DINWIDDIE, VA – In a final-round battle between the two winningest drivers in Switzer Dynamics Pro Nitrous, four-time world champion Jim Halsey collected his first win of the 2024 Red Line Oil PDRA Drag Racing Series season when he defeated three-time and reigning world champion Tommy Franklin on a holeshot. Halsey charged to a 3.628-second pass at 208.33 MPH to finish ahead of Franklin and his 3.613 E.T. Saturday night at the Kaeser Compressors Mid-Atlantic Showdown presented by Classic Graphix at Virginia Motorsports Park.

Spencer Hyde earned his first-ever WS Construction Pro Boost presented by P2 Contracting and Ty-Drive win to join Halsey and fellow multi-time pro class winners Johnny Pluchino (Liberty’s Gears Extreme Pro Stock presented by AED Competition), Doug Nicholl (PDRA Pro 632), Tim Essick (Menscer Motorsports Pro Street presented by Afco Racing), and Derek Mota (Afco Racing Super Street presented by Menscer Motorsports) in the winner’s circle.

Sportsman class victories went to Glenn Butcher in MagnaFuel Elite Top Sportsman presented by PAR Racing Engines, Kellan Farmer in Laris Motorsports Insurance Elite Top Dragster presented by Greenbrier Excavating & Paving, Jeff Melnick in MagnaFuel Top Sportsman presented by Corbin’s RV, and Chad Traylor in Laris Motorsports Insurance Top Dragster presented by Younce RV. Richie Allen in his ’70 Mustang defeated Keith Dunkum Jr. in his ’91 Mustang in the Edelbrock Bracket Bash presented by COMP Cams final round. Continue reading →

DINWIDDIE, VA – Multi-time No. 1 qualifier Melanie Salemi fired off a 3.585-second, 209.01 MPH pass Friday night at the Red Line Oil PDRA Drag Racing Series Kaeser Compressors Mid-Atlantic Showdown presented by Classic Graphix to qualify No. 1 atop the quickest field in WS Construction Pro Boost presented by P2 Contracting and Ty-Drive history. After just two qualifying sessions at Virginia Motorsports Park, the 16-car Pro Boost field was separated by just .053 seconds.

An evening rain shower led to an abbreviated qualifying program, with all professional classes completing two of three scheduled qualifying sessions to set the fields for Saturday eliminations. Jim Halsey (Switzer Dynamics Pro Nitrous), Johnny Pluchino (Liberty’s Gears Extreme Pro Stock presented by AED Competition), Amber Franklin (PDRA Pro 632), Ethan Steding (Menscer Motorsports Pro Street presented by Afco Racing), and Derek Mota (Afco Racing Super Street presented by Menscer Motorsports) also qualified No. 1 in the pro classes. Continue reading →

DINWIDDIE, VA – Two weeks after a record-setting start to the 2024 season, the Red Line Oil PDRA Drag Racing Series will be back on track this weekend at the Kaeser Compressors Mid-Atlantic Showdown presented by Classic Graphix. Set for April 18-20, the Mid-Atlantic Showdown will feature a wide range of racing action in the PDRA’s professional, sportsman, and Jr. Dragster classes as racers from across the country compete at the series’ “home track,” Virginia Motorsports Park (VMP).

“It’s always fun to welcome everyone to our home turf at Virginia Motorsports Park,” said Tyler Crossnoe, PDRA series director and VMP vice president. “VMP has been a staple on the PDRA tour since the very beginning of the series in 2014. Virginia fans know when the PDRA is coming to town, and they’re in for a show this weekend. The season opener in North Carolina was off the rails with excitement, and you do not want to miss the second edition of the PDRA this season.”

The two quickest and fastest categories in the PDRA, Switzer Dynamics Pro Nitrous and WS Construction Pro Boost presented by P2 Contracting and Ty-Drive, both enter the Mid-Atlantic Showdown with brand-new elapsed-time national records. Four-time world champion Jim Halsey lowered the Pro Nitrous record that he already held to a 3.608-second effort, and Derek Ward charged to a 3.555 to set the new Pro Boost record. Continue reading →

BENSON, NC – Longtime nitrous doorslammer racer Brian Shrader broke through to claim his first Professional Drag Racers Association (PDRA) Switzer Dynamics Pro Nitrous victory Saturday night at the season-opening Summit Racing Equipment East Coast Nationals presented by FuelTech at GALOT Motorsports Park. Pro Nitrous was guaranteed a first-time winner, as Shrader defeated Fredy Scriba in the final round at the first of eight championship points races on the 2024 Red Line Oil PDRA Drag Racing Series schedule.

