PRI 2025: David Brinkley Unveils New Cynergy Composites Patriot Corvette

Words and Photos by: Mellie Snedeker

The iconic Patriot, driven by David Brinkley and known for its Musi-powered, small-tire no-time and no-prep success, is back with some new curves. At the Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod event this past March, Tim Hodgins had his new 2018 Cynergy Composites Corvette on display in the pits. When David and, more importantly, his wife Kelly walked by, it was love at first sight for her. She decided they needed the car, and within a week, David was on the phone with Tim, placing an order. With the wrap on the previous Patriot Camaro being so iconic and a fan favorite, the team chose to keep the same look for the new body. “I feel like [the wrap] fits this body better than the other body—the curves and the lines,” David says.

Once the order was placed with Cynergy, David knew the car needed to debut at the next Winter Series, giving them less than a year to build an entirely new car from the ground up. He called Robert Hayes with his plan and was told that, realistically, the shop didn’t have the manpower for such an undertaking. The ever-determined Brinkley replied, “I’m on my way!” He moved his toolbox into the Robert Hayes Motorsports shop in Mooresville, North Carolina, and got to work, spending at least four days a week there and the remaining days at home in Wilmington, North Carolina. This schedule continued for ten months until, just before PRI, the car was complete. Through nonstop effort and pure racer determination, they finished the build on a timeline many said couldn’t be done.

Cynergy Composites’ new Corvette body has only been used on big-tire Pro Mod applications until now, but David is a small-tire racer at heart and wanted this body to suit that style of racing. His build is the very first 2018 Cynergy Corvette small-tire body, with the rear molds custom-made for the application. The next big twist was moving away from nitrous to a PSI screw-blown Noonan 4.9 Hemi built by WYO Motorsports. The switch was made to stay competitive in the ever-growing NT 275 class. When asked how he felt about the new power-adder, David smiled and said, “With the powerband and the noise, I’m pretty excited.” He spent time with the WYO crew learning the ins and outs of the motor and feels ready to hit the track with the new combination.

The Patriot is supported by Menscer Motorsports rear shocks and front struts, FuelTech, Hammer Concepts, Nitrous Express for the shifter and Ty-Drive, a Stroud parachute, a Strange Engineering modular Pro Mod rear end, and Strange Evolution brakes on both ends. BOHR supplied the titanium bellhousing, hat, and linkage. The car also features Race Star Wheels with spindle front mounts, custom zoomies, and an M&M converter.

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While the car may have a new look, the message behind Racing for Veterans remains unchanged. The Patriot raises awareness and funds for veterans, with 100% of merchandise sales, profits, and donations going directly to veterans. The team also provides an expenses-paid, front-row racetrack experience for those who have served. With a mission like that, keeping the Patriot name was an easy decision.

This beauty is Robert Hayes–built and will also be tuned by him, with plans to race at the Duck X Productions Radial Outlaw Series, the Big Jake races in Louisiana, Swanfest, and other small-tire events. The team will make its debut at the U.S. Street Nationals at Bradenton Motorsports Park in January. As for strategy this season? “We’re racing against the racetrack and ourselves. That’s what we’ve always done, it’s worked well, and that’s what we intend to do this year.” But before it hits the strip, your first chance to see The Patriot is in the Race Star Wheels booth at the 2025 Performance Racing Industry show.