{"id":97965,"date":"2025-01-09T18:18:22","date_gmt":"2025-01-09T18:18:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/racepages.com\/Videos\/drag-racing\/uncategorized\/fueltechs-luis-de-leon-dishes-on-golden-era-of-pro-mod-racing-winter-series-partnership-more\/"},"modified":"2025-01-09T18:18:22","modified_gmt":"2025-01-09T18:18:22","slug":"fueltechs-luis-de-leon-dishes-on-golden-era-of-pro-mod-racing-winter-series-partnership-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/racepages.com\/Videos\/drag-racing\/uncategorized\/fueltechs-luis-de-leon-dishes-on-golden-era-of-pro-mod-racing-winter-series-partnership-more\/","title":{"rendered":"FuelTech\u2019s Luis de Leon Dishes on \u2018Golden Era\u2019 of Pro Mod Racing, Winter Series Partnership &amp; More"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Ask anyone in the doorslammer drag racing world, and they\u2019ll tell you it\u2019s a golden era for Pro Mod. The cars are faster\u2014and more consistent\u2014than ever, and there\u2019s a convergence of talent from virtually every corner of the sport. Few people have a closer, more hands-on perspective of this than Luis de Leon, the Chief Operating Officer at FuelTech, a company quickly becoming the go-to vehicle management solution for top-tier programs.<\/p>\n<p>In light of FuelTech\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/dragillustrated.com\/fueltech-named-official-vehicle-management-system-of-the-drag-illustrated-winter-series\/\" title=\"\">newly announced role<\/a> as the Official Vehicle Management System of the Drag Illustrated Winter Series, we caught up with de Leon to discuss the partnership, the changing nature of the Pro Mod scene, and what\u2019s driving the current surge in popularity.<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u201cA Perfect Storm\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>When asked to describe the current moment in doorslammer drag racing, de Leon points to a \u201cperfect storm\u201d of passion, technology, and opportunity.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe have guys who\u2019ve spent years fine-tuning their craft, fresh talent breaking in, and a central proving ground where everyone can test themselves against the best,\u201d de Leon says. \u201cIt\u2019s the perfect environment for innovation\u2014and for fans, it\u2019s lightning in a bottle.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>According to de Leon, the Drag Illustrated Winter Series capitalizes on this momentum by bringing in teams that might rarely face each other elsewhere\u2014No Prep Kings racers, NHRA regulars, and rising independent stars looking for a shot.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The FuelTech Factor<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>So what exactly makes FuelTech different from other engine management companies? De Leon suggests it\u2019s about more than just hardware and software; it\u2019s about building a community.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe don\u2019t just sell a product. We want each racer to fully understand how to use it,\u201d he says. \u201cFrom real-time data analysis to traction control solutions, the goal is to help them go fast, go consistently, and come back ready for more. We love being at the track\u2014sometimes even helping dial in a combination in real time.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s a boots-on-the-ground approach that resonates deeply with racers. Whether it\u2019s twin-turbo Pro Mods, mechanical or EFI supercharged combos, or nitrous-fed doorslammers, FuelTech prides itself on bridging gaps across every conceivable setup.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The Technology Behind the \u201cGolden Era\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>De Leon believes technology\u2014and the willingness to share knowledge\u2014has elevated Pro Mod racing to a new level.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cA decade or two ago, these cars were notoriously unpredictable. Very rarely did you see the kind of side-by-side racing we see today,\u201d he notes. \u201cNow, between advanced electronics, incredible torque converter technology, and the expertise of tuners, we see near-record runs back-to-back. The level of professionalism is unreal.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He also points to the series\u2019 diversity, noting that both top-level \u2018hired gun\u2019 drivers and grassroots racers benefit from FuelTech\u2019s user-friendly interface and active support. Even older chassis are putting up big numbers with modern management solutions.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Synergy With Drag Illustrated<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The partnership with the Drag Illustrated Winter Series grew out of mutual respect between FuelTech and DI\u2019s founder, Wes Buck. Both share a vision of a \u201ctrue proving ground\u201d that unites top drivers and teams.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat Wes and Drag Illustrated have built is special,\u201d de Leon says. \u201cThey\u2019ve created an environment where you can see an NHRA champion go head-to-head with a No Prep Kings star or a regional hero who\u2019s been dominating on radials. For us, aligning with that energy just made sense.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>Looking Ahead<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>With FuelTech\u2019s presence ramping up at the Winter Series, de Leon expects even more cross-pollination among racers who might otherwise never share the same dragstrip. He\u2019s confident that Pro Mod\u2014and doorslammer racing as a whole\u2014is \u201cfar from peaking.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s not just the speed; it\u2019s the stories,\u201d he says. \u201cWe\u2019re seeing top-level competition, real rivalries, and genuine camaraderie. We\u2019re proud FuelTech can be a part of that, helping racers push the limits safely and consistently. It\u2019s a golden era, and we\u2019re just getting started.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>For more information on the DI Winter Series, visit\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/thewinterseries.com\/\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">www.thewinterseries.com<\/a>. To livestream the U.S. Street Nationals, check out\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/flosports.link\/4eXM9oa?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR1SDy-cZAMiA8dsCOUQeyMFZX6kec4jSO8k_CEsA5j605d9G_Gvt3vWMQg_aem_3p9MCVIHSDTgMrDEJJ4gTg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/flosports.link\/4eXM9oa<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"post-modified-info\">This story was originally published on January 9, 2025. <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/dragillustrated.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/DI_flat_red-e1711481551475.png\" width=\"20px\" alt=\"Drag Illustrated\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The post <a href=\"https:\/\/dragillustrated.com\/fueltechs-luis-de-leon-dishes-on-golden-era-of-pro-mod-racing-winter-series-partnership-more\/\">FuelTech\u2019s Luis de Leon Dishes on \u2018Golden Era\u2019 of Pro Mod Racing, Winter Series Partnership &amp; More<\/a> first appeared on <a href=\"https:\/\/dragillustrated.com\/\">Drag Illustrated<\/a>.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ask anyone in the doorslammer drag racing world, and they\u2019ll tell you it\u2019s a golden era for Pro Mod. The cars are faster\u2014and more consistent\u2014than ever, and there\u2019s a convergence of talent from virtually every corner of the sport. Few people have a closer, more hands-on perspective of this than Luis de Leon, the Chief [&hellip;]<\/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-97965","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/racepages.com\/Videos\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/97965","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=97965"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/racepages.com\/Videos\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/97965\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/racepages.com\/Videos\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=97965"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racepages.com\/Videos\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=97965"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racepages.com\/Videos\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=97965"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}