32 qualified drivers that by his estimation, there are about 600 Pro Mods in the world. Just by qualifying, these drivers were in the top 5 % in their field, an incredible accomplishment. But now, Ellington – who has only competed in Pro Mod for a little over a year – found himself in the final four. That’ s within the top 1 %. Imagine being in the top 1 % of anything you do. Such is the importance of the Winter Series, and of a very powerful mindset:“ We didn’ t quit.”
Despite the focus on Ellington, this mantra of determination and perseverance could be found throughout the facility. True 10.5 winner Russell Stone popped the blower on his“ Black Widow” Camaro during testing and disintegrated his front clip in the process. He didn’ t quit and took home $ 40,000. 2025 WSOPM champion Steve King blew his motor as well in the Outlaw Light Beer Wild Card Shootout. The G-Force Race Cars team with Melanie Salemi – King’ s teammate – came over and helped him repair the car, setting up an eventual final round between the two, with King prevailing.
If you searched the pits, you’ d find a hundred other stories just like these. It’ s part of what makes our sport so special. And returning to Ellington – at that moment, with the team and crowd going crazy, it truly felt like destiny was on his side. Surely nothing could stop this runaway freight train of momentum.
But the Winter Series giveth, and the Winter Series taketh away. As Ellington was backing up from his burnout in the semifinals against eventual WSOPM winner Aaron Stanfield, the car died on him. Team members quickly pushed it back, and after a moment, he got it re-fired. The relief was short-lived, however, as after a few seconds the car shut off again. There was no oil pressure. This was one problem they couldn’ t fix, and Ellington could do nothing but sit and watch Stanfield move on to the finals – and an eventual $ 150k payday.
I’ ve followed the sport of drag racing for more than 40 years. I’ ve covered it for nearly 20. I’ ve had to the privilege to meet, talk to, and work with countless drivers during that time, and honored to now call many of them friends. One thing I always try to do at any of our events is simply thank the drivers for choosing to race with us, for being a part of what we’ re doing. All of these drivers deserve to know just how much we appreciate them, which is why I made the walk over to Ellington’ s pits a short while after his heartbreaking loss.
“ My goal coming in was I wanted everyone to know we were here,” Ellington told me.“ And by God, they know we’ re here – and we’ ll be back.”
And that’ s what makes the Winter Series so special – the people. A smorgasbord of drivers from all corners of the sport. Pro Mod legends? Check. No Prep Kings superstars? Check. NHRA world champions? Check. Radial tire outlaws? Check. Drag & Drive stalwarts? Check. Converted tractor pulling competitors? Check.
They’ re all here. And they all have one common mantra defining them.“ We didn’ t quit DI.”
DI DI
DI DI DI DI DI DI DI
128 | Drag Illustrated | DragIllustrated. com Issue 200