Shrader was joined in the winner’s circle by professional class winners Todd Tutterow in WS Construction Pro Boost presented by P2 Contracting and Ty-Drive, Johnny Pluchino in Liberty’s Gears Extreme Pro Stock presented by AED Competition, Andy House in PDRA Pro 632, Eric McKinney in Drag 965 Pro Extreme Motorcycle, Scott Kincaid in Menscer Motorsports Pro Street presented by Afco Racing, and Blake Denton in Afco Racing Super Street presented by Menscer Motorsports.

Sportsman class victories went to Randy Perkinson in MagnaFuel Elite Top Sportsman presented by PAR Racing Engines, Michael White in Laris Motorsports Insurance Elite Top Dragster presented by Greenbrier Excavating & Paving, Ron Whitlock in MagnaFuel Top Sportsman presented by Corbin’s RV, and Danielle Gonzalez in Laris Motorsports Insurance Top Dragster presented by Younce RV. Amanda Manual picked up the win in Edelbrock Bracket Bash presented by COMP Cams, using a 6.108 on a 6.10 dial-in in her ’99 S10 to defeat Will Holloman in his ’21 American dragster.

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BENSON, NC – Derek Ward’s fast-paced start to the 2024 Pro Modified season continued Friday night when he lowered the Professional Drag Racers Association (PDRA) Pro Boost elapsed time national record to qualify No. 1 at the Summit Racing Equipment East Coast Nationals presented by FuelTech at GALOT Motorsports Park. Racing at the Red Line Oil PDRA Drag Racing Series season opener, Ward recorded a 3.555-second pass at 211.76 MPH in the final qualifying session to set the record and claim his first No. 1 qualifier award in WS Construction Pro Boost presented by P2 Contracting and Ty-Drive.

Four-time Switzer Dynamics Pro Nitrous world champion Jim Halsey also went quicker than his own E.T. national record with a 3.608 at 208.84 to qualify No. 1. He’ll need to run within 1% of that performance to back up the record during eliminations.

No. 1 qualifiers in the PDRA’s additional pro classes are JR Carr in Liberty’s Gears Extreme Pro Stock presented by AED Competition, Amber Franklin in PDRA Pro 632, Chris Garner-Jones in Drag 965 Pro Extreme Motorcycle, Ron Green in Menscer Motorsports Pro Street presented by Afco Racing, and Derek Mota in Afco Racing Super Street presented by Menscer Motorsports.

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FREDERICKSBURG, VA – This week marks the beginning of a new decade for the Professional Drag Racers Association (PDRA), which became the Red Line Oil PDRA Drag Racing Series over the winter. The series will begin its 11th season of all-eighth-mile drag racing April 3-6 at the Summit Racing Equipment East Coast Nationals presented by FuelTech at GALOT Motorsports Park. It’s the first of eight points-earning races for the professional, sportsman, and Jr. Dragster drivers competing for the 2024 PDRA world championships.

“The best in the business will be in North Carolina at GALOT Motorsports Park this weekend as the Red Line Oil PDRA Drag Racing Series kicks off for 2024,” said Tyler Crossnoe, series director, PDRA. “As exciting as it was to celebrate 10 years of the PDRA last season, we’re even more excited about moving into decade two with our new series title sponsor, Red Line Oil, and all of the initiatives that we believe will take the series to the next level. We have some of the best racers in the world, and we’re looking forward to introducing them to even more fans this season.”

The East Coast Nationals will include all 12 categories that compete within the PDRA, spread out across professional, sportsman, and Jr. Dragster categories. Teams will have the opportunity to test for two days before starting Friday qualifying and Saturday eliminations.

