PRESENTED BY
ABOVE: PESZ AND HIS TEAM HAD 40,000 REASONS TO CELEBRATE AFTER RUNNING A SMALL-TIRE GAUNTLET THAT INCLUDED WINS OVER SCOTT TAYLOR, RYAN HENDRICKSON, KYE KELLEY, RYAN MARTIN, AND BRANDON SANDLIAN.
RIGHT: PESZ SHARES A PERSONAL MOMENT WITH HIS FATHER, PRO MOD DRIVER AND TUNER BRANDON PESZ.
You need to get checked out.’ That’ s why I love this family – they’ re looking out for me when I’ m not looking out for myself.”
Pesz’ s path to victory during eliminations was anything but easy, drawing a stacked lineup of competitors including Scott Taylor, Ryan Hendrickson, Kye Kelley, Ryan Martin, and Brandon Sandlian in the Junkyard Studebaker. Pesz consistently ran in the high 3.90 to low 4.00 range all weekend, culminating with a 3.980-second pass at 204.76 mph in the finals against Sandlian, who went 4.132, but was-. 087 red on the tree.
“ Just to be in this position is crazy,” said Pesz.“ We didn’ t get any ducks. We didn’ t see a purpose in trying to break the record in the final round – we just left it alone and did our job. He went red, but I still wanted to see what it was going to run because we only have maybe 11 passes at this point.”
The win was the result of a massive team effort, with Pesz quick to acknowledge all the companies who have supported him – PJS Racing Engines, FuelTech EFI, M & M Transmission, Menscer Motorsports, Strange Engineering, Stroud Safety, Nitrous Outlet, Quick
Performance, and Wiles Driveshafts – as well as all the individuals who stepped up during the hectic rebuild.
“ This would not have happened without Mark Woodruff loaning me his wheels, Cameron Johnson Race Cars getting us a wishbone in time, and Patrick Miller literally bending my headers back out with a jack and a torch for 10 hours rewelding it all,” Pesz said.“ Everyone here just thrashing on this thing, and Brandon Pesz – the best motherf *** er on the planet, I don’ t care what anybody says. We’ re gonna go home and fine-tune it, but I genuinely believe we have one of the fastest cars out here.”
The victory also marked a major milestone for Pesz, as it was his first win with car owner Mark Gobert. Standing in the winner’ s circle, Pesz gave Gobert the special True 10.5 winner’ s diamond chain to show his appreciation for the opportunity, even after the adversity they faced during the week.
“ Mark is the real deal, and now he’ s got some bling around his neck too” said Pesz.“ The way he treats people is unbelievable. I have the greatest owner. He and his wife, René – they believe in me. They trust me. This is 100 % their win. It’ s their win just as much as it is mine. They’ re the backbone behind this team.”
While Pesz was ecstatic about the $ 40k and event trophy that went along with it, he admitted the win carried a deeper message that he wants to use his platform to share – a message of perseverance, gratitude, and faith.
“ This whole week was about not giving up,” Pesz said.“ Whether we lost first round or won the race, it didn’ t matter. It’ s about proving a point to the younger kids out there that feel like giving up on themselves, or the men and women who feel the same way. I want to encourage you to continue to push through adversity. It’ s not gonna go away – the adversity will always be there. It’ s part of life. You’ re gonna go through peaks and valleys, trials and tribulations. I just encourage everybody to try to find God and go for everything you want in life. I’ m truly nothing without the people God has put my life. I’ m extremely grateful for that. I wouldn’ t be able to do this without my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
“ This is how we’ re starting off 2026,” said Pesz.“ I knew there were going to be trials and tribulations, but hey, it is what it is. I have the greatest team in the world behind me, and I can’ t wait for what’ s to come.” DI
90 | Drag Illustrated | DragIllustrated. com Issue 199