It worked out impressively well for the MWDRS and the series turned in an entertaining summer with a number of outstanding performances . The series also debuted Top Alcohol Funny Car , offering big-time purses and bringing in a wealth of talent . Nobody , though , could top Sean Bellemeur , the TAFC standout who was the class champion in the Mid-West Drag Racing Series .

He won two events right off the bat – racing in his first-ever eighth-mile TAFC events – and held on for a championship that meant a lot to him during an unprecedented 2020 campaign .

“ Being the 2020 champion in the Mid-West Drag Racing Series , it reaches a whole new level of awesome in my drag racing career ,” Bellemeur says . “ The people , the fans , the tracks , the venues , it all has been so much fun . The money helps , but that ’ s why you see the best in the world come here . The fact we came away as the champion , can ’ t say enough about it . I can ’ t wait to race more and more .”

The class offered huge $ 20,000 payouts to the winner , which drew the immediate attention of Bellemeur and team owner Tony Bartone . At the season finale , the two-time NHRA TAFC world champ noted the past five world champions were in attendance , with the class continuing to bring in top talents to the MWDRS .

Bellemeur wasted no time asserting his dominance , winning his first race of the year at Xtreme Raceway Park just outside of Dallas . He beat Stevie “ Fast ” Jackson a race later , which gave him enough cushion to win the first-ever TAFC championship in the Mid-West Drag Racing Series . He praised the incredible braintrust around him , a group that includes tuner Steve Boggs and Troy Green , and he marveled about his experience in the MWDRS .

“ I ’ ve never really experienced anything quite like that and I hope this is around for years to come . It felt so great to be respected as one of the big guys ,” Bellemeur said after the win at XRP . “ I hadn ’ t been this excited for a race in a long time . The reception we ’ ve received from [ the MWDRS ] has been nothing but positive . The opportunity to go have fun and then you throw a big pile of cash on top of it , it was amazing . The buzz was great and there was just a bunch of bad hot rods .”

In Pro Mod , Ron Muenks was nearly unstoppable as everything he touched seemed to turn to victories in 2020 .

He picked up four victories during the MWDRS year , putting together the most successful season in his career . Muenks started driving for Dave Pierce eight years ago , but things finally came together in 2020 , with Pierce ’ s son , Jeff , showing

RON MUENKS

PHOTOS : COLE ROKOSKY

BY JOSH HACHAT

January 2021 DragIllustrated . com | Drag Illustrated | 99