Best of the Best in 2020 Part 5
/Another installment of highlights from the 2020 season. It was a hell of a year no matter how much of a disaster we saw with a pandemic. So with that in mind let’s kick it off.
Blake Copson Decimates the Outlaw 10.5 field in 2020
Earlier in this series of highlights, I discussed what an outstanding season Pro Mod driver Ron Muenks had with his nitrous powered Camaro. Now it’s time to rewind the clock and look at one of the most talented young drivers in all of drag racing, that being Blake Copson with his Outlaw 10.5/Pro 275 Corvette. The Copson name is synonymous with drag racing on the east coast. Long before Blake and his Corvette, it was his father Joe tearing up Outlaw 10.5. Some may know Joe from a gold Camaro he campaigned that has now become one of the most well-known cars in drag racing, that is the “Fireball” Camaro of Ryan Martin.
When you are talking about dominance in 2020, I am not sure that anyone could have foreseen the performance that Blake would have. I have seen this kid go from the low 4-second range just two years ago, to now busting off low 3.70’s and even high 3.60’s in the Vette. It isn’t just the performance of the car that makes Blake’s season so amazing though. When I spoke to his tuner, Josh Ledford, he was telling me that this kid “gets it” and understands what is going on with the car. Whether it’s a little shutter or shake at 400’ or something else, Blake is able to tell Josh exactly what he felt and when he felt it. That is something that normally only comes with decades of experience. That knowledge allowed Blake to win just about everything they competed in this season. He completed the season with a round record of 26-1, the only loss coming to Mo Hall in the Outlaw 10.5 final at Cecil. In a twist of irony, I discussed Ron Muenks 23-1 round record earlier, and Ron’s only round loss was to Mo’s teammate Jim Halsey. Blake’s performance and the way he handles himself, along with the entire rest of his team and family make him a force to be reckoned with for years to come.
Wes Buck’s Outlaw Doorslammer Race a Huge Success
I am not usually one to present praise to my competition in the media world, but Wes has also been a friend of E3xtreme since the beginning, along with being a personal friend of both Ellen and me. Wes is the founder of Drag Illustrated, and for the last couple of years has put on a race in Denver with some of the top pro mod drivers in the world. This year he took the show to Orlando Speedworld where Pro Mod, Pro Stock, and others would compete for a huge payday.
For those of you that don’t typically go and cover the NHRA events like Wes, me, Ellen, etc. you won’t understand how different this was compared to an NHRA event. As usual, I was there long before the racing started and got a chance to talk to many of the drivers on a much more relaxed level than we see at a national event. Having access to these teams on a regular basis is one thing, but just getting to hang out with friends like it was a giant test and tune party was unreal.
For fans, a race like this was a huge opportunity to meet some of their favorite drivers in a setting away from the glare of NHRA. If you want to talk about how races should happen vs. how they do happen, look no further than Wes Buck’s race vs. an NHRA event. The chip draws, pro stock drivers on the starting line watching pro mod drivers, everyone intermingling and having an amazing time. Wes has already announced next year’s event date, and I am sure it will be one hell of a good time again.
PDRA & Mid-West Drag Racing Continue to Grow
I am well aware that NHRA is still considered “The Show” for a lot of fans of drag racing, and there is nothing wrong with that. To me though, the racing, the show, and everything else are much better at a PDRA or Mid-West Drag racing event. You don’t have the giant lines with security guards having the personality of rocks. These events are much more fan-friendly and continue to grow leaps and bounds.
For years and years, we as fans have been screwed into believing that the NHRA was the only show in town. Well, I am here to tell you that the NHRA does have competition worth watching and attending. Both organizations are doing their best to be fan-friendly, family orientated, media accepting, organizations. I have watched both series grow from the very beginning and will continue to do so in the future. Though Tommy & Judy Franklin are the owners at PDRA and Keith Haney at MWDRS, they have both put people in place to create an amazing product. On the PDRA side, you have the Wunderkind, Tyler Crossnoe. This young man has been part of every facet of drag racing. He has been a driver, track manager, promoter, media member, photographer, and everything in between. And his counterpart on the MWDRS is Ellen Eschenbacher. A woman whose credentials are unmatched in most circles. She has worked at every level of drag racing. From working with NHRA Funny Car teams, to drag radial teams, to being a Co-Founder here at E3xtreme. With those two people continuing to push our sport to new heights, both of those series will continue down a path of unparalleled success.
Menscer Motorsports Radial Domination
Full disclosure, Menscer Motorsports is a yearly branding partner and advertiser on this site. With that said, it’s hard to argue with the success that Menscer Motorsports has had in the drag racing world over the last 5-8 years or so. You’d be hard-pressed to find a radial record that isn’t on Menscer shocks. I know there might be a couple, but when you look at the big picture, there is not a more dominating company in the shock industry on radial tires than Menscer.
Outside of Pro Mod, which they are just now starting to dabble more in, the quickest and fastest 1/8th mile door cars in the world are equipped with Menscer Motorsports shocks and struts. You might think this is just a big ad for Menscer, but the fact is that it is not. The reason that they dominate the way that they do is because of consistency, racer support, and a great staff of people. No one man/woman makes the dream work in this industry, it takes having the right people on the team and that’s what they do all day long, whether at the shop or at the track.
Consistently I see John Mellon or Mark Menscer underneath a car at the track making adjustments for a client. I see Mark on the phone talking to clients from the moment he wakes up to the moment he finally falls asleep. I see Mark’s amazing wife Ally always helping in any way that she can. Candice at the office making sure everything is getting done what needs to be done. Craig building the best shocks on the planet, along with Rick. It’s a true team and family effort which shows in the records and championships they continue to rack up. And if you ask Mark…this is just the beginning.