Drag Illustrated Issue 198, January / February 2026 | Page 42

Dirt

AARON WELLS
That combination of knowledge and support has become even more necessary as the level of competition continues to grow in the MWDRS since Wells’ first title run.
“ The competition was great in‘ 19, but it’ s tenfold now,” says Wells.“ The caliber of teams and competition is so impressive. It just speaks to what they’ ve done. It is much more difficult to run this series than it used to be. You’ ve got to be ready to push everything to the limit. If you don’ t, that’ s fine, but you’ re not going to be the front runner.”
As if a Pro Mod championship wasn’ t enough, the 2025 season delivered an even more meaningful milestone for the Wells family. Aaron’ s 16-year-old son, Tyler, captured the Compressed
Air Supercharging Top Sportsman championship, making them the first father-son duo to win titles in the same season in MWDRS history.
“ I’ m more proud of him and his championship than my own,” Wells says.“ Even more than the championship, just him as a driver – his sportsmanship and his composure. When he first started, I told him,‘ Don’ t be disappointed if you don’ t win a race, or even win a round. We’ re just getting our feet wet in this class.’ Boy, I was way off. He went and won the first one, then he does it again and again. It’ s like, holy crap, he’ s making this look like a piece of cake.”
With a new season on the horizon, Wells will have to balance racing, family, and running his five businesses as he looks to defend his Pro Mod title in 2026.
“ We are definitely going to run a large portion
of the Mid-West Series,” says Wells.“ I don’ t know if we can make the full series, but we’ re gonna do everything we can. Of course, my son would race every weekend if he could. So I suspect we’ re gonna try to defend two championships. It wouldn’ t hurt my feelings to put three-time champion on the side of the trailer instead of just two.”
Along with the Wells father-son duo, 2025 MWDRS champions include Jim Whiteley in J & A Service Funny Car and Dave Pierce in Champion Auto Lift Pro 4.20. Pennington Motorsports completed the first-ever MWDRS championship“ trifecta” as they brought home titles in Race Star Wheels Top Dragster, Zimmerman Sportsman Jr. Dragster, and Race Star Wheels Pro Jr. Dragster with Keith Youngblood, Jovee Brundidge, and Karlee Brundidge, respectively. DI
42 | Drag Illustrated | DragIllustrated. com Issue 198