PDRA
Tim McAmis Race Cars & Performance Parts Joins Forces With PDRA
PITTSBORO, NC – In the fast doorslammer world the name Tim McAmis is universally recognized. In 1990 McAmis 
won the inaugural IHRA Pro Modified World Championship and two years later he opened Tim McAmis Race Cars in Hawk Point, Missouri.
The same powerful work ethic, innovative spirit and drive to know every aspect of a race car that led Tim to win championships, combined with superior products and the “greatest customer service in the business,” have allowed Tim McAmis Race Cars & Performance Parts to remain a trusted source and industry leader for over 20 years. Today, TMRC’s dedicated staff continues to design, build and manufacture state-of-the-art drag racing parts, components and race cars catered to a customer’s specific needs.
Checking In With Bubba Stanton
PITTSBORO, NC – We’re less than two months away from the kickoff for the PDRA’s inaugural tour. Teams are in 
high gear getting things in place for the season opener, the Texas Nationals March 19-21 where the 2014 Champions will have their first opportunity to sport the coveted number 1 on their cars. While being the reigning champ has its perks, that number 1 can also act like a bullseye with everyone gunning to put themselves in that spot this season. Reigning Pro Extreme Champ, Bubba Stanton, is about as humble and unassuming as they come. If his car didn’t portray his elevated status, there would be none the wiser.
As the Dallas, Tx. event quickly approaches, Stanton plans to let his drag racing persona continue to fly under the radar while his car does the talking.
PDRA Top Sportsman Racers Have Extra Incentive to go for Low Qualifier in 2015
PITTSBORO, NC – The Professional Drag Racers Association is known for its highly competitive eighth mile 
doorslammer racing. Though considered a sportsman class because of its bracket racing format, Top Sportsman (TS) is arguably one of the toughest and most fascinating classes in the series. Qualifying competition is fierce, requiring the top 16 to run a 4.160 or better to make the PDRA Finals in Virginia last October. Once qualified these men and women must dial their cars in running 4.10s or better, judging the finish line at around 180 MPH.
For 2015, veteran TS racer Bruce Thrift has teamed up with FTI Performance to sponsor a #1 Qualifier Award for each of the 10 events on the tour. The FTI Performance #1 Qualifier Award will present a plaque and $300 to each of the top qualifiers, beginning at the Texas Nationals March 19-21.
White Safety Equipment Committed to PDRA Racer Safety in 2015
PITTSBORO, NC – There is nothing more important to competitive racers than safety. Not a new car, not massive 
amounts of horsepower, not even winning races and championships. Without an environment that is as safe as humanly possible nothing else matters.
Carl White understands this, and he lives it every day. A longtime racer and provider of safety equipment, White, through White Safety Equipment, is committed to using his experience and knowledge to make well-designed, quality safety equipment available to racers.
Sonny’s Racing Engines Announces Pro Nitrous Low Qualifier Challenge
Sonny’s Racing Engines is proud to announce that they will once again be providing support to PDRA competitors 
with the Sonny’s Pro Nitrous Low Qualifier Challenge.
Building on the success they had as an integral part of the PDRA’s inaugural 2014 season, Sonny’s Racing Engines, of Lynchburg, Virginia, has stepped up once again to the tune of $33,000 in contingency and bonus payouts.
This season the Sonny’s Pro Nitrous Low Qualifier Challenge will pay $500.00 to the No.1 qualifiers in the Switzer Dynamics Pro Nitrous category, regardless of what engine they use.
THIRD GENERATION OF KIRK RACING READY TO TAKE ON PDRA TOP DRAGSTER
With the start of the 2015 Professional Drag Racers Association (PDRA) season less than two months away no one is 
looking forward to it more than 22-year-old Justin Kirk. The third-generation racer from Lenore, WV, is excited about stepping into Randy Kelley’s supercharged dragster and going after Rookie of the Year honors and maybe even this season’s PDRA Top Dragster championship.
