PDRA
Rickie Smith in a League All His Own
PITTSBORO, NC – It started in 1976. Twenty-three year old Rickie Smith had only been in racing two years when 
IHRA opened up a class called Super Modified. The heads up nature of the class appealed to the young North Carolina native, who had, by that time, been bitten by the racing bug. Rules called for small block, single carburetor horsepower, what Smith calls “miniature Pro Stocks”. Smith dominated the class in ‘76, winning his first championship, just one of many to come. The following year, he not only successfully defended his championship, but defended it so well that IHRA did away with the class. He lost only two events all season and maintained a half a tenth to a tenth above the rest of the field. He was untouchable.
Thirty-nine years and another eight championships later, it would seem Rickie Smith is still untouchable, although in a different way. He’s now won three championships in three years: back to back NHRA Pro Mod Championships in 2013 and 2014 as well as the 2015 PDRA Pro Nitrous World Championship. This is quite a feat for anyone to accomplish, yet alone someone over the age of 60. Add to that the fact that Smith drives his own rig to and from the track, does much of the maintenance on his car in between rounds and makes all his own tuning calls and it’s safe to say that Smith is in a league all his own.
PDRA 2015 Highlight Trailer – VMP
Yep, this is cool, 2016 is gonna be another great season with the PDRA!
PDRA Pro Extreme Champ Jason Scruggs is Already Looking for More
PITTSBORO, NC – The newly crowned PDRA Pro Extreme World Champion, Jason Scruggs, just officially entered 
the off season from his day job as a farmer and already he’s back in race mode, testing the Jerry Bickel ‘69 Camaro that took him to five national event wins this season. For Scruggs, keeping status quo is never an option. Few people on earth work harder than farmers. Perhaps this is why Scruggs continually pushes the limits. His work ethic in his race team, his farming and equipment businesses, and his ventures with the PDRA is never ending. It’s really no surprise, then, that he’s successful in all areas and that he’s once again World Champion of the quickest and fastest eighth mile Pro Mods on the planet.
“You want to be successful in whatever you do,” stated the Saltillo, Miss. native. “You give one hundred percent and you work hard. Of course, when you do more than one thing like we are now, you’ve got to balance it out the best you can so that you don’t take too much time away from anything. You still have to do a good job at everything you do. We want to be successful in business. We want a good crop at our farm. You have to work at it. You have to stay late and start early. Hard work is what gets it done. Racing is no different. It goes hand in hand. Truthfully we don’t really have time to race like we need to. We try to make time and when we do go, we try to be efficient with what we do.”
Boone Racing and Jason Harris Will Debut New PN Corvette in 2016
PITTSBORO, NC – The inaugural PDRA Pro Nitrous Champion, Jason Harris, will pursue his next Championship 
behind the wheel of a 2016 Corvette. The fiery red Firebird that took Harris to the 2014 Championship has become synonymous with the driver, but now the 35 year old North Carolinian is ready for an updated look and another winning year, teaming up once again with Boone Racing and Robert Hayes Motorsports.
The Corvette will sport the same ‘racing red’ that has covered Harris’ machines for years, and, also like the Firebird, is being built by Robert Hayes Motorsports. “It’s time for a fresh look,” told Harris. “The Firebird is a great car and I’m going to hang on to it, but it’s got well over 1000 runs on it, so it’s time to update. I really prided myself on the Firebird because it was something different. We wanted to continue to have something that would stand out from the crowd a bit so I’m super excited about the ‘vette.”
Meet the PDRA Champions
PITTSBORO, NC – The dust has settled on the PDRA World Finals and rising from the sophomore year’s finale is a 
new regime of Champions. Nine drivers have proven they are the best in their individual classes and now emerge as the reigning World Champions of the PDRA. These drivers are as varied and unique as the cars they drive. They will lead the PDRA into its third season, providing the marks to shoot for in 2016.
The youngest star among these elite drivers is Alexis ‘Lexi’ Tanner. At the spry age of 13, she became the first female competitor to win a PDRA Championship, as she settled the Huddleston Performance Top Junior Dragster points battle with a decisive win at the World Finals. Adding further notoriety to the family, Lexi’s older brother Preston won the Huddleston Performance Pro Junior Dragster Championship, making them among the first, if not the first sibling duo to ever win national-level drag race championships in the same year. As a high school sophomore Preston has already amassed numerous junior championships, but it’s safe to say that winning this alongside his sister is one of the highlights of his budding career.
