenix, and Bristol, six low ETs, and a 0.038s RT average, driving a revitalized Al-Anabi Racing\u2019s relentless charge.<\/p>\n

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Melanie Salemi<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

No. 3 \u2013 Melanie Salemi<\/strong> \u2013 The queen of the Professional Drag Racers Association is inarguably amongst the absolute best leavers in drag racing, and the performance of the Jon, Jim and Evan Salemi-tuned supercharged \u201968 Pontiac Firebird makes her one of the scariest matchups in the sport today.<\/p>\n

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No. 4 \u2013 Kurt Steding<\/strong> \u2013 The pride of Carnegie, Pennsylvania is quietly climbing the ranks with an undeniably hot start to the PDRA season. His family-based operation, led by tuner Todd Tutterow, has their sights set on a championship in 2025, and 0.643 winning percentage is proof-positive they\u2019re well on their way. He\u2019s an animal on the starting line, too, as evident by his .027-second average.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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No. 5 \u2013 Ken Quartuccio<\/strong> \u2013 The unshakable titan slips to No. 5 after a couple stumbles early in the season, but his historic showing during the Drag Illustrated Winter Series, consistently fast Steve Petty-tuned hot rod, and 0.041s RT average keep him and the Scott Tidwell Motorsports team in the fight.<\/p>\n

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No. 6 \u2013 Steve King<\/strong> \u2013 The reigning WSOPM champion holds No. 6 with his career-defining victory in Bradenton and recent PDRA Pro Boost final round appearance. A legitimate big-stage veteran with a .038s RT average, the Pilot Racing wheelman is a force to be reckoned with.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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No. 7 \u2013 Ty Tutterow<\/strong> \u2013 The \u201cLumberjack\u201d surges to No. 7 with a North-South Shootout Pro Boost win, a blistering 0.019s RT average, and the grit of a legitimate touring pro. The son of Pro Mod icon Todd Tutterow is 9-4 headed toward July and there\u2019s little chance he slows down.<\/p>\n

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No. 8 \u2013 Jason Harris<\/strong> \u2013 The PDRA superstar climbs to No. 8 on the back of multiple deep-round runs and a stunning 0.024s RT average. Racing alongside his father, Bob, Jason \u201cParty Time\u201d Harris is due to make big moves headed into the second-half of the traditional drag racing season.<\/p>\n

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No. 9 \u2013 Marcus Butner<\/strong> \u2013 The Pro Nitrous standout bursts in at No. 9 with a PDRA Mid-Atlantic Nationals win, two low ETs, and a 0.042s RT average. Crew chief and tuner Jay Cox has the nitrous oxide-injected Camaro in top form, as demonstrated by Butner\u2019s No. 2 spot in the PDRA Pro Nitrous points standings.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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No. 10 \u2013 Lyle Barnett<\/strong> \u2013 Despite his status as one of drag racing\u2019s most versatile drivers, Lyle Barnett drops to No. 10. His 0.026s RT average remains top-of-class, and the Tommy Youmans Racing camp\u2019s collective willingness and ability to crossover to various sanctions, series and events will see him remain in the mix for the foreseeable future.<\/p>\n

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No. 11 \u2013 Rickie Smith<\/strong> \u2013 \u201cTricky Rickie\u201d holds No. 11 with Thunder Valley and Route 66 finals, a 0.053s RT average, and an undeniable veteran edge in his nitrous-powered J&A Service\/Parkway Ford Mustang.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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No. 12 \u2013 Mark Micke<\/strong> \u2013 Pro Mod\u2019s king of speed stays No. 12 with three-out-of-three Winter Series top qualifier awards a .037s RT average, he and his twin-turbo\u2019d \u201869 Camaro still represent the most feared duos in doorslammer racing.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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No. 13 \u2013 Tommy Franklin<\/strong> \u2013 The Pro Nitrous veteran holds No. 13 with consistent front-running performance and a 0.026s RT average.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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No. 14 \u2013 Johnny Camp<\/strong> \u2013 The PDRA Pro Boost star stays No. 14 behind an incredibly strong start to the PDRA season, a 0.023s RT, and steady performance.<\/p>\n

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Luke Nieuwhof photo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

No. 15 \u2013 Jeff Rudolf<\/strong> \u2013 The Shakedown Sensation enters the DI Pound-for-Pound rankings at No. 15 with his victory in Michigan and a 0.038s RT average over five races.<\/p>\n

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David Hilner photo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

No. 16 \u2013 Kye Kelley<\/strong> \u2013 The 2024 Snowbird Outlaw Nationals champion holds No. 16 with his Snowbird win and a 0.027s RT across the DI Winter Series, his star power burning bright.<\/p>\n

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No. 17 \u2013 Scott Lang<\/strong> \u2013 The Big Dog himself drops to No. 17 with a Big Dog win, three low ETs passes, and a 0.026s RT average.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Jen Lynn photo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

No. 18 \u2013 Mason Wright<\/strong> \u2013 The Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Series frontrunner enters the rankings at No. 18 with a Route 66 win, 1 low ET, and a 0.055s RT, his five-race surge notable.<\/p>\n

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No. 19 \u2013 Fredy Scriba<\/strong> \u2013 The defending PDRA Nitrous Champ joins at No. 19 with a North-South Shootout win, a race car that is consistent as the day is long and a 0.023s RT average.<\/p>\n

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No. 20 \u2013 Amber Denton<\/strong> \u2013 The PDRA Pro Nitrous rookie sensation and points leader enters the rankings at No. 20 on the heels of a final round appearance and a .047s RT average as we approach the midway point of the season.<\/p>\n

Drag Illustrated remains at the forefront, meticulously tracking the most competitive Pro Mod racing events worldwide across 15 top-tier races, building an incredible data set that captures the sport\u2019s essence. Leveraging cutting-edge technology, including xAI\u2019s advanced AI, these rankings ignite passion at tracks, shops, and online, setting the stage for the next DI Winter Series showdown.<\/p>\n

This story was originally published on June 20, 2025. \"Drag<\/p>\n

The post Drag Illustrated Pound-for-Pound Pro Mod Rankings Erupt with New King and Fresh Blood<\/a> first appeared on Drag Illustrated<\/a>.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Drag Illustrated\u2019s Pound-for-Pound Pro Mod Rankings are back with a seismic shakeup, unveiling a blazing Top 20 update that spotlights drag racing\u2019s fiercest competitors across NHRA, PDRA, DI Winter Series, MWDRS, and beyond. Fueled by xAI\u2019s advanced AI and sharpened by the gritty instincts of Pro Mod\u2019s top insiders, this list flips the script \u2013 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-101323","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/racepages.com\/Videos\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/101323","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/racepages.com\/Videos\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/racepages.com\/Videos\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racepages.com\/Videos\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racepages.com\/Videos\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=101323"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/racepages.com\/Videos\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/101323\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/racepages.com\/Videos\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=101323"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racepages.com\/Videos\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=101323"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racepages.com\/Videos\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=101323"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}