Shakedown XXIII at M’Town: Pro Mod Lineup, Key Storylines & Full Schedule

Shakedown XXIII at M’Town ran May 26-30, 2026, at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park, Martin, Michigan, headlined by MWDRS Stroud Safety Pro Mods across a packed eighth‑mile program.

Twenty-six Pro Mods chased sixteen elimination berths, sharing the stage with FuelTech Radial Outlaws categories, creating a diverse big‑tire and small‑tire showcase.

Qualifying spanned Thursday and Friday, with a Saturday morning closer. Kallee Mills set Q1 pace at 3.5755 seconds, 210.08 mph, after a .017 light.

Jason Lee stayed close in the 3.57s, while Paul Gargus matched the bracket. Ed Thornton posted 3.6754 and the session’s top speed at 218.77 mph.

The bump spot turned volatile. Craig Sullivan, Ryan Bush, Don Klooster, Keith Haney, and Justin Swanstrom initially sat outside, with Swanstrom 21st after Q1.

Improving air and evolving track prep tempted bigger swings. Paige Coughlin and Jason Lee cleared 211 mph later, signalling upward headroom for both blower and nitrous combinations.

Eliminations started Saturday at 4 p.m., under the lights and live on FloRacing. Identical startline prep kept parity, despite differing rulebooks between Pro Mods and the Radial Outlaws classes.

The 10‑class slate featured Radial vs. The World, Pro 275, Limited Drag Radial, X275, Ultra Street, X255, Gangster X, Top Sportsman, and Top Dragster alongside MWDRS Pro Mods.

Testing ran Wednesday through Friday. Gates opened daily at 8 a.m., with multi‑round qualifying stretching into late evenings under Duck X Productions and MWDRS oversight.

For Pro Mod contenders, the weekend offered points and momentum on a pivotal surface. It mirrors markers such as JBS Pro Mod Chicago, where execution under pressure shapes campaigns.

Recent storylines, including Jason Harris’s Pro Mod win and the broader IHRA Triple Crown, frame expectations around parity and evolving combinations.

Coverage from Drag Illustrated and The Wes Buck Show complemented the live stream, adding context and access across the weekend.

U.S. 131 Motorsports Park again proved a premier eighth‑mile venue, delivering consistency for radial and big‑tire packages and rewarding quick turn‑arounds as conditions shifted.

With tight spreads and decisive tuning calls, eliminations promised door‑slammer intensity. FloRacing viewers tracked every launch, correction, and finishline call as the bracket tightened.

Visual Summary

Miles Carter

Miles Carter covers grassroots and regional drag-strip action, from bracket racing to street-legal shootouts. His event previews and performance-upgrade guides keep local racers up to speed on timing-slip trends, tire tech, and weekend race highlights.