WELCOME TO PRO MOD , CHUCK 55
While a number of drivers made their World Series of Pro Mod debut in 2024 , few caught everyone ’ s attention as quickly as Street Outlaws : No Prep Kings star “ Chuck 55 ” Parker . Piloting the recently finished ‘ 69 Camaro owned by Cole Pesz of PJS Racing , Parker not only made the show , but secured a round-one win in his first Pro Mod outing .
“ Going into this deal , I knew the competition was going to be tough ,” said Parker . “ It ’ s the baddest Pro Mod drivers in the country . But I knew with PJS , we had what everyone else had performance-wise . They ’ re not new to the game , so that was reassuring on that end of it . I feel like we make more power than anyone else . When we do something , we don ’ t cut corners . Everything is top notch .”
Despite having less than 30 runs on the car going into the WSOPM , Parker entrenched himself in the field , qualifying 19th with a time of 3.646 seconds . As luck would have it , he drew fellow
NPK star – and 2017 WSOPM champion – Mike Bowman in round one . Both drivers fought tricky track conditions in the heat , with Parker coming out on top . Although he fell to Preston Tanner in round two , it was still a successful weekend .
“ We knew we had our hands full ,” Parker said . “ For us to go in against the competition we were up against and make the final 16 cars , that ’ s saying something right there . We have the motor , a quality crew , and I feel like I can drive with any of them . I ’ m used to driving no prep , and no prep is a lot crazier than driving on a prepped track .”
Parker recently announced that he will be taking a break from NPK this season , allowing him to spend more time with his wife , Amelia , and their three young children . But after having such a fun time at the WSOPM this year , he ’ s not ruling out a return trip to Bradenton in 2025 .
“ I ’ m teamed up with PJS ,” said Parker . “ I drove Cole ’ s car to get my feet wet and see if I ’ d even like it , and I had a blast . The professionalism of the entire event was very impressive . I still plan on being involved . I haven ’ t talked to Wes [ Buck ] yet , but I feel like if I told him we wanted to do it again , he ’ d tell us to come on .” — CRAIG COOK DI
PHOTOGRAPHS BY DAVID HILNER , CHRIS SEARS
May / June 2024 DragIllustrated . com | Drag Illustrated | 137