Cory Reed is dominating small-tire racing, having just secured his second consecutive victory in the IHRA Small Tire BRATZ Series at Virginia Motorsports Park. Driving Manny Buginga’s “Freddy” Mustang, Reed advanced through the bracket by defeating several competitors, including Adrian Herrera, Dustin Mewbourn, and large contender Bill Lutz, ultimately triumphing over Tom “Jimmy Dale” Gunner in the finals to claim the Ironman trophy.

The BRATZ format features a single power adder, 28×10.5 slicks, and no-time competition, where the win light is the only measure of success. Reed acknowledges the challenges of controlling powerful small-tire cars and credits his success to trusting his vehicle. The Mustang’s powerful Hemi engine is tuned by the renowned Red Hat Mafia team, contributing to Reed’s impressive performance.

Reed is open about the technical challenges he faced during the race, mentioning issues with the map sensor. Despite this, he and his team managed to secure wins, highlighting the unpredictable nature of small-tire racing. Since transitioning from Pro Stock Motorcycle to Pro Stock and now to small-tire racing, Reed has appreciated the mentorship from Buginga, a respected figure in the sport.

Following his victory, Reed is set to compete again in Montgomery, Alabama, as he aims for a third consecutive win in the 2026 season, while Gunner’s debut signifies rising competition in the small-tire racing scene.



Source: dragillustrated.com