NHRA Sets Pro Mod Schedule For ’23, Specialty Classes & Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series At National Events

Story By: NHRA – INDIANAPOLIS, IN – NHRA has released the 2023 schedule for the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series, as well as specialty classes and all Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series categories competing at NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series national events next year.

The NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series will open in Gainesville, the first of 10 races in the 2023 campaign. The action-packed class will race at the four-wide event in Charlotte and make its debut at both Route 66 Raceway in Chicago and also New England Dragway in Epping.

Those two first-time appearances are part of a five-race stretch that also includes a return trip to Bristol and an event in Norwalk, before a break until Brainerd. After a race in St. Louis, the season finale will also move back to Las Vegas in late October.

Top Fuel Motorcycle, which includes the record-breaking Larry “Spiderman” McBride, thrilled fans at two stops in 2022 and will race at Chicago and Topeka next season.

The Mountain Motor Pro Stock class, featuring exciting and powerful 800-plus cubic-inch engines, will compete at six events in 2022, starting at Chicago and also races at Epping, Denver, Topeka, either the fall Charlotte race or St. Louis, and Dallas.

In the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, both Top Alcohol Funny Car and Top Alcohol Dragster will compete at 14 national events, with Top Dragster and Top Sportsman racing at 18 races apiece. Super Stock, Stock, Super Comp and Super Gas will be contested at all 21 national events, with Comp taking place at 17 races and Super Street taking part at seven events on the national scene in 2023.

TOP ALCOHOL CLASSES ADDED TO POPULAR CLEETUS AND CARS EVENT IN INDY

NHRA Top Alcohol Dragsters and Top Alcohol Funny Cars will be a featured attraction during the popular Cleetus and Cars at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park. The two premiere Lucas Oil Series classes will race for a full regional payout and NHRA championship points during the unique event, scheduled for May 6-7, 2023. The addition of the alcohol classes to Cleetus and Cars will help to expose the exciting Lucas Oil Series categories to a new and enthusiastic fan base.

“We believe that adding the alcohol classes to Cleetus and Cars is a creative idea that offers a lot of positives,” said Kasey Coler, NHRA Vice President of Track Management and Operations. “Cleetus and Cars is a well-attended event with a lot of fans who may not be familiar with traditional NHRA race cars. We believe they’ll be very impressed and entertained by the addition of 270-mph alcohol cars. Secondly, I think the alcohol racers will be equally as impressed by the atmosphere of a Cleetus and Cars event.”

“The North Central Division is proud to be part of this event,” added William Tharpe, NHRA North Central Division Director. “Over the last couple of seasons, we have tried to be creative when it comes to growing the series and increasing awareness and this has to be the best idea yet. Having the chance to showcase the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Top Alcohol Dragsters and Funny Cars on this stage could only be rivaled by the Dodge Power Brokers U.S. Nationals on Labor Day Weekend. We are looking forward to the Cleetus and Cars event and seeing what other opportunities this could lead to in the future.”

Cleetus and Cars is the brainchild of internet sensation Garrett Mitchell, better known to his legions of fans as Cleetus McFarland. McFarland has over 3 million subscribers to his YouTube channel and is also the owner and operator of the Freedom Factory, a paved 3/8-mile oval track in his hometown of Bradenton, Fla. McFarland often takes his unique brand of high horsepower entertainment on the road with Cleetus and Cars, an event that features drag racing, burnout contests, and a lot more. The Indianapolis event will also include the Indy 800, a special event on the IRP oval track featuring a fleet of identically prepared Ford Crown Victoria cars. In addition to a large on-site fans base, Cleetus and Cars events offer live streaming to fans across the world.

Over the last three seasons, Cleetus and Cars has grown to become one of the most popular events held at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, and the addition of Top Alcohol Dragsters and Top Alcohol Funny Cars is sure to add value for the fans and fuel additional growth. McFarland, who is well known for out-of-the box thinking when it comes to Motorsports entertainment, is thrilled to be adding a pair of championship classes to his event.

“Burnouts, street cars, Crown Vic’s and Alcohol Dragsters and Funny Cars; Does it get any better than this?” said McFarland, whose own fleet of race cars includes “Mullet” a six-second street legal Chevy El Camino and “Leroy” a bodyless Chevy Corvette that is also capable of six-second performances. “We are always striving to overdeliver at our events. People are gonna love these things.”

Mark your calendar for Cleetus & Cars and Indy 800 featuring Top Alcohol Dragsters and Funny Cars at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, May 6-7, 2023.