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WENDELL VICKERIE TAKES THE M1 WIN
Years of testing and development come together with an M1 win at Maryland International Raceway.
BUILT OVER YEARS.
Wendell Vickerie’s H-DAY win didn’t happen overnight. It was the result of more than a decade of racing, development, setbacks, and steady progress.
Wendell first entered drag racing in 2014 through his tuner, Danny Tuning, who helped get the program off the ground and played an important role in his early years in the sport.
As the car progressed and Wendell continued looking for more performance, he connected with Drag Cartel in 2019. By 2021, he was officially competing as a sponsored Drag Cartel driver in Nitro All Motor, eventually pushing the car into the eight-second range while continuing to develop new engine combinations and setups.
“IN DRAG RACING, THE WINS ARE WHAT PEOPLE REMEMBER—BUT THEY DON’T ALWAYS SEE EVERYTHING IT TOOK TO GET THERE.”
THE BROKEN PARTS. THE LATE NIGHTS. THE TESTING. THE LOSSES. AND THE PEOPLE WHO KEPT BELIEVING.
THE MOVE TO M1.
After years of competing in Nitro All Motor, Wendell stepped into the M1 class in 2025 and entered a new phase of development for the program.
The team initially started with a 99mm combination before eventually moving to a 102mm setup as they continued searching for more performance.
The season brought plenty of testing, adjustments, and setbacks. Axle failures became one of the biggest challenges, forcing the team to continue working through the combination while learning what the car needed at the new performance level.
By the end of the 2025 season, the work was beginning to pay off. The car had developed into a more consistent combination capable of running in the 9.4-second range—giving Wendell and the team a strong foundation heading into 2026.
THE CHANGES PAID OFF.
During the offseason, Wendell and Jeremy focused on one of the biggest issues from the previous season: axle reliability. The team switched to Driveshaft Shop axles before heading into 2026.
When Cecil County opened for testing in March, the changes showed immediate results. Wendell began running consistent 9.4-second passes and quickly established a stronger, more dependable baseline for the new season.
THEN CAME THE BREAKTHROUGH.
Wendell put down a new personal best of 9.35 seconds at 147 mph, confirming that the offseason work had moved the program forward.
With H-DAY approaching, the team completed one final shakedown and headed to Maryland International Raceway with a combination that was faster, more consistent, and ready to compete.
READY TO GO ROUNDS.
Wendell arrived at Maryland International Raceway as an underdog, but it didn’t take long for the car to show that the combination was ready to compete.
The first pass off the trailer was a 9.47, setting the tone for the weekend. From there, Wendell continued running in the 9.4-second range through qualifying and eliminations.
The team wasn’t always the quickest car in the field, but the consistency of the combination kept Wendell moving forward round after round.
As eliminations progressed, Wendell continued doing exactly what the team needed—making clean passes, staying consistent, and putting himself in position to advance.
By the end of eliminations, the years of development had put Wendell exactly where he wanted to be:
IN THE H-DAY M1 FINAL.
ONE MORE PASS.
After working his way through the field, Wendell lined up against Joey Perez for the H-DAY 2026 M1 final.
Joey is known for being quick on the tree, making the start even more important. When the lights came down, Wendell got the advantage and put himself in position to finish the job.
From there, the focus was simple: stay in it and make a clean pass.
Joey ran into issues during the run, while Wendell continued cleanly through the finish line.
After years of testing, broken parts, changes, and development, Wendell Vickerie was officially an H-DAY 2026 M1 class winner.
BUILT TO GO ROUNDS.
Years of development ultimately came together in the combination that carried Wendell to the H-DAY 2026 M1 win.
Built around a 102mm setup and proven components from Drag Cartel and longtime industry partners, the car delivered the consistency the team needed when it mattered most.
BUILT THROUGH THE WORK.
The H-DAY 2026 victory is the latest milestone in a program that has continued to evolve through years of testing, setbacks, changes, and progress.
From Wendell’s early days in Nitro All Motor to the move into M1, the combination kept getting faster, stronger, and more consistent. The work put in throughout 2025 and the offseason ultimately came together when it mattered most.
We’re proud to have Wendell representing Drag Cartel and even more excited to see him take home the H-DAY M1 win.