November / December 2023

OLE PESZ has a rich family history in drag racing , and the 22-yearold is wasting no time continuing the tradition . In 2023 , he became the co-owner of PJS Racing Engines with his father , legendary Pro Mod driver Brandon Pesz , fulfilling a lifelong dream .

“ I ’ m very thankful with what God ’ s blessed me with ,” says Pesz . “ My dad is my hero , and it means a lot to own a company with him . I don ’ t know many 22-year-olds that are able to do that . We ’ re a dynamic duo . I don ’ t think he can do it without me , and I don ’ t think I can do it without him .”

Pesz ’ s role within the company involves roughly 70 % of the manual labor , including building and servicing engines , putting together transmissions and fuel systems , shipping parts , and getting crews lined out and organized at the track . Becoming co-owner of PJS was the logical next step for the young man from Weatherford , Texas .

“ There was really never a choice ,” Pesz says , laughing . “ All I ever knew was racing . When they had Career Day at school , my dad was there and I thought it was the coolest thing ever . My mom ran A / Fuel when I was eight years old , and ran 275 mph . My grandpa is in the Division 4 Hall of Fame . It ’ s my whole family , and I ’ m thankful for that .”

Pesz has also expanded his role outside the shop this year , attending more than 25 races across a multitude of sanctioning bodies . He has worked hands-on with drivers like Jeff Cameron in Funny Car Chaos and James Beadling in PDRA . Perhaps most notably , he ’ s joined forces with Street Outlaws : No Prep Kings star “ Chuck 55 ” Parker . But for Pesz , being in the television spotlight isn ’ t a distraction .

“ Racing is racing . I ’ m truly just there to work ,” says Pesz . “ I don ’ t care if there ’ s TV cameras around , or if you ’ re racing on the street . Me and Chuck are very close to the same person , so we get along well . And the car , it ’ s fast . We ’ ve got a lot of traction in that series now , so I ’ m excited for what ’ s coming next year .”

One area that Pesz is continuing to learn and grow is with the tuning aspect of the sport . Currently , his father handles all the tuning duties at PJS Racing , but that will change in 2024 .

“ Tuning is something I really want to get into ,” Pesz says . “ It ’ s a very complicated process , but it ’ s not something I can ’ t handle . We ’ re going to be working on that a lot this winter . If I can be half of what my dad is , I ’ d say I ’ m doing pretty damn good .”

Pesz has more big plans on the horizon as well . He recently bought a Larry Jeffers-built Pro Mod ’ 69 Camaro that will feature a PJS Racing Engine and ProCharger combination he ’ s currently putting together . When and where he debuts the car , however , is still up in the air .

“ I try not to look too far ahead , because I feel like you can get distracted from the present ,” says Pesz . “ Most of my goals aren ’ t based upon driving . I ’ m not a guy who ’ s going to pass up business opportunities to go drive . I ’ m a team player .

Business comes first , and driving comes second .

“ My dad has put so much time and effort into this deal , and there ’ s no other way to look at it but to succeed ,” Pesz continues . “ PJS is a movement . It ’ s by racers for racers , and a lot of people see that we care . That ’ s what we ’ re about , and we ’ re going to be around for a long time .” – CRAIG COOK DI

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