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FREDERICKSBURG, VA – Kaeser Compressors, one of the largest providers of compressed air systems and solutions, has signed on as the title sponsor of the Red Line Oil PDRA Drag Racing Series’ second race of the 2024 season, the Mid-Atlantic Showdown presented by Classic Graphix, April 18-20, at Virginia Motorsports Park. Kaeser Compressors has also been named the Official Air Compressor of the PDRA.

“The Kaeser Compressors team are no strangers to drag racing, but we’re thrilled to welcome them to the PDRA as an event title sponsor and the Official Air Compressor of the series,” said Will Smith, marketing director, PDRA. “Kaeser Compressors has been on the side of Jeff Brooks’ Henry J Top Sportsman car for many years. We’re proud that Michael Camber [Kaeser Compressors Marketing Services Manager] and the Kaeser Compressors group chose to expand their involvement in drag racing through the PDRA.”

Based in Fredericksburg, Va., Kaeser Compressors goes to market through a nationwide network of exclusive branches and distributors, each with factory-trained sales and service people. Kaeser’s complete line of compressed air system products includes industrial electric screw compressors and portable gasoline and diesel rotary screw compressors with the highly efficient Sigma ProfileTM, rotary lobe and screw blowers, compressed air boosters, and vacuum packages. Kaeser also provides an unrivaled range of air treatment and other system components including tanks, piping, and controls.

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FREDERICKSBURG, VA – Chad Traylor went into the 2023 Professional Drag Racers Association (PDRA) season just hoping to secure a top 10 finish in the MagnaFuel Top Sportsman presented by Corbin’s RV points standings. Despite driving a new-to-him car and having never really competed on a full-time basis in the series, Traylor finished the eight-race season as the 2023 Top Sportsman world champion with two victories.

Over the winter going into the 2023 season, Traylor was approached by longtime friend Keith Cox with a proposal to drive Cox’s recently purchased split-window ’63 Corvette at some PDRA races. Traylor was already planning to run some of the races with his Top Dragster entry, so he added the Top Sportsman car to the lineup and went into the year with modest expectations.

The car gave Traylor and Cox fits early on, but a win at the Mid-Atlantic Showdown presented by Classic Graphix at Traylor’s home track, Virginia Motorsports Park, provided the duo with the momentum boost they needed to chase the title.

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INDIANAPOLIS – Red Line Synthetic Oil, a leading manufacturer of engine oils and lubricants, will serve as the series title sponsor of the Professional Drag Racers Association (PDRA) for the 2024 season and beyond, the series announced today during a press conference at the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Show. The multi-year partnership makes Red Line Oil the first series title sponsor in the 10-year history of the all-eighth-mile drag racing series. The 2024 PDRA Red Line Oil Drag Racing Series season will feature eight points-earning races, as well as the fourth annual Summit Racing Equipment PDRA ProStars race.

“This is a huge moment for the PDRA,” said Tommy Franklin, co-owner and co-founder, PDRA. “Since 2014, we’ve been building a reputation as the place to race for Pro Mods, Top Sportsman, Top Dragster, Jr. Dragsters, and more. I always say our racers in the PDRA are the best anywhere. It means a lot to all of us at the PDRA that Mark Beatty and Red Line Oil believe in what we’re doing and wanted to get more involved with the series in such a big way. I can’t think of a better way to kick off the next 10 years of the PDRA.”

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FREDERICKSBURG, VA – As the 2021 Professional Drag Racers Association (PDRA) Top Dragster world champion, TG Paschal knows what it takes to contend for championships. This season, he backed up his 2021 performance with two wins to claim the 2023 Laris Motorsports Insurance Top Dragster world championship.

“Winning a world championship was something that I’ve wanted to do for years,” said Paschal. “The first one meant a lot being the first one, but I think this year meant more because in ’21 when I won it, really all I had to do was go to Virginia for the World Finals and qualify and it was wrapped up. This year, I had to go and hope to do decent in order to win it. It worked out in the long run.”

When Paschal started the season by making it down to six cars at the season opener, he wasn’t sure that was a strong enough start to warrant a full championship chase. He quickly hit a stride, though, as he won the next two races, the Mid-Atlantic Showdown presented by Classic Graphix at Virginia Motorsports Park and the DeCerbo Construction American Doorslammer Challenge presented by Callies at Summit Motorsports Park.

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