Shawn “Murder Nova” Ellington wins the Midwest Drag Racing Series season opener at Tulsa Raceway Park on May 8-9, repeating his Throwdown in T-Town triumph.

The MWDRS opens its 10th season under a compressed Saturday schedule after rain postpones Friday qualifying, elevating execution demands across categories.

Festivities begin Thursday with the MWDRS Awards Banquet at the track, recognizing past champions and presenting the Legacy Award.

This year’s honorees are the Compressed Air Supercharging team and Wade Pennington, celebrated alongside champions Jovee and Karlee Brundidge and Keith Youngblood.

Stroud Safety Pro Mod qualifying starts with drama when Keith Haney’s car erupts, launching the scoop and forcing an engine change that reshapes his programme.

Ellington, driving Haney’s ProCharger-equipped Camaro “Blue,” sets the weekend benchmark at 3.618 to top qualifying and command lane choice.

The final pairs MWDRS debutant Ryan Martin with Ellington. Martin redlights, gifting Ellington back-to-back season-opening wins and an early points cushion.

FuelTech Pro 4.20 draws ten entries, boosted by new prizes from R&M Trailers and Sandlian Auto Salvage that strengthen class depth and incentive.

Reigning champion David Pierce reaches the final but breaks out by 0.004 seconds, allowing Michael Chitty to secure it with a measured 4.22.

Kati Laughter delivers her first MWDRS Top Dragster victory, while teammate and reigning champion Keith Youngblood exits in round two.

Laughter’s fiancé and tuner, Travis Cannon, highlights collective progress as the car and tune-up hit their marks at critical moments.

In Compressed Air Supercharging Top Sportsman, two-time champion Kelvin Brown returns strongly to reach the final and set up a team contest.

Teammate Tim Cunningham converts by dialing 4.52 and running dead-on in the Honey Bros Racing entry, demonstrating bracket precision under pressure.

Taylor Strange wins the Small Tire Shootout in a nitrous-fed Beretta, defeating Brandon Sandlian and the Junkyard Stude in the final.

Race Star Wheels Pro Junior features McCann versus Kolbi Keith in a 7.90 index showdown, underlining the class’s emphasis on consistency.

Zimmerman Sportsman Junior sees Rodgers defeat Holt, an 8.95 dial prevailing over an 8.97 effort in a tight contest.

The series now shifts to the Shakedown in M-Town on May 28-30, featuring radial contenders alongside Pro Mod, Top Dragster, and Top Sportsman.

With early momentum established, execution under compressed schedules and dial-in discipline will likely define the next set of winners.

Visual Summary

James William

James William covers the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, from the Rolex 24 at Daytona to sprint-race formats. His reports include prototype performance reviews, GT class battles, and pit-stop strategy insights for endurance-racing fans.