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.

Mia Schultz finished second behind Alexis in TJD points. Last year’s champion David Roloff finished third. Caleb Russell and Arellyn Garner round out the top five. In PJD it was Tia Tutterow, daughter of famed Pro Extreme driver Todd Tutterow, in second. Then Alexcis Schultz, Isaac Evans and Nicholas Cannon in third through fifth.

Although the Dart Top Dragster points battle remained tight throughout the year, it was Justin Melton who stood atop the leaderboard once all was said and done. He scored the TD Championship in a borrowed car as driver for Danny Payne, who was unable to compete this year due to a knee injury. Putting Melton in the car was obviously a good move, and provided the best possible outcome Payne could hope in a year where he was forced to sit on the sidelines. Following Melton in points was Derrick Sholar, Craig Sullivan, Kyle Dvorak and Barry Brown.

Magna Fuel Top Sportsman saw a return to the spotlight for multi-time champ, Ronnie Davis. Although the 2014 reigning champion, Dan Ferguson, had a mathematical chance at back-to-back championships going into the World Finals, Davis put to rest any chance Ferguson had with a decisive win at the final event. The golf cart dealer from Georgia has now won championships in three distinct national series. Ferguson did end up second in points behind Davis, with Aaron Glaser, Cheyenne Stanley, and Bruce Thrift rounding out the top five.

In the first year of its existence with the PDRA, Toefco Powershield Coatings Pro Open Outlaw provided a unique experience for fans at five select events this season. POO Champion Jody Stroud had phenomenal season with two wins and two runner up finishes. One would think that would be enough to walk away easily with the championship. However, Phil Esz kept things interesting with three wins this season and finished exactly one round worth of points behind Stroud. Eddie Lykins, Robert Frigon, and Mark McElwee finished third, fourth and fifth respectively.

The 2015 Champion in Drag 965 Pro Extreme Motorcycle was no surprise this year as Eric McKinney successfully defended his 2014 PXM Championship. He dominated early, winning the first three events this season. Then followed those wins with two runner up finishes. Although McKinney ran into a slump late in the season, his early success was enough to keep him on top. With three final round appearances this year, Chris Garner-Jones finished second in points followed by Terry Schweigert in third, McKinney’s teammate Ashley Owens in fourth, and Chuck Wilburn finishing off the top five.

The difference between finishing first and second in Precision Turbo Pro Boost is a scant 14 points. The heartache in this battle belongs to GALOT Motorsports driver Kevin Rivenbark while Kevin Fiscus is triumphant in the PB title. Although Rivenbark was the points leader heading into the World Finals and qualified number one at the event, an early exit in round one for Rivenbark and a round one win for Fiscus was all that was required for Fiscus to capture the 2015 Championship. Anthony DiSomma finished third in Pro Boost, with Ric Fleck and Jeremy Ray following in fourth and fifth.

At the beginning of season no one would have guessed the 2015 Switzer Dynamics Pro Nitrous Champion, not even the winner himself. Pro Mod legend Rickie Smith had been focusing his efforts on NHRA Pro Mod, winning back-to-back Championships in 2013-14. His plan was to only run the PDRA events close to his King, North Carolina home this year. However, he enjoyed the events and was successful enough that he decided to pursue the entire series. It paid off and Smith held off PDRA part-owner Tommy Franklin for the PN Championship. Steve Jackson, Jay Cox, and 2014 Champ Jason Harris followed Smith and Franklin in PN points.

Heading into the World Finals, famed driver and part owner of the PDRA Jason Scruggs had a sizeable lead in NAS Racing Pro Extreme over Badir Ahli. Although Badir Ahli gave a valiant effort, winning the event, he still lost the war as Scruggs secured enough points at the event to clinch the championship. With five wins to his credit this year, it’s been a dream season for Scruggs, who will fly the number one on his recognizable red Camaro in 2016. Badir Ahli held on to second. Todd Tutterow finished third in his return to Pro Extreme competition, followed by Brandon Snider and Terry Leggett in fourth and fifth.

These newly crowned champions will be honored at the PDRA banquet, held December 12 in Indianapolis, Indiana. They will begin defending their titles when the short off season ends with the PDRA season opener at Tulsa Raceway Park, March 11-12. For a complete list of 2015 points visit www.pdra660.com.