Racing a Turbocharged Mustang — Joey Oksas secures MWDRS season title….

On the strength of a final-round appearance, Joey Oksas (Santa Clarita CA) clinched his first Pro Mod world championship in the Summit Racing Equipment Mid-West Drag Racing Series presented by J&A Service.

During the final race of the season series (held at Xtreme Texas World Finals at Xtreme Raceway Park in Ferris, Texas) — Oksas qualified second and then advanced to his fourth final round over the final five races, clinching the world championship after a storybook season. The young standout drove to three victories in his turbocharged Mustang, delivering a number of impressive performances en route to the championship.

“It’s just awesome and I’m almost speechless about the whole situation,” Oksas said. “I’m just on cloud nine right now. It all came together perfectly and all the hard work paid off. I never would have thought in my first full year that something like this would be possible, but we’ve got a bad hot rod and an awesome tuner in Jeff Pierce.”

Oksas showcased his talents throughout the season, winning the first three races after the series returned to action in August. That gave him a strong lead heading into Texas and he officially clinched the championship when Jim Whiteley, who qualified No. 1 with a 3.65, lost in the first round to Moyer.

Oksas nearly closed out 2021 with a victory, running a pair of 3.68s in eliminations, but Moyer grabbed the win when Oksas left too early. Still, the young rising star had nothing but great things to say about his first championship.

“It was just an awesome weekend,” Oksas said. “Jeff gave us everything the car was awesome and I did my job as a driver. I was a little early in the finals, but I’m happy with my performance and I’m already looking forward to the beginning of the year.”

Joey Oksas won 3X in five final rounds during 2021 to take the MWDRS Pro Mod points championship.

Joey Oksas’s season ending points total was 754 – topping 2nd place finisher Jim Whitley (650) and Keith Haney (3rd at 654 points).  In total, a very healthy 35 teams entered for the Stroud Safety presented MWDRS Pro Mod class category during 2021 over the 8-event season calendar.  

Moyer (from Texas) enjoyed a memorable weekend in Pro Mod at Xtreme Raceway Park, but only after some major adversity to start the weekend.


A variety of transmission troubles led to him qualifying 16th, but with a new transmission, Moyer went to work in eliminations in his ProCharger-powered Camaro, going 3.799 to beat Whiteley in the opening round. He went 3.754 at 202.98 to advance to the semifinals and then dipped into the 3.60s to advance to the final, going 3.693.

While Oksas went red, Moyer did have a stellar 3.667, giving the veteran his first career victory in the Mid-West Drag Racing Series.

“This probably ranks as one of the best wins I’ve ever had,” Moyer said. “To be able to do what we did and the people that helped us, it was just incredible. From one day having a broken torque converter and not being able to fix it, to be able to win it all, it was just awesome. We went 3.66 in the final round and it was just like a Cinderella story. It was the wildest thing, but my team, and Carl Stevens and his dad, they were just incredible.”

MWDRS Pro Mod class racing in 2021 enjoyed great participation – with 35 machines officially entered. Oklahoma’s Keith Haney (above) finished 3rd in final season standings.

Oksas was one of several champions crowned at the final race of the 2021 Mid-West Drag Racing Series season at Xtreme Raceway Park . Joining him in winning MWDRS world titles were Sean Bellemeur (Top Alcohol Funny Car), Anita Strasburg (Top Dragster), Kelvin Brown (Top Sportsman), Jonathan McClain (Pro Jr. Dragster) and Tyler Wells (Sportsman Jr. Dragster).

ABOUT MWDRS The Summit Racing Equipment Mid-West Drag Racing Series is an all-eighth-mile drag racing organization with headquarters in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The series is headlined by Pro Modified and Top Alcohol Funny Car, with additional classes including Top Sportsman, Top Dragster, and two Jr. Dragster categories. The 2021 MWDRS schedule consists of eight national events. For more information on the MWDRS, visit www.MidWestDragRacingSeries.com.

The Mid-West Drag Racing Series will announce its 2022 season in the coming weeks. 

Posted by Nate Van Wagnen