Pro Stock standings after qualifying No. 1 and reaching the final at the U. S. Nationals.
Musi was an early adopter of electronic fuel injection in nitrous racing and has continually developed cylinder heads, intake manifolds, valvetrain components, and complete engine packages around the demands of high-horsepower nitrous use. His 903- and later 959-cubic-inch combinations helped redefine what was possible in Pro Nitrous, Pro Mod, and Radial vs. the World. Some Musi engines now stretch beyond 959 cubic inches, but durability has remained a focus even as Musi pushes the limits.
That philosophy has produced championships and records for racers across the sport, and today Musi power is nearly ubiquitous among the remaining big-tire nitrous Pro Mods.
Musi also passed his passion to his daughters, Tricia and the late Lizzy Musi. Lizzy became a standout Pro Nitrous and no-prep racer, making history as the first woman to win in both PDRA Pro Nitrous and Street Outlaws: No Prep Kings while racing with her father’ s horsepower and guidance.
In a time when boosted combinations are continually gaining ground, few people have done more to keep nitrous racing moving forward. – NATE VAN WAGNEN
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Rick Hord
A longtime racer, engineer, and manufacturer, Rick Hord purchased Jerry Bickel Race Cars in May 2025 after the passing of founder Jerry Bickel and has approached the transition with a clear goal: preserve what made the company great while modernizing the way it operates.
That effort is very much a family project. Hord’ s son, Ricky, and daughter-in-law, Chelsea, are both engineers and have taken on major day-to-day responsibilities since relocating to Missouri. Ricky has become deeply involved in production, fabrication, and process improvement, while Chelsea has focused on operations, marketing,
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Todd and Ty Tutterow
Todd“ King Tut” Tutterow has spent decades proving that his value to a race team extends well beyond the driver’ s seat. His son, Ty, has followed the same path. Together, the Tutterows have built a family operation around a rare combination of driving talent, mechanical knowledge, tuning ability, and product development.
Todd was the PDRA’ s first Pro Boost world champion in 2014, then returned to the champion’ s stage eight years later in 2022. He has also spent much of his career making other drivers faster. Through Wyo Motorsports, Tutterow and lead engine builder Brad Schmidt have provided power for world champions across multiple Pro Mod organizations. In 2022, Wyo achieved a“ triple crown” with Todd’ s Pro Boost title, Mike Decker Jr.’ s Northeast Outlaw Pro Mod Association title, and Randy Merick’ s NMCA Xtreme Pro Mod championship.
Todd passed down that knowledge to the next generation. Ty grew up working in the Wyo Motorsports shop, learning virtually every part of a Pro Mod before becoming a successful driver and tuner himself. In 2025, he joined his father as a PDRA Pro Boost world champion, reaching five consecutive final rounds and winning three races during his title run.
At the same time, Ty was helping guide one of the sport’ s brightest young stars. He and Todd tuned Ethan Steding to the 2024 PDRA Pro Street world championship in Steding’ s rookie season, then Ty took an increasingly central role as Steding won a second consecutive title in 2025. The latter season included four victories, with Steding crediting the Tutterows as key figures behind the program.
The family’ s Ty-Drive business produces converter drive units used throughout high-level doorslammer racing, with its components appearing in NHRA Pro Mod, PDRA Pro Boost and Pro Nitrous, and other categories.
Through a relentless pursuit of performance, the Tutterows have influence that continues to spread well beyond the cars bearing their own names on the windows. – NATE VAN WAGNEN customer communication, and business systems.
Just as important is the JBRC workforce itself. Veteran employees like Don Cross have provided continuity, while returning craftsmen and a growing group of younger apprentices are helping rebuild the shop’ s depth. Hord has also invested in in-house CNC machining and expanded component manufacturing, with output already significantly increased.
Hord has shown his commitment to his customers and the sport in general. That includes offering up his own Bickel-built C7 Corvette Pro Mod to serve as a“ house car” to test new products and ideas, as well as sponsoring the big-money No. 1 qualifier awards in Pro Mod at the 2025 / 26 DI Winter Series. He also offered to build a complete rolling chassis for any driver who could qualify No. 1 at all three races.
Hord is increasingly stepping into a strategic role while Ricky, Chelsea, and the broader JBRC team carry the daily operation forward. The objective isn’ t to reinvent Jerry Bickel Race Cars, but to ensure one of drag racing’ s most important chassis builders remains at the forefront. – NATE VAN WAGNEN
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Murf McKinney
Murf McKinney is a former Funny Car driver who transitioned from the driver’ s seat to becoming the official fabrication“ one-stopshop” and source for drag racers and teams for nearly four decades. He established McKinney Corp. in 1981 with his brothers and has since touched almost every series of the sport, becoming one of the most respected chassis manufacturers across the country.
Throughout the years, McKinney built cars that have gone on to win championships, break national records, and have numerous standout performances. His craftsmanship has been trusted by some of drag racing’ s biggest names, including Don Garlits and his legendary“ Swamp Rat” Top Fuel dragster.
More than 45 years after McKin-
September / October 2026 DragIllustrated. com | Drag Illustrated | 105