The 2025 running of the Yellowbullet Nationals marked the 16th year that Monty Mikho and his wife, Maria, have organized the highly anticipated annual race at Cecil County Dragway. The forecast promised some of the best weather the event had seen in years, and it delivered. As the gates opened, more than 375 cars rolled in, each chasing the chance to say they won the Yellowbullet Nationals. When testing began on Wednesday, the cooler temperatures were already producing low elapsed times across most classes.

During Thursday morning’s session, Pro Mod racer Jim Halsey made the pass heard throughout the racing world in his new nitrous-assisted Camaro, Blacklist. Tuned by Brandon Switzer, Halsey’s machine ripped off a 3.621-second pass at over 212 mph.

The Yellowbullet Nationals has always been about more than racing. Originally created as a way for racers and members of the popular yellowbullet.com forums to meet and hang out, the event has since grown thanks to its strong online presence, its “outlaw” feel, added classes, increased purses, and the countless hours put in each year by Monty and his team. One part of the weekend that continues to grow is the Kids Contest, which this year featured arcade games, remote control cars, scooters, bicycles, and more.

Pro 275

The eight-car Pro 275 field was led by Mo Hall, who went 3.638 at 205.47 mph to take the top spot. Hall carried that momentum into eliminations, defeating Russell Johnson Jr. in the first round and Brian Chin in round two to advance to the finals.

Frank Soldridge, who qualified third, got a bye in the first round when his opponent was unable to make the call. In round two, Soldridge faced Blaine Johnson, who left early and turned on the red light, handing Soldridge the win. Soldridge then went on to run back-to-back 3.69s.

In the final, Soldridge left first on Hall and never looked back, staying in the 3.60s all day. He ran 3.679 at 216.06 mph to Hall’s 3.708 at 204.57 mph, collecting the win and the $20,000 payday.

Ultra Street

A 32-car field of Ultra Street racers packed the pits, with Cameron Massengale edging out Connor Hartsock for the number one qualifier spot. Both ran identical 4.403s, but Massengale earned the top spot on mph.

On race day, Hartsock charged through the field, defeating Dan Moore, Paul Burchill, Steve Romeo, and Kieffer Simpson to reach the final. There he met ninth qualifier Dave Fiscus, whose turbocharged V6 Fox body Mustang scored wins over Glenn Hamilton, Ronny Rhodes, Massengale, and Bruce Lauks.

In the final, despite Fiscus cutting a perfect .000 reaction time, issues down track forced him to lift, allowing Hartsock to drive around for the win and a trip to the winners’ circle.

Pro Mod

With 14 cars on the property, Pro Mod once again lived up to its reputation as one of drag racing’s hottest classes. The top three qualifiers each represented a different power adder and were separated by just .042 seconds. Jimmy Taylor led the pack with a 3.540 at 223.06 mph in his turbo Camaro, followed closely by Steve King at 3.544 in his supercharged Corvette.

Taylor fought through eliminations, defeating Andy Jenson in round one, taking a bye in round two, and knocking out Mike Decker III in the semis. King, meanwhile, ran a career-best 3.538 at 209.49 mph in round one against Victor Alvarez, advanced past Chris Russo in round two when Russo was unable to make the call, and moved past Mike Decker Jr. in the semis after Decker red-lit.

That set up a monster final between the top two qualifiers. King got the better reaction time, while Taylor pushed toward the centerline and had to lift. King powered to a 3.601 at 206.26 mph for the win and the $20,000 prize.

8.50 Index

The 8.50 Index class drew 42 cars, with Dan Purdy leading qualifying at 8.501. The bump was tight, with No. 16 running 8.511 and No. 32 at 8.532.

During eliminations, 17th qualifier William Sanford and 23rd qualifier Travis Bowman worked their way through the field. Sanford defeated Chad Bailey, Larry Cogliano, Nick Tucci, and his daughter Michelle Sanford, while Bowman turned on win lights against Carl Blase Jr., Sal Bellomo, Shawn Marques, and Brian Larson.

In the final, both drivers left with nearly identical reaction times, and in a double breakout, Sanford took the win with an 8.477 at 151.29 mph to Bowman’s 8.447 at 162.76 mph.

Warriors

The Warriors class drew 38 small-tire, stock-appearing cars, split into two 16-car fields: Warriors “A” and Warriors “B.”

In Warriors “A,” top qualifier Craig Walls faced No. 2 Dustin Cotton in the final. Walls grabbed the starting-line advantage, but Cotton drove around him at the stripe, winning with a 4.020 at 190.24 mph to Walls’ 4.060 at 183.74 mph. The margin of victory was just .0022 seconds.

In Warriors “B,” Wayne Gopshes (No. 5) defeated Tyler DeSantos (No. 3) in the final. Despite DeSantos’s sharp .022 light, Gopshes’s Pontiac charged past with a 4.292 at 180.26 mph to DeSantos’s 4.431 at 164.93 mph.

Limited Drag Radial

Limited Drag Radial (LDR) featured 16 cars on stock-appearing drag radials. Brett LaSala’s Snot Rocket 3.0 led qualifying with a 3.952 at 193.68 mph and carried that momentum through eliminations, running a personal best 3.885 at 195.53 mph in the semifinals.

On the opposite side of the ladder, No. 2 qualifier Dale Arnold advanced to the final after a broke-bye in round one, a win over Justin Lehr in round two, and a close victory against Brian Weddle in the semis.

In the final, however, Arnold was shut off after the burnout due to an oil leak, handing LaSala the victory.

Outlaw Imports

For the first time, Yellowbullet Nationals featured an eight-car Outlaw Imports class, showcasing wild, short-wheelbase, high-horsepower machines capable of six-second, 200-mph runs.

Jamil Negron led qualifying at 6.503 and met Jose Mendez in the final. Negron left first and stayed clean while Mendez aborted early, putting Negron in the winners’ circle.

Top Sportsman – Elite 16

Erica Coleman qualified No. 1 in her ’68 Camaro with a 3.846 at 193.79 mph.

In the final, Michael Cerro defeated Dan Ferguson in a thriller by just .002 seconds. Cerro posted a .027 light and ran 4.063 on a 4.05 dial-in, edging Ferguson’s .023 light and 3.929 on a 3.91 dial-in.

Top Sportsman 32

Mike Daymude led qualifying with a 4.263 at 165.78 mph.

In the final, Dave Muller defeated Levon Curry, running closer to his dial-in after Curry left first.

10.00 Index

The 10.00 Index field was fierce, with a bump of 10.059. The top four qualifiers all posted 10.000s, with Greg Bagnell Jr. claiming the No. 1 spot.

In the final, Shane Ballas (No. 3) faced Anthony Cupola (No. 8). Ballas cut a .002 light and ran 10.021 at 134.50 mph, while Cupola broke out with a 9.979 at 136.50 mph.

Pro Dial

The largest class of the weekend featured 121 racers. “Fast” Freddy Perkins led qualifying with a 7.613 at 178.83 mph.

In the final, Derrick Bilboe’s ’95 Ford Ranger faced Mark Petit deHange’s ’70 Nova. DeHange cut a stellar .008 light, but Bilboe was closer to his dial-in, running 11.478 on an 11.47 dial-in at 115.11 mph. DeHange broke out with a 10.688 on a 10.70 dial-in.