The PDRA Congratulates Their 2015 World Champions
PITTSBORO, NC – With the close of the PDRA World Finals, the series’ sophomore season is in the books, and the second set of champions has been crowned. The PDRA thanks its staff, tracks, racers, sponsors and fans for a successful season and congratulates the new champions.
In the PDRA’s marquee class, NAS Racing Pro Extreme, PDRA part owner and farmer by trade Jason Scruggs sealed the championship by winning first round. NAS Racing team member Badir Ahli finished second in points, ending the season on a high note by winning the World Finals.
Two Young Females Battle For PDRA Top Junior Dragster Championship
PITTSBORO, NC – Automotive racing is one of the few sports in which male and female compete directly against one 
another. In the Junior Dragster ranks, female competitors are as common as male competitors, marking an increase in female participation in the sport. PDRA drivers such as Lizzy Musi and Melani Salemi continue to pave the way in the professional ranks, but this year only in Junior Dragster will you find females vying for a championship. In Top Junior Dragster (TJD) the championship has been narrowed down to two ultra-competitive, incredibly talented racers, who both happen to be female.
Alexis ‘Lexi’ Tanner is currently sitting atop the points after winning the PDRA’s most recent event, Dragstock XII in Rockingham, N.C. Sitting in second is Mia Schultz, who has two runner up finishes to her credit this year. With less than two rounds of competition separating the two, the TJD Championship is far from over.
A Fight to the End in PDRA Pro Extreme
PITTSBORO, NC – As home to the quickest and fastest machines of the PDRA, NAS Racing Pro Extreme is always a 
must-watch class and 2015 was no different. The competition continually pushed the limits, causing fans to both hold their breath in excitement and shout loud the thrill of victory. Teams made incredible sacrifices and gains all throughout the season. NAS Racing Team member Mustafa Buhumaid led the points early after winning the first event and going to the finals again at the second stop on the tour. A mid-season setback for Buhumaid then allowed past champion Jason Scruggs to take over the points lead. However, the team from Dubai wasn’t done yet, and Buhumaid’s teammate Badir Ahli began charging on Scruggs, going to three finals in four races.
Going into the final event of the PDRA’s sophomore season, the points battle is now between Scruggs and Ahli. With five wins this season, Scruggs has an impressive lead, but if anyone is up to the challenge of taking him out, it’s NAS Racing.
PDRA Unveils 2016 Schedule
PITTSBORO, NC – The Professional Drag Racers Association paves the way for their third season with the release of the 2016 schedule. The nine race schedule will make stops at many facilities familiar to the PDRA. These tracks are major powerhouses in the industry, providing both top notch racing surfaces and great markets. Maryland International Raceway and Texas Motorplex are back on the schedule for the second year in a row. Tulsa Raceway Park rejoins the schedule after a one year hiatus. Several of the PDRA staples are on the schedule for the third year in a row.
The 2016 tour will kickoff at Tulsa Raceway Park just outside of Tulsa, Oklahoma, March 11-12. Rockingham Dragway will remain the second stop on the tour, April 8-9. Then May 20-21, it’s time to head west again to the famed Texas Motorplex in Ennis, Texas. US 131 Motorsports Park retains its familiar spot in June before the PDRA returns to Maryland International Raceway in July for the halfway point of the season.
Armor Coat Ceramic Header Coating to Sponsor PDRA TD Low Qualifier Award at Virginia
PITTSBORO, NC – Armor Coat, backed by parent company Aesthetic Finishers, is providing an extra incentive to 
PDRA Top Dragster racers at the Brian Olson Memorial World Finals presented by Mel Bush Motorsports. The low qualifier in Top Dragster (TD) will receive an extra $300 thanks to Armor Coat. This will be no easy feat for TD competitors, as the competition level continues to increase and fields are the quickest in the history of the class.
“As racers ourselves, we understand the importance of receiving individual service,” explained Aesthetic Finishers Inc. President, Bill Coomer. “From our large accounts to our engine builders, hot rodders and racers, we want folks to be aware that we are always looking for ways to make things more convenient for them. The bottom line is that we take pride in making sure our customer service is as personal as possible.
