5/13/2026
Mid-West Drag Racing Series
Upsets, Heartbreak, and Triumph at the Throwdown in T-Town
The Throwdown in T-Town lived up to the hype as the "Baddest Race on The Mother Road" as the stars and cars of the Summit Racing Equipment Midwest Drag Racing Series did battle at the season opener for the historic 10th season.
The event started out thursday with the annual MWDRS Awards banquet, held at Tulsa Raceway Park this year, as the series honored the past champions. A Particular highlihgt was the presentation of the Mid-West Drag Racing Series Legacy Award, given out to the Compressed Air Supercharging team and Wade Pennington. Wade's family and friends, including reigning champions Jovee and Karlee Brundidge and Keith Youngblood.
After the rain pushed back the opening rounds of qualifying from Friday evening to Saturday morning, it was set to be a jam-packed day of racing as Stroud Safety Pro Mod opened up qualifying with a bang as Keith Haney erupted in the very first run of the day, sending his scoop flying in the air and necessitating an engine change. As the day turned into evening it was a familiar matchup that presented itself in the Pro Mod finals. Coming from opposite sides of the ladder Ryan Martin in his MWDRS debut lined up next to Shawn "Murder Nova" Ellington. Ellington's pro charged Camaro was the #1 qualifier and quickest car of the weekend (a 3.618), but he wouldn't need that speed as Martin red-lit and solved the equation, giving Shawn the win in 2 consecutive MWDRS Season-openers.
New competitors featured across all classes, and it was more apparent than ever in Fueltech Pro 4.20. A field of 10 cars competed for the race and the new prizes courtesy of R&M Trailers and Sandlian Auto Salvage. Among those making their debut were Bobby Savedra, Erwin Bush, Terry Teague, and JR Sandlian. Reigning 4.20 champion David Pierce would take it to the final round, but it was Michael Chitty who usurped the triple crown winner in the early morning hours north of Tulsa. Chitty would go 4.22 as Pierce gave a break out by .004 seconds.
It was reigning runner-up Kati Laughter who notched her first win in her MWDRS career. She follows in the footsteps of her teammate and reigning UEM Pistons Top Dragster champion Keith Youngblood, who went out in the second round. Travis Cannon, her fiance and tuner, was notably thrilled in race control after the race.
Kelvin Brown made his illustrious return to Compressed Air Supercharging Top Sportsman. The 2-Time Champion made it all the way to the finals to line up across from his team mate Tim Cunningham, in a final that saw Cunningham take home the trophy and the check. Cunningham dialed his Honey Bros Racing machine into a 4.52 and went dead on with a 1 to secure the win.
In Race Star Wheels Pro Junior it would be a McCann over Kolbi Keith final in the new 7.90 index. for Zimmerman Sportsman Junior it would be Rodgers over Holt with an 8.95 dial against an 8.97 run.
The MWDRS is in action May 28-30 as part of the Shakedown in M-Town. The race will feature the baddest in the Radial world, as well as MWDRS Pro Mod, Top Dragster, and Top Sportsman.
Article Credit: Luke Clevenger
Submitted By: Luke Clevenger
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