“Last fall we were actually looking for a blower to put on my car, the one we ran at four races in 2013 with the ADRL, so we called Randy up to see if he had one or knew where we could look,” Kirk said. “He said he was cutting back a little this year and suggested maybe I should just drive his car. I wasn’t expecting that, to be honest, but it’s a great car and I couldn’t be happier about the opportunity. It’s like a dream come true for me.”
Andy McCoy Race Cars Steps Up to Sponsor PDRA Live Feed ‘Driver Showcase’
PITTSBORO, NC – The Professional Drag Racers Association is stepping up their Live Feed coverage by Motor Mania 
TV for their sophomore season. PDRA TV was a huge hit in 2014 with an average of 22,000 viewers per race. For the 2015 season, Andy McCoy Race Cars is joining the PDRA team of sponsors as the presenter of the Driver Showcase portion of the Live Feed.
The Andy McCoy Race Cars Driver Showcase will feature an inside look at the unique and storied drivers of the PDRA, taking fans behind the scenes of all their favorite teams.
“We wanted to do more with the PDRA,” explained Andy McCoy. “In talking to the PDRA staff, we decided the Driver’s Showcase would be a really good fit for us. I’ve been friends with Jason for a long time. I grew up with him down in Mississippi. I’ve seen him and his dad grow in their success over the years. I like to surround myself with successful people and with them it’s a no brainer. I listen to what they have to say.
Derrick Beach Joins PDRA Announcing Team
PITTSBORO, NC – One of the youngest standouts in motorsports broadcasting is joining the Professional Drag 
Racers Association for the 2015. Derrick Beach started announcing when he was just 12 years old at his home track, National Trail Raceway in Columbus, Ohio. At the age of 16 he then joined the NHRA as Division 3 announcer. At just 18 years of age, he went on the NHRA national event tour, where he announced for two years. Last year he stepped back from the busy travel schedule and focused on specialty events, such as the Spring Fling at Bristol Dragway. Now in 2015, he joins the PDRA team of announcers.
Together with seasoned veteran Brian Olson, Beach will bring voice to the action on and off the track at all PDRA National Events in 2015. Although still early in his career, Beach has announced events from Super Chevy to NMCA and NMRA. He even made ESPN guest-commentator appearances when he was still in Junior Dragster competition. He’s also been on Horsepower TV for the NHRA Hot Rod Reunion.
PDRA Announces New Class for 2015: Powershield Coatings Pro Open Outlaw
PITTSBORO, NC – In only their second season as the world’s premier eighth-mile drag racing association, the PDRA 
is already expanding their class line up. Pro Open Outlaw will debut at select events on the PDRA tour in 2015 with an eight car field. Powershield Coatings, a division of Toefco Engineered Coating Systems, has stepped up to sponsor the class.
Pro Open Outlaw (PO) will be a unique addition to the PDRA lineup of professional categories. As signified by the class name this will be a true outlaw class, open to dragster and altered body types. Few rules will govern the class. Other than the obvious SFI safety standards, rules include 14-71 blowers only- cast or billet. Screw blowers are prohibited, as is nitromethane. Transmissions must use torque convertors. Turbos are limited to 88mm. Wheelie bars are required. Pro Open Outlaw will operate on a pro ladder with a .400 pro tree. Weights have been set at 1700 lb minimum for small blocks and 1900 lb minimum for big block entries.
Melanie Simmons Salemi Moves to Pro Boost in 2015
PITTSBORO, NC – Canadian-turned-New Yorker, Melanie Simmons Salemi, will be pulling the next gear in her 
racing career, moving from Top Dragster to Pro Boost in 2015. Pro Boost quickly became one of the most sought after classes in the PDRA, among racers and fans alike. The class has had only one female competitor (Carol Long) prior to Melanie campaigning in the PDRA 2015 season.
The 30 year old is teaming up with fellow Canadian and Pro Boost racer, Jay Santos. Both Salemi and Santos will have new ‘69 Camaros for the 2015 season built by Melanie’s brother-in-law, Jim Salemi who owns G-Force Race Cars.
