Long-time Ford racer Steve Matusek is joining Elite Motorsports in 2019 to drive a twin-turbo Ford Mustang in the E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by J&A Service. The son of European parents Matusek grew in pits with his father racing big block Fords on the weekends. Having started his career as an engineer at McDonnell Douglas, Steve started racing in 1994 and raced a roots-blown Camaro for 20-year veteran Danny Rowe in 2018. With DRR closing its doors, Matusek jump at the opportunity to sit behind the wheel of a Pro Mod Mustang.
A resident of Olathe, KS, Matusek considers the E3 Spark Plugs Pro Mod Racing Series to be one of the most exciting classes in NHRA drag racing today. Steve had told E3 in an earlier article that qualifying for Pro Mod is an interesting dogfight where 35 teams attempt to qualify for sixteen spots but 33 of those drivers could win the race. Matusek will be the veteran Pro Mod racer on the Elite Motorsports team for the 12-race schedule but will have a major challenge to outrun teammates Erica Enders and Alex Laughlin. Matusek made his Pro Mod debut in 2011 and claimed his first Pro Mod Wally in 2017.
Two-time NHRA Pro Stock world champion Erica Enders competed in her first Pro Mod racing event at the 2018 NHRA SpringNationals in Houston at Royal Purple Raceway where she ran 5.866 at 240.81 mph. Enders had tested a turbocharged Chevrolet Camaro for Richard Freeman's Elite team earlier in the year at Bradenton Motorsports Park in Florida. Also joining Elite Motorsports for 2019 is Alex Laughlin who will race the 12-race Pro Mod series as well as the full 18-race NHRA Pro Stock schedule. Laughlin will make his debut in E3 Spark Plugs Pro Mod division at the 50th annual Amalie Oil Gatornationals in March.
Pro Mod is one of the most exciting classes in NHRA drag racing and begins its second season sponsored by E3 Spark Plugs. The 2019 E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by J&A Service is the only class that allows multiple makes of cars, builders, engines and fuels to compete on a level NHRA playing field. It is a fan-favorite combination that is drawing large crowds of racing fans and the 2019 season is shaping up again as one packed with excitement, as barely hundredths-of-a-second is expected to divide the number one qualifier with the number sixteen qualifier at each event.
