{"id":99422,"date":"2025-03-12T15:18:28","date_gmt":"2025-03-12T15:18:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/racepages.com\/Videos\/drag-racing\/uncategorized\/wsopm-2025-the-25-best-worst-and-wildest-moments\/"},"modified":"2025-03-12T15:18:28","modified_gmt":"2025-03-12T15:18:28","slug":"wsopm-2025-the-25-best-worst-and-wildest-moments","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/racepages.com\/Videos\/drag-racing\/uncategorized\/wsopm-2025-the-25-best-worst-and-wildest-moments\/","title":{"rendered":"WSOPM 2025: The 25 Best, Worst and Wildest Moments"},"content":{"rendered":"

We came, we saw, we unleashed an armada of door cars on Bradenton Motorsports Park \u2014 and if you missed it, you missed history. The 2025 Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod delivered on its promise of more cars, more money, and more energy than ever before. From a WWE legend hyping the crowds to father-daughter qualifiers, from monstrous payouts to massive heartbreak, here are the 25 Best, Worst, and Wildest Moments from the biggest Pro Mod race on Earth.<\/p>\n

1. BEST: \u201cThe Mouth of the South\u201d Flips the Switch<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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When WWE Hall of Famer Jimmy Hart took center stage as Grand Marshal, he brought the kind of over-the-top energy only \u201cThe Mouth of the South\u201d can deliver. Decked out with his signature megaphone, Hart officially kicked off the festivities \u2014 and let\u2019s be honest, his decibel level, even at his age, is not too far off that which is created by these 3,000-plus horsepower Pro Mods.<\/p>\n

2. SCARIEST: Scott Palmer Walks Away From a Terrifying Top-End Crash<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Few sights will make a drag racing crowd hold its breath like a tumbling Pro Mod at the far end. Veteran Scott Palmer\u2019s throttle stuck near the finish line, sending his car past the shutdown area and flipping into the strawberry field beyond. Miraculously, Palmer climbed out under his own power, and immediately addressed DI Winter Series Official Starter, Randy Lee, who was quick to the scene, saying, \u201cWas that spectacular or what?\u201d Later speaking with Drag Illustrated<\/em>, Palmer credited his safety gear. \u201cI\u2019ll be sore, but I\u2019m just glad we\u2019re OK,\u201d he quipped afterward, squashing any rumors he\u2019s done with Pro Mod: \u201cI won\u2019t. I\u2019ll be back.\u201d<\/p>\n

3. BEST: The Biggest Pro Mod Race of All Time (83 Cars!)<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Eighty-three entries. Thirty-two precious qualifying spots. This year\u2019s World Series of Pro Mod was hands down the largest and fiercest door-car showdown we\u2019ve ever seen. The pits were overloaded with world-class teams, and heartbreak was inevitable for those that didn\u2019t make the cut. From a fan\u2019s perspective, those qualifying sessions were pure, nail-biting drama \u2014 the kind of buzz you\u2019d normally see in a final round, but on repeat for every single run. The tension on the starting line was like a championship fight, with teams practically holding their breath as the scoreboard lit up. Hats off to those who scored a spot in the quickest field in history, and maybe an even bigger salute to the ones who laid it all on the line and came up short. It takes some serious guts to throw down on this stage.<\/p>\n

4. BEST: Quickest Pro Mod Field in History<\/strong><\/h3>\n

As if 83 cars weren\u2019t enough, the 32 qualifiers formed the fastest bump in Pro Mod history, with Tommy Franklin\u2019s 3.637-second pass nabbing the final slot. Consider that a 3.682 made the field just two years ago, but this time around it wouldn\u2019t have even sniffed the top 58. Everything about 2025 was next-level.<\/p>\n

5. WILDEST: Mark Micke Sets Both Ends of the Winter Series Records<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Luke Nieuwhof photos<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

They say lightning doesn\u2019t strike twice, but apparently no one told Mark Micke. Not only did he streak to his 13th consecutive No. 1 qualifier, he also uncorked a series-best 3.566 during eliminations at the U.S. Street Nationals and a 223.65 mph blast in eliminations at WSOPM to claim both ends of the DI Winter Series record. Interesting side note: Mark Micke is the first-ever Drag Illustrated Winter Series record-holder.\u00a0<\/p>\n

6. BEST: Ken Quartuccio Clinches the Inaugural DI Winter Series Championship<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Luke Nieuwhof photos<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Winter Series points battle ended exactly how many suspected: with Connecticut\u2019s own Ken Quartuccio hoisting the championship cup. Starting with a runner-up at Snowbirds, a Pro Mod win at U.S. Street Nationals, and a solid outing at WSOPM, Quartuccio was on a hot streak \u2013 and that also includes a huge win in Radial vs. the World competition at Donald Long\u2019s Lights Out shootout a couple weeks ago in Georgia. He took home the $25,000 championship bonus, a custom championship ring from Jostens, a massive championship trophy from Blue Ribbon Awards, and enough bragging rights to last all year (if not forever). \u201cThis is important,\u201d Quartuccio said. \u201cBut the friendships and families we\u2019ve made here? That\u2019s unstoppable.\u201d<\/p>\n

