CONCORD, N.C. Jake Timm is set to become the latest driver in a long line of modified stalwarts to take their talents to the World of Outlaws Late Models.

The Winona, Minn., driver is turning his full focus to super late model racing, throwing his hat into the ring for this seasons MD3 Rookie of the Year Award.

We really wanted to do a lot more Late Model racing a couple years ago, but we had some bad luck with engines that kind of knocked us back a step, Timm said. We raced modifieds last year and kind of set the late model aside a little bit. Had a pretty good year there. Kind of built our program back up a little bit along with some of our sponsors stepping up, it just made it possible for us this year. Definitely been in the works for two or three years now.

If a modified driver from southern Minnesota diving into full-time late model racing with the World of Outlaws sounds like a familiar story, it should Dustin Sorensen did exactly that in 2024.

Sorensen finished his freshman year with a commendable five top fives and a top 10 points finish, enough to claim last seasons Rookie of the Year crown. Not only does Timm now have a roadmap to follow, he also has the chance to renew a friendly rivalry at the pinnacle of dirt late model racing.

Me and Dustin have known each other forever, Timm said. We both raced Slingshots, then B-Mods, then modifieds at Mississippi Thunder (Speedway) and Deer Creek (Speedway) weekly. So, weve raced together our entire lives. Were good friends, weve raced together for a long time, and its always been slide jobs, always clean.

Going back beyond that, his dad and my dad raced against each other the same way, just Friday and Saturday, every weekend against each other in modifieds. So, its been a generational thing, and its been really fun to grow together. Its going to be pretty cool to race side-by-side again on the World of Outlaws. Both of us have dreamed of being at this level, so its pretty cool.

Timm may be new to the World of Outlaws, but he is no stranger to traveling the country racing for big money each weekend. He spent 2024 racing for the United States Modified Touring Series championship, earning victories at three facilities Timm will return to in 2025 with the series.

It provides a stepping-stone, Timm said. Ive kind of spent my career there the last two or three years racing modifieds and last year was the first year I actually followed it full-time. Without having something like that where you can get a point fund check at the end of the year and race for good money all the time, I wouldnt have been able to build my program up enough to race late models. Theres a lot of good drivers at that level. You learn to race aggressively and race smart and all that as well. So, its definitely a good stepping-stone.

Bringing the top rookie honors back to Minnesota for the second-straight year would be an ideal end to the season for the No. 49 team, but theyre also keeping their expectations in check for now. As the saying goes in order to finish first, first you must finish.

First and foremost, finish the season and do the best we can, Timm said. I really just want to make all the races. Top 10s would be great, top fives too. I almost won a qualifier at Mississippi Thunder a couple years ago, so it would be really cool to pull off a win, but I also know how hard it is. Those guys are tough to beat, so well just do the best we can.

BROWNSBURG, Ind.  Women will be leading the charge at JCM Racing as headliners Alexis DeJoria and Ida Zetterström have been commissioned to assume the driving responsibilities for Joe and P.J. Maynards two-car operation.

Competing as the sports first all-female nitro team, DeJoria (previously announced) will pilot the Bandero Premium Tequila Funny Car while Zetterström will be at the controls of the JCM Racing Top Fuel dragster.

DeJoria and Zetterström will make their debut as JCM Racing teammates during National Womens Month when the 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season kicks off with the NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla., March 7-9.

DeJoria, a 12-year Funny Car veteran who previously competed under the DC Motorsports banner, will run the full slate of NHRA Mission Foods Series events.

Returning for her sophomore season with JCM, Zetterström is confirmed for a half-season schedule consisting of 10 races with the goal of adding events in hopes of running a full-season campaign.

This sport has a long history of powerful women who have made their mark not only on NHRA Drag Racing but the motorsports industry as a whole, said Maynard, JCM Racing team owner. Women have been at the forefront of the NHRA for many years, and were proud to be the first organization to have an all-female roster of nitro-powered drivers. Ida and Alexis are the full package and will represent us well both on and off the track.

Working with Ida last year, and seeing her drive and tenacity, I have no doubt that its only a matter of time before she has an NHRA championship to go along with her European championships, added Maynard. Her work ethic is incredible and that translates to success on the track. Im hopeful we can continue to add more races to her schedule this year and put her in a position to have a shot at the Countdown. As for Alexis, its clear that she is right there on the cusp, a champion-in-the-making, and our goal for this season is to put her in the best car surrounded by a great team so that she can make a run at becoming the first woman in NHRA history to win a Funny Car title.

Calling the shots on the Bandero Funny Car is Mike Zippy Neff, who has been instrumental in tuning multiple high-profile drivers to numerous race wins in addition to his two Funny Car championships.

The Zetterström/Jon Schaffer driver/crew chief duo remains intact after a late-season 2024 debut. Like Neff, Schaffers resume is also jam-packed with highlights, including double-digit race wins and a series title since assuming the role of NHRA crew chief.

