Last February’s inaugural PRO Superstar Shootout was a grand preface to the 2024 Mission Foods NHRA Drag Racing Series, albeit an event without official sanction. Produced by PRO, the Professional Racers Owners Organization that works with racers and owners to promote safety and equity for all participants, worked together with FloRacing to bring both the 11,000-horsepower Top Fuel and Funny Car NHRA stars, along with Pro Stock and a variety of sportsman classes to Bradenton Motosports Park in central Florida to race for pride and money.
The inaugural race found 2023 Top Fuel champion Doug Kalitta in the Winner’s Circle, introduced now-Funny Car champ Austin Prock to join him, along with 2023 Pro Stock titleholder Erica Enders. The format was new with unique eliminations – and the fans were delighted with the results. The only issues were finding sufficient parking for everyone that arrived to see the stars perform.
This year’s second race, scheduled for February 6-8, 2025 will, obviously benefit from lessons learned in 2024. One thing that won’t change is the participation of commercial supporters. SCAG Power Equipment returns as the title rights sponsor for a second consecutive year, as the company continues its participation in major league drag racing. “We couldn’t ask for a better partner to join us as we host the second PRO Superstar Shootout,” Alan Johnson, PRO president acknowledged. “They find value in being involved in drag racing, and they are making investments that will help take the sport to new levels. It means a lot to us that they believe in what we are trying to do.”
SCAG Power Equipment isn’t the sole major manufacturer seeing value in the PRO Superstar Shootout. PPG Industries has aligned with PRO for this second Shootout, intending to utilize the hospitality benefits of this three-day straight-line extravaganza, intend to showcase social media content opportunities and FloRacing’s livestream platform to emphasize its brands’ values. PPG has been a long-time supporter of Funny Car driver and team owner Bob Tasca III. During the inaugural PRO Superstar Shootout, Tasca shot past the 340-mph barrier with his PPG Ford Mustang Dark Horse Funny Car, hitting 341.68mph.
“Having a company like PPG see the marketing and promotional benefits of the SCAG PRO Superstar Shootout shows us we are building an event that is not just great for the fans, but also great for corporate partners,” Johnson stated. Tasca weighed in on his personal supporter’s participation: “Having PPG step up to promote this race and leverage the thrill of drag racing is a huge win for everyone involved,” he said. FloRacing plans to highly PPG during its broadcast of the event through commercial segments, it said.
SCAG and PPG are just two of the mega supporters signing on for the second PRO Superstar Shootout. They’re owned by Red Line Oil as a premier sponsor, returning for a second straight year. With Red Line Oil-backed Top Fuel racer Shawn Reed, the company announced its return during November’s SEMA Show. Callies Performance Products is also a premier sponsor in 2025. Chad Head, PRO board member noted that “One thing we are looking for with our marketing partners like Callies, is working with companies that are committed to excellence and quality, both on and off the track.”
A recently announced premier sponsor that works with nearly ever nitro- and door-slammer competitor in drag racing is Jesel, known for its specialty advancements in valve train technology, adding signage at the event. “In the nitro ranks we push a lot of our parts to the limits,” said Neal Strasbaugh, crew chief on Tony Stewart’s Top Fuel dragster for the third straight season. “We rely on Jesel valve train products, using their lifters and rockers to make sure we don’t have any of those catastrophic engine failures.” He’s echoed by Elite Motorsports’ owner Richard Freeman: “having Jesel onboard supporting the SCAG Power Equipment PRO Superstar Shootout shows how universally popular this race is to sponsors in every category.”
One very important aspect to racing at night is having the right lighting, both for the participants and for racing fans. Musco Lighting is returning as the official lighting provider and, with one qualifying run on Thursday under the lights and multiple runs on Friday, highlighted by Saturday’s race day scheduling, the addition of Musco as a premier supporter brings another level of customer service and safety to this race meeting,
None of these supporters would be bringing their high level of professionalism to the PRO Superstar Shootout if they didn’t expect the best on-air talent for the second-year extravaganza. The FloRacing broadcast center is set to be helmed by two of the best broadcast personalities: Jamie Howe and former racer Mike Dunn, who will call the action. FloRacing’s Courtney Enders will be joined in the pits and at the top end by nitro Funny Car veteran Tommy Johnson Jr., giving the event four very talented and knowledgeable personalities for fans and racers to talk with and listen to.
The entire event will be broadcast live on FloRacing. Howe has been a featured reporter on both ESPN and FOX throughout her career. Dunn also worked in the ESPN booth when that network specialized in drag racing. Enders, the sister of six-time Pro Stock champion Erica Enders, is one of the linchpins of FloRacing, while Tommy Johnson Jr.’s long career in drag racing has earned him kudos for his work behind the steering wheel. The winner of 23 Funny Car NHRA races, “With the added intensity of a race this time of the season, I can’t wait to bring that to the fans in a unique way, from a driver’s standpoint.” He obviously wasn’t satisfied with simply watching the event in 2024.