7. WILDEST: Kye Kelley vs. Mark Micke: A Round 1 Showdown<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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In typical WSOPM fashion, the chip draw was pure drama. When No. 1 qualifier Mark Micke pulled out a chip that paired him with Street Outlaws star Kye Kelley, a collective gasp rippled through the pits. These two had points implications and fierce pride on the line. It was a marquee match for the ages \u2014 and it happened in the first round, no less. There\u2019s nowhere else in the world fans could see a matchup like this where worlds truly collide.<\/p>\n

8. BEST: Stevie \u201cFast\u201d Jackson Makes First WSOPM Final<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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It seems wild that a name like Stevie Jackson didn\u2019t have a World Series of Pro Mod final appearance under his belt, but that streak ended here in 2025. He marched through heavy-hitting lanes en route to Sunday\u2019s big dance before coming up just short. Knowing Stevie, he\u2019ll probably be back next year, hungrier than ever.<\/p>\n

9. BIGGEST: $150,000 Payout Headlines the Richest Pro Mod Race in History<\/strong><\/h3>\n

It\u2019s called the World Series of Pro Mod for a reason \u2014 and a big chunk of that is the massive payday at the end. This year, $150,000 to the winner set a new benchmark. Sure, it\u2019s \u201cjust money,\u201d but try telling that to the drivers lining up in the final. A single .001-second margin can separate you from a life-changing check (just ask new champ Steve King).<\/p>\n

10. BEST: Steve King Crowned 2025 WSOPM Champion by .001<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Speaking of: Steve King etched his name in the history books when he sealed the final over Stevie Jackson by a razor-thin .001 seconds. That\u2019s a literal blink. After falling early at the first two Winter Series events, King persevered and showed that with the right pass at the right time, your entire season can flip in one day. \u201cThis old guy with a twang has no words,\u201d King posted later. \u201cJust crazy.\u201d<\/p>\n

11. WORST: Betting Favorite Jason Harris Falls in the Semis<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Multi-time champion Jason Harris stormed into the weekend looking like a surefire bet. He was a top qualifier, posted monstrous speeds, and had the hunger to claim the $150,000. Then came the dreaded semifinal exit. Still, Harris showed once again why he\u2019s a lethal competitor, finishing the weekend as one of the \u201cwhat ifs\u201d of 2025.<\/p>\n

12. BEST: Johnny Pluchino Finally Gets His MMPSI Win<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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After knocking on the door with semifinals and runner-ups, Johnny Pluchino at last captured victory in the Mountain Motor Pro Stock Invitational. He stayed consistent in the heat, then turned it up at night, outrunning the best the class could throw at him. \u201cYou don\u2019t want to pull this orange car in the chip draw,\u201d Pluchino joked, and he proved that in spades.<\/p>\n

13. WILDEST: Mike Bowman\u2019s Return to Form<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Mike Bowman\u2019s storied WSOPM history includes a Cinderella win back in 2017, but the last few years were less than kind. That changed when Bowman hustled his twin-turbo \u201969 Chevelle to a 3.58 in qualifying and went rounds again. In a field as murderous as this one, Bowman\u2019s performance had longtime fans cheering, \u201cHe\u2019s back!\u201d<\/p>\n

14. BEST: Victor Alvarez Briefly Goes No. 1 in His Pro Mod Debut<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Talk about a hometown hero moment. Bradenton co-owner Victor Alvarez strapped into his brand-new twin-turbo \u201969 Camaro, fired off a 3.61 in Q1, and spent much of the session atop the timing sheets. Ultimately, he got bumped down, but for a local promoter stepping into Pro Mod for the first time, that short-lived No. 1 was a massive statement.<\/p>\n

15. WILDEST: Jason Harris, Jay Cox Meet Again<\/strong><\/h3>\n

If you follow PDRA Pro Nitrous, you know these two have tangoed more times than we can count. So, of course the random chip draw forced them to collide in Round 1 at the biggest race on earth. Staging duels, burnouts, and downright menacing body language \u2014 it was a barnburner. No matter how many times they square off, it never gets old.<\/p>\n

16. BEST: Father-Daughter Power: Tommy Franklin & Amber Denton Qualify<\/strong><\/h3>\n

It\u2019s one thing to qualify in the quickest Pro Mod field in history. It\u2019s another thing entirely for a dad and his daughter to do it side by side, both in nitrous-assisted Camaros, both running stout 3.63\u20133.64 passes. Tommy Franklin\u2019s known for big-stage success, but watching Amber Denton seal her spot in the field was a highlight for fans and family alike.<\/p>\n

17. WILDEST: Pro 10.5 Delivers Chaos & Carinci\u2019s Surprise No. 1<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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The second annual Pro 10.5 Challenge was pure old-school mania: turbos, blowers, and nitrous combos all jammed onto a small tire for $25,000. After an up-and-down test day, Canada\u2019s John Carinci fired off a 3.90 at 205 mph under the lights to shock the field and claim the top spot. One missed shift or lost tune-up, and you\u2019re going home early in this class.<\/p>\n

