PDRA
MVM by GALOT Becomes the Official Wheelie Bar of the PDRA
PITTSBORO, NC – MVM by GALOT Motorsports makes its first public move since the company changed ownership 
in October. The innovative wheelie bar manufacturer was started in 2012 by Mike Valerio. When the company was purchased by GALOT Motorsports everyone knew there were good things ahead. The first of new things for the company is a partnership with the PDRA to become the Official Wheelie Bar of the eighth-mile doorslammer series. GALOT Motorsports representative and 2016 PDRA Pro Boost World Champion, Kevin Rivenbark, has been heading up MVM by GALOT with Valerio’s continued expert design input.
“We were very fortunate to be able to acquire a proven product such as MVM carbon wheelie bars,” stated Rivenbark. “MVM has the only proven carbon wheelie bars on the market today, and that is what separates us from the rest. We are planning to carry it to the next level.
Andy McCoy Race Cars Sponsors Pro Boost in 2017
Rossler Transmissions Provides Low Qualifier Award
PITTSBORO, NC – Andy McCoy Race Cars has been a staunch PDRA supporter since the series’ inception. Now the 
premier chassis builder is increasing involvement by stepping up to sponsor PDRA’s Pro Boost category for the 2017 season. As well as backing the incredible Pro Boost action this season, Andy McCoy Race Cars is sponsoring the ‘Ask the Pros’ segment on the PDRA/Speed Video Live Feed for the second consecutive year.
Andy McCoy Race Cars Pro Boost has been a wildly popular category, both in terms of racer participation and fan response. Pitting different power adders against one another, Pro Boost is reminiscent of Pro Mod’s beginnings and provides similar excitement as turbocharged and import entries continue to increase, battling the more traditional blown, domestic machines. Andy McCoy Race Cars’ customer Tylor Miller of the Pee Dee Fleet team runs in the category and hopes to overtake the domination of GALOT Motorsports team members exhibited last season. He will debut a new AMRC-special body, a 1979 Corvette, later this year. AMRC is also building a new Pro Boost ride for Chris Russo, among others.
Team Aruba Gears Up for PDRA XPS Season with Florida Test Session
BRADENTON, Fl – The Extreme Pro Stock team from ‘The One Happy Island’ of Aruba left its mark on the Mountain 
Motor world in 2016. It was their best season yet, with a strong championship chase that earned driver Trevor Eman and the team a solid second place finish. After a brief off season Team Aruba is back in the states, prepping for another championship run in 2017.
With the International Hot Rod Association making drastic changes to its program this year and the Professional Drag Racers Association welcoming Extreme Pro Stock back for a full schedule, Eman and the Aruba.com Mustang will switch gears from quarter-mile to eighth-mile racing this season. The team is currently testing at Bradenton Motorsports Park to prepare for the eight race PDRA schedule.
Flatout Gaskets Nitrous Wars – Who Will Reign in 2017?
PITTSBORO, NC – The PDRA is proud to announce the Flatout Gaskets Nitrous Wars are back for 2017. Last year’s 
inaugural season established an official battle between PDRA Pro Nitrous drivers and their respective engine builders. Industry-leading gasket manufacturer, Flatout Gaskets stepped up to sponsor the Wars and has committed to do so again in 2017.
“Flatout Gaskets is excited to back the Nitrous Wars for a second year,” stated Flatout Gaskets President, Mark Adelizzi. “The talent in that class is incredible. Any of the 16 qualifiers could find themselves in the winner’s circle on race day. Add in the clash of engine builders and it makes every qualifying and eliminations pass a must-watch. The professionalism and desire to continually surpass performance barriers exhibited by Pro Nitrous exhibit is much the same as what we strive for here at Flatout Gaskets. It’s a perfect fit for us and I’m excited to see who comes out on top in 2017.”
Flatout Gaskets prides itself on top-notch customer service and the highest quality parts available for drag racing’s most demanding applications.
Pilot Flying J Continues Partnership with PDRA Teams
PITTSBORO, NC – For the third consecutive year Pilot Flying J is showing its support for PDRA teams, helping 
reduce travel costs to and from events. The program that began in 2015 allows teams to obtain a fuel discount card to automatically save $0.03 on every gallon of gas or diesel fuel. The discount card is valid at all Pilot Flying J centers across the U.S.
“The Pilot Flying J program has been extremely popular among our racers,” stated PDRA Director of Marketing, Will Smith. “We appreciate the ongoing support from the great people at Pilot. Saving on fuel costs is an asset to our racers and partnering with upstanding companies like Pilot Flying J is something we pride ourselves on and strive for here at PDRA. We are excited that our racers can continue to take advantage of this program and encourage everyone who hasn’t already to join the program this year.”
Expect to See More Imports at PDRA in 2017
PITTSBORO, NC – Robert Tighe Racing has announced its plans to run the majority of the PDRA events this year. 
The team fields an 07 Toyota Scion TC, Toyota 2jz inline 6 cylinder, 94mm gen 2 Turbo by Garrett and driven by Robert Tighe III. Team owner Robert Tighe (pronounced TIE) says the North Carolina-based team will compete at the six eastern-most events on the tour and to expect to see several other import teams join the Pro Boost ranks this year.
Teams like Mech-Tech and EKanoo Racing brought their unique import flavors to the mix in 2016, with their solid performances paving the way for more diversity in the Pro Boost ranks.
PDRA Introduces Elite 16, Makes Adjustments to Entry Fees
PITTSBORO, NC – At the PRI Show in early December, the Professional Drag Racers Association (PDRA) announced 
that the highly popular Top Sportsman category will undergo a slight makeover for 2017. The class, which has brought as many as 88 entries to qualify for 16 spots, will now offer the chance for 32 or 48 cars to qualify for every event.
All TS entries will qualify together, as normal. Once qualifying has been completed, the top 16 qualifiers will be drafted into a semi-pro class. This ‘Elite 16’ category, besides coming with greater prestige, will also pay more to win. The remainder of the field will run as a 16 car qualified field unless there are 42 or more total TS entries. If 42 or more total TS cars make a qualifying pass, Top Sportsman will run as a 32 car field in addition to the Elite 16. The top 16 qualifiers will be referred to as MagnaFuel Elite 16, while the bottom 16 or 32 will retain the class’ name of MagnaFuel Top Sportsman.
Dogay and Ferguson Team Up for 2017 TS Championship Chase
TRANSFER, PA – From the beginning of his national-level Top Sportsman racing endeavors, Dan Ferguson has 
always raced on a little bit of faith, help from some good friends, and a whole lot of hard work. With his shoestring budget, it was never certain where money would come from for the next trip. But, somehow, he always made it work.
Two championships and a runner up finish later, Ferguson was back to the drawing board. Having completed a one year stint as driver for Dale Pittman, Ferguson decided to fix up his trusty old Firebird, a car that’s a decade older than that of most of his competitors’. Once again his faith and hard work kept him pushing forward, despite overwhelming odds. Little did he know, a certain oil and gas construction manager from Louisiana had something else brewing for Ferguson.
Returning to Drag Racing Roots to Keep it Great in 2017 PDRA Puts Emphasis on Personas
PITTSBORO, NC – Nicknames were synonymous with drag racing in the initial heyday of the sport. The names 
Raymond Beadle and Harry Schmidt may not be widely familiar, but say “Blue Max” and any number of drag racing fans can immediately picture a blue funny car with white stripes and gold lettering. Let’s