The Mid-West Drag Racing Series (MWDRS) lit up Flying H Drag Strip in Odessa, Missouri, with a weekend full of first-time winners, history-making champions, and plenty of drama as the season barrels toward the finish line.

The headline of the weekend came in Stroud Safety Pro Modified presented by Larry Jeffers Race Cars, where Robin Roberts scored his first-ever MWDRS Pro Mod win — and he did it in front of his hometown crowd. Roberts was the class of the field from Q1 through eliminations, and by the time opening ceremonies rolled around, he was the only driver in the 3.50s. Backed by his wife, Melody, and crew Allan, Tara, and Brian, Roberts capped off a career-defining weekend.

Photos by Damon Steinke (E3xtreme)

Keith Haney made the final after taking out Kallee Mills in the semis, while Jacob McNeal advanced past a wounded Aaron Wells when Wells’ car wouldn’t fire in round two — a huge moment in the title chase. Meanwhile, newcomer Ryan Griffin stole headlines early with a first-round upset over Shawn Ellington in his twin-turbo Mustang debut.

Saturday brought the first major storyline when rookie Tyler Wells clinched the Compressed Air Supercharging Top Sportsman title with a first-round win. At just 18 years old, Wells became the youngest “big car” champion in MWDRS history and added a fourth series championship to his résumé. Wells then drove his way to another event win, knocking off Kyle Baker in the final for $4,000.

Already a three-time Junior champion, Wells now surpasses Keith Haney and Rod Moore as the most decorated driver in MWDRS history. “When I first started in this car, I didn’t think I’d do this good. Winning a championship is pretty crazy,” Wells said.

In Race Star Wheels Top Dragster presented by UEM Pistons, Joe Carollo delivered for the locals, driving to his first MWDRS win with high-4.40 consistency. He stopped championship contender Keith Youngblood in the semis before defeating Kati Laughter in the final.

Laughter didn’t leave empty-handed, though. She reset the stock-block LS record with a jaw-dropping 4.006-second blast during Friday night time trials — and hinted that Tulsa could see the first-ever stock-block LS pass in the 3s.

FuelTech Pro 4.20 saw Rich Smith nail the Skyview Race Cars No. 1 qualifier spot with a perfect 4.200, but it was Dave Pierce who stole the show in eliminations. Pierce took down Derrol Hubbard in the final to vault past him in the points, setting up a winner-take-all battle at the Ronnie Hobbs World Finals in Tulsa.

J&A Service Funny Car added another first-time winner to the growing list as Kyle Smith scored his breakthrough win with a stout 3.644 over veteran Robbie Massey. Massey kept it close with a 3.67 in the cool evening air, but also helped Smith’s points situation by eliminating Jim Whiteley earlier in the night. Smith becomes the 12th new winner of the 2025 MWDRS season.

In the Junior ranks, Ryan Clark claimed the Zimmerman Sportsman Junior win over Mason Manley, while the Brundidge family grabbed Race Star Wheels Pro Junior honors after Brian Stallbaumer went red in the final.

The MWDRS now heads to the season finale, the Throwdown in T-Town Ronnie Hobbs World Finals in Tulsa, where championships in Pro Mod, Pro 4.20, and Funny Car will be decided.