Dirt
Fifty Large
50 Pro Mod entries locked in for $ 50,000-to-win 50th Anniversary Snowbird Nationals at Bradenton By Nate Van Wagnen
In just over 24 hours , 50 different Pro Mod drivers and teams committed to helping Bradenton Motorsports Park celebrate the 50th running of the Snowbird Outlaw Nationals presented by Motion Raceworks at the end of this season . Another nine drivers are on the waiting list for the event , which will pay $ 50,000 to the winner on December 2-5 .
“ This being the 50th anniversary is a really big deal ,” Alvarez says . “ I ’ m happy this event has done well for so long . A lot of events don ’ t make it this far . To have the 50th anniversary and make something really big of it and give the event new life for the future is really , really cool . This event is going to be so good and so big that it ’ s a stepping
stone to the 75th anniversary , and hopefully one day the 100th anniversary .”
The entry list is a who ’ s-who collection of some of the quickest and fastest “ legal ” and outlaw Pro Modified cars in North America . Drivers include stars from NHRA Pro Mod , PDRA Pro Nitrous and Pro Boost , the Mid-West Drag Racing Series , the Northeast Outlaw Pro Mod Association , and even a handful of former Radial vs . the
World racers .
PDRA hitters like Jim Halsey , Kevin Rivenbark , Tommy Franklin , Jay Cox , Todd Tutterow , Melanie Salemi , Randy Weatherford , Kurt Steding , and Jason Harris are on the list . Current NHRA Pro Mod drivers Stevie “ Fast ” Jackson , J . R . Gray , Lyle Barnett , and the three-car team of Jeff Jones , Justin Jones , and Brandon Pesz are locked in as well . Small-tire stars Don Lamana , Tim Slavens , Marcus Birt , and Scott Tidwell also bought tech cards , along with Street Outlaws : No Prep Kings winner Justin “ Lil ’ Country ” Swanstrom .
“ The whole list is just stacked ,” Alvarez says . “ If you ’ re on the list , chances are you ’ re just a badass .”
Alvarez admits he ’ s not surprised to see the Pro Mod entries selling out so quickly , and it didn ’ t happen on accident . Since taking over ownership of Bradenton Motorsports Park in early 2018 , Alvarez has worked to elevate longstanding events like the Snowbirds and the U . S . Street Nationals while also creating new traditions .
“ I ’ ve been a big fan of this event in particular for years , even before I owned the track ,” Alvarez insists . “ It ’ s just a really , really good event with a lot of history and really fast cars . I ’ ve always seen more potential in these events . It ’ s awesome to see it become reality , but yeah , I did see it happening . This is what I was after .”
The Pro Mod payout – $ 50,000 to win , $ 10,000 to runner-up , and $ 2,500 for the semifi-
PHOTOS BY CHRIS SEARS
38 | Drag Illustrated | DragIllustrated . com Issue 171