At their first race together at the 2024 Brainerd, Minn. event, Zetterström and Schaffer impressed with a semifinal finish but felt that they didnt truly hit their stride until several races later when the season was coming to an end.

I feel like we left a lot on the table when it comes to showing people what were capable of, explained Zetterström. Everyone else had a 12-race head start on us so by the time we came out in August, the rest of the field had several months of getting the kinks worked out. Not to mention, many of those teams have worked together for years and years whereas we were a brand-new team that was starting from scratch. Right as it started to feel like we were getting into our groove, the season ended. So, were ready to get back out there and prove ourselves. I hope we can put together the proper funding to race a full season, but regardless, Ill be out at the track every race weekend, either competing for win lights or supporting my new teammate from the starting line. Im excited for Alexis and me to be teammates this year.

Amid all the excitement, parties, and frivolities that abound, for participants the Chili Bowl Nationals is a serious undertaking. Even for those who arrive with modest expectations, considerable time has been invested and the bank account has been depleted.

Bob East may be a Hall of Famer, but he isnt immune from this reality. This year he came to Tulsa with lofty expectations, and in some respects, matters turned south almost instantly.

East was paired once more with young Louisiana racer Chelby Hinton. His trained eye recognizes potential, and he relished anew the opportunity to help Hinton develop his skills. As for his second driver, there was a last second change of plans.

Jason McDougal wanted to race with me again and he told me he felt the Chili Bowl owed him one, East said. Veteran fans recalled McDougals thrilling run through the so called alphabet soup in 2021 that ended while battling with Ryan Bernal for a transfer spot.

Then things changed.

About three or four weeks ago Jason called me and told me that a guy called him and said that if he raced in the Chili Bowl with him, he could run quite a few midget races during the year, East noted. I told him that I couldnt do that, so you had better take that deal.

That is where things stood until Easts longtime associate Dave Brzozowski entered the picture. Brzozowski was working with World of Outlaws driver Bill Balog on a shock order when he casually asked if Balog might be interested in running at the Chili Bowl. Balog liked the idea.

Given Easts place as one of the giants of midget racing it seems unfathomable that getting ready for Tulsa presented a different kind of challenge. Yet, it did. Getting the cars ready to go took a couple of hard days of work, but that represented only a fraction of what needed to be done.

The preparation for the race is as much as anything getting the trailer ready, he said. Especially when you dont run a midget all the time. Getting the trailer ready and the spares you need takes as much time as anything. Were geared up for Silver Crown racing. That meant we had to load up everything, two cars and spares, in a separate trailer that we dont use right now.

There is the expense that comes with travel, food, lodging, all in the hopes of having a chance to compete at a high level. Right from the start East was optimistic.

Bill went out in practice and he just putted around on the slow warmup and then they threw the green flag, and he went down into one, jumped up to the cushion and passed two cars. Thats Outlaw style. He knew you cant fool around.

Watching Balog in action got Easts heartbeat up a bit, but it was the debriefing that followed that genuinely excited him.

I had never raced with him and I really didnt know him, East said. Hes kind of quiet, but the more he was around the more talkative he was. He also knew exactly what he wanted. It was easy to communicate with him.

Balog clearly understood the task before him and was prepared to do what it took to get results.

He was ready to race, East said. He told me he had thought about it all night. He said I hope we dont have to fight our way out of here, but Im not going to be nice.

Like it or not, in many ways it is the kind of attitude the Chili Bowl demands.

Unfortunately, the entire experience was over before the first heat race fired off on Monday night. We broke a valve, said a dejected East. Those Chevy motors run good enough, but every once in a while, they have a valve problem. You break a valve spring, and it breaks the tip of the valve off. Some of those engines run a long time and this one was fresh.

There is the instant emotional letdown. This is a once-a-year event. Not surprisingly, East also felt horrible.

It was tough, he said. Bill was going to go home because he is so busy getting ready for the Outlaw season. Thats why I switched him to Monday night. He was going to work all week and come back Friday night. It took time from what he was doing, so I felt really bad about that. His dad was even there from Alaska.

Thankfully Balog took it in stride. He thanked us and told us we gave it our best shot, East noted. Hes a professional. It was disappointing because he felt he could do well, but when you race as much as he does things like this happen all the time. He also takes care of his own stuff, so he knows that these things are usually not due to a lack of effort.

For the East camp spirits were buoyed on Wednesday night when Hinton qualified for the A main event. His night ended when he was caught in a melee, but there was still much to build on. There was still a chance to get a good result before the week ended. To make that a reality, East felt one critical piece of advice was needed.

I had to talk to him about getting more aggressive, he revealed. I had to remind him that this was not a nice guys sport. At times, as Balog can attest, it can be a cruel sport as well.