18. BEST: Hailey Hawkins Scores First Top Dragster Win<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Top Dragster might not grab the same headlines as Pro Mod, but Hailey Hawkins\u2019 first career TD victory was downright inspirational. With $50,000 on the line, the 22-year-old was ice-cold on the tree, knocking out seasoned vets left and right. The final round was not short on drama, as opponent Lucas Salemi suffered a mechanical failure in the burnout, while a bad fuse killed Hawkins\u2019 car before she could stage. Her crew swapped in a new fuse, she staged, and she collected the big check.\u00a0<\/p>\n

19. WORST: The Heartbreak of Missing the Cut<\/strong><\/h3>\n

In a field of 83 Pro Mods, more than 50 top-notch teams never saw race day. Folks like multi-time winners, top-tier tuners, and local heroes all fired their best shots and landed short. Any time a 3.68 can\u2019t even crack the top 50, you know heartbreak is in the air. \u201cThis is the deepest field I\u2019ve ever been in,\u201d one dejected tuner said. \u201cNo freebies here.\u201d<\/p>\n

20. BEST: Lil Gangstas & Jimmy Dale\u2019s $25,000 Victory<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Who says grassroots racers don\u2019t belong in the spotlight? The Lil Gangstas class made its WSOPM debut with a whopping $25K on the line \u2014 the biggest payout in the class\u2019s young history. Jimmy Dale stole the show and the check, adding his over-the-top persona to one wild winner\u2019s circle celebration.\u00a0<\/p>\n

21. BEST: Glenn Butcher & Russ Whitlock Steal the Spotlight in Top Sportsman & Top Dragster Qualifying<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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The second annual Intercontinental Top Sportsman and Top Dragster races were also jam-packed. Glenn Butcher threw down a 3.83 in his \u201969 Camaro to lead Top Sportsman, while Russ Whitlock topped TD with a 3.88 in his ProCharged dragster. They both carried that momentum into eliminations and showed exactly why these \u201csupport\u201d classes continue to light up the scoreboard.<\/p>\n

22. WILDEST: The Unpredictable Chip Draw<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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In typical WSOPM fashion, the bracket was anything but predictable. From No. 1 vs. No. 2 qualifier in Pro Mod to mid-pack monsters lining up in the semis, the random chip draw left fans and racers in a perpetual state of \u201cOh no, not them in Round 1!\u201d Whether you love or hate it, the drama is off the charts.<\/p>\n

23. BEST: Kallee Mills & Blake Denton Shine in Pro 10.5<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Pro 10.5 was more than just Carinci\u2019s show. Rising star Kallee Mills clocked mid-3.90s in her turbocharged ride, while Blake Denton steered the late Lizzy Musi\u2019s famed \u201cBonnie\u201d \u201969 Camaro to a 3.95. Both ended up going rounds, proving that 10.5 remains a thrilling, fan-favorite class with some all-time stories still to come.<\/p>\n

24. WILDEST: The Stats That Defy Belief<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Consider this: 2023\u2019s No. 1 qualifier (3.626) from Johnny Camp would have barely made the top 32 this year. Meanwhile, Tommy Franklin\u2019s 3.637 would have been good for No. 2 in 2023 \u2014 but here, it was the bump. The competition soared so high that we\u2019re left wondering what on earth 2026 might look like. Strap in, folks.<\/p>\n

25. BEST: A Dream Come True\u2026For Now<\/strong><\/h3>\n

As Ken Quartuccio put it, \u201cThis is a dream come true for me\u2026this is what everyone aspires for.\u201d That sentiment was echoed by every winner, every champion, and even those who packed up early after DNQing. This year\u2019s World Series of Pro Mod embodied everything that makes drag racing so electrifying \u2014 the unpredictability, the madness, the horsepower, and the heart.<\/p>\n

WRAPPING IT UP<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The 2025 World Series of Pro Mod proved once again that when you combine sky-high payouts, random chip draws, and a sprawling cast of 80-plus hungry teams, you get a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle. Records fell, legends rose, heartbreaks abounded, and new stars were born. If you missed it, well, consider this your highlight reel \u2014 and a warning: next year promises to be even bigger, faster, and wilder. We\u2019ll see you at Bradenton in 2026, where anything can happen\u2026 and probably will.<\/p>\n

This story was originally published on March 12, 2025. \"Drag<\/p>\n

The post WSOPM 2025: The 25 Best, Worst and Wildest Moments<\/a> first appeared on Drag Illustrated<\/a>.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

We came, we saw, we unleashed an armada of door cars on Bradenton Motorsports Park \u2014 and if you missed it, you missed history. The 2025 Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod delivered on its promise of more cars, more money, and more energy than ever before. From a WWE legend hyping the crowds […]<\/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-99422","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/racepages.com\/Videos\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/99422","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=99422"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/racepages.com\/Videos\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/99422\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/racepages.com\/Videos\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=99422"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racepages.com\/Videos\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=99422"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racepages.com\/Videos\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=99422"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}