Scheduling for this coming year’s event has recently been announced and focuses on both sportsman and professional qualifying and racing on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Testing takes place on Thursday from morning to early afternoon, followed by sportsman qualifying and professional qualifying. Friday features added qualifying and sportsman elimination, while Saturday’s race day starts just before noon and, like the previous days, goes through to 8:30PM. On all three days, sunset occurs shortly after 6PM, which means those Musco lights will get a full workout!
2025 SCAG POWER EQUIPMENT PRO SUPERSTAR SHOOTOUT SCHEDULE
Thursday: February 6, 2025 – (SUNSET 6:16 PM)
8 AM GATES OPEN
9 AM – 1PM PRO TESTING
1:30 PM SPORTSMAN QUALIFYING #1 (STOCK, SUPER STOCK)
2:15 PM TOP SPORTSMAN QUALIFYING #1
SICK SHOOTOUT TIME TRIAL #1
3 PM SPORTSMAN QUALIFYING #2 (STOCK, SUPER STOCK)
3:45 PM TOP SPORTSMAN QUALIFYING #2
4:30 PM SPORTSMAN QUALIFYING #3 (STOCK, SUPER STOCK)
6:30 PM PRO STOCK QUALIFYING #1
7:30 PM TOP FUEL & FUNNY CAR QUALIFYING #1
8:30 PM SECURE TRACK
Friday: February 7, 2025 – (SUNSET 6:16 PM)
8 AM GATES OPEN
10 AM SPORTSMAN QUALIFYING #4 (STOCK, SUPER STOCK)
10:45 AM TOP SPORTSMAN QUALIFYING #3
SICK SHOOTOUT TIME TRIAL #2
11:30 AM PRO STOCK QUALIFYING #2
12:30 PM TOP FUEL & FUNNY CAR QUALIFYING #2
1 PM STOCK AND SUPER STOCK ELIMINATIONS ROUND #1
1:30 PM TOP SPORTSMAN QUALIFYING #4
SICK SHOOTOUT TIME TRIAL #3
3 PM PRO STOCK QUALIFYING #3
4 PM TOP FUEL & FUNNY CAR QUALIFYING #3
5 PM STOCK AND SUPER STOCK ELIMINATIONS ROUND #2
5:30 PM TOP SPORTSMAN ELIMINATIONS ROUND #1
SICK SHOOTOUT TIME TRIAL #4
6:30 PM PRO STOCK QUALIFYING #4
7:30 PM TOP FUEL & FUNNY CAR QUALIFYING #4
8:30 PM SECURE TRACK
Saturday: February 8, 2025 – (SUNSET 6:17 PM)
8 AM GATES OPEN
11:30 AM SPORTSMAN ELIMINATIONS ROUND #3 (STOCK, SUPER STOCK)
11:45 AM TOP SPORTSMAN ELIMINATIONS ROUND #2
12:15 PM PRERACE CEREMONY
12:30 PM PRO STOCK ELIMINATIONS ROUND #1
1:45 PM TOP FUEL & FUNNY CAR ELIMINATIONS ROUND #1
2:15 PM FUNNY CAR vs TOP FUEL ELIMINATIONS ROUND #1
3 PM PRO STOCK ELIMINATIONS ROUND #2
3:15 PM SPORTSMAN ELIMINATIONS ROUND #4 (STOCK, SUPER STOCK)
TOP SPORTSMAN ELIMINATIONS ROUND #3
SICK SHOOTOUT ELIMINATIONS ROUND #1
4 PM TOP FUEL & FUNNY CAR ELIMINATIONS ROUND #2
4:30 PM SPORTSMAN ELIMINATIONS ROUND #5 (STOCK, SUPER STOCK)
TOP SPORTSMAN ELIMINATIONS ROUND #4
SICK SHOOTOUT ELIMINATIONS ROUND #2
5 PM PRO STOCK ELIMINATIONS ROUND #3
6 PM SPORTSMAN ELIMINATIONS FINAL ROUNDS
(STOCK, SUPER STOCK, TOP SPORTSMAN, SICK SHOOTOUT)
6:30 PM PRO STOCK FINAL ROUND
7 PM FUNNY CAR vs TOP FUEL FINAL ROUND
FUNNY CAR FINAL ROUND
TOP FUEL FINAL ROUND
7:30 PM WINNERS CIRCLE CELEBRATION
8:30 PM SECURE TRACK
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