{"id":98130,"date":"2025-01-21T16:18:23","date_gmt":"2025-01-21T16:18:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/racepages.com\/Videos\/drag-racing\/uncategorized\/mike-bowmans-turbocharged-return-from-procharger-to-turbos-at-the-di-winter-series\/"},"modified":"2025-01-21T16:18:23","modified_gmt":"2025-01-21T16:18:23","slug":"mike-bowmans-turbocharged-return-from-procharger-to-turbos-at-the-di-winter-series","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/racepages.com\/Videos\/drag-racing\/uncategorized\/mike-bowmans-turbocharged-return-from-procharger-to-turbos-at-the-di-winter-series\/","title":{"rendered":"Mike Bowman\u2019s Turbocharged Return: From ProCharger to Turbos at the DI Winter Series"},"content":{"rendered":"

Mike Bowman, the 2017 World Series of Pro Mod Champion, has never been one to back down from a challenge. The Oak Hills, California native, well-known for his skill and determination, set out on a bold new path after competing in the Snowbird Outlaw Nationals presented by Motion Raceworks, the first race in the DI Winter Series presented by J&A Service trilogy at Bradenton Motorsports Park. Bowman\u2019s preparation for the U.S. Street Nationals was more than just routine maintenance\u2014it was a full-scale transformation of his beloved \u201969 Chevelle.<\/p>\n

After years of running a ProCharger combination, Bowman made the bittersweet decision to return to his turbocharged roots. Over the course of the break between races, Bowman dedicated himself to switching the car\u2019s power adder to a twin-turbocharged setup.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Working tirelessly\u2014sometimes for 12 to 14 hours a day\u2014Bowman handled the mechanical and fabrication work himself, showcasing his technical knowledge and fabrication work.<\/p>\n

Back to Turbos: A Bittersweet Transition<\/strong><\/p>\n

For Bowman, the switch to turbos was both exciting and nostalgic, albeit tinged with a sense of loss. \u201cThe ProCharger guys were really good to me,\u201d Bowman said in a video on his Facebook channel<\/a>. \u201cI didn\u2019t think I\u2019d miss the loud blower motor, but I kind of do. The responsiveness of the motor was incredible. But the sweet part of this change is going back to turbos. Everyone knows I\u2019m a turbo guy, all the way back to 2002.\u201d<\/p>\n

This return to turbos wasn\u2019t just about familiarity\u2014it was about chasing performance. With Harts turbos on board, Bowman expressed excitement about the potential for his Chevelle to dominate on the track once again.<\/p>\n

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Challenges in the Workshop<\/strong><\/p>\n

The road to U.S. Street Nationals wasn\u2019t without its hurdles. Bowman faced a major setback when he discovered a broken stud in the engine block during the teardown.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Extracting the stud, cleaning the block, and reassembling the engine added unplanned time and effort to an already tight schedule. \u201cI thought I had five weeks, but it turned out to be four. Losing that week made me dig even harder,\u201d he explained. \u201cIt was a good thing I did because we were working right up until the last minute.\u201d<\/p>\n

Despite the challenges, Bowman had the support of his family\u2014Kayla, Cassidy, and his wife Kristy\u2014who encouraged him through late nights in the garage. \u201cI haven\u2019t been very present, but I make time to barbecue a steak now and then,\u201d he joked.<\/p>\n

The Tightest Field in Doorslammer History<\/strong><\/p>\n

When the Snowbird Outlaw Nationals rolled around, Bowman and his crew were ready. However, they were met with an exceptionally fierce field\u2014the tightest 32-car lineup in doorslammer history. The event\u2019s staggering 3.647-second bump spot cemented its legendary status, and despite Bowman\u2019s best efforts, his 3.677 at 198.20 mph left him just short, landing in the No. 47 spot.<\/p>\n

Reflecting on the competition, Bowman praised his fellow racers. \u201cThey\u2019re all certified badasses,\u201d he said. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t really matter who you line up against; it\u2019s going to be a tight race. Everyone\u2019s fast.\u201d<\/p>\n

Looking Ahead: Goals and Excitement<\/strong><\/p>\n

Though qualifying didn\u2019t go as planned, Bowman remains optimistic. His primary goals for the DI Winter Series are clear: qualify, win rounds, and, ultimately, aim for another World Series of Pro Mod title\u2014a feat no driver has accomplished twice.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThat would be huge,\u201d Bowman said. \u201cI just have to take it one round at a time, stay focused, and make it happen.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bowman is particularly excited about the new turbo setup in his Chevelle. \u201cI\u2019m looking forward to letting go of the button and feeling the car at a couple hundred feet when the lock-up comes on. I\u2019ve never had a lock-up before, and I\u2019m excited to feel the car pull 3Gs and makeup ET in the middle of the run.\u201d<\/p>\n

His ET goal for the U.S. Street Nationals? A solid 3.58. \u201cI think that\u2019s totally possible,\u201d he said confidently. \u201cI\u2019ve got Steve Petty, Mark Micke, Chris Bell, and the best support team anyone could ask for. We\u2019re ready to make it happen.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Mental Game<\/strong><\/p>\n

For Bowman, the mental preparation is as crucial as the mechanical. \u201cPressure doesn\u2019t bother me,\u201d he said. \u201cI focus on each round as it comes. Once I get in the burnout box, I\u2019m not nervous. I just do my thing\u2014cut a good light and run fast. If you don\u2019t cut a light at these races, you\u2019re going home.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Road Ahead<\/strong><\/p>\n

As Bowman looks ahead to the DI Winter Series, he remains committed to excellence, both on and off the track. The 2,600-mile, 44-hour journey to the Bradenton Motorsports Park is always a haul, but Bowman is ready for the challenge.\u00a0<\/p>\n

He\u2019s also looking forward to his daughters competing in Junior Dragsters at the final installment of the DI Winter Series, the World Series of Pro Mod.<\/p>\n

To purchase tickets to the U.S. Street Nationals presented by M&M Transmission, visit\u00a0www.thewinterseries.com<\/a>. To livestream the U.S. Street Nationals, check out\u00a0https:\/\/flosports.link\/4eXM9oa<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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This story was originally published on January 21, 2025. \"Drag<\/p>\n

The post Mike Bowman\u2019s Turbocharged Return: From ProCharger to Turbos at the DI Winter Series<\/a> first appeared on Drag Illustrated<\/a>.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Mike Bowman, the 2017 World Series of Pro Mod Champion, has never been one to back down from a challenge. The Oak Hills, California native, well-known for his skill and determination, set out on a bold new path after competing in the Snowbird Outlaw Nationals presented by Motion Raceworks, the first race in the DI […]<\/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-98130","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/racepages.com\/Videos\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98130","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=98130"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/racepages.com\/Videos\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98130\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/racepages.com\/Videos\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=98130"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racepages.com\/Videos\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=98130"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racepages.com\/Videos\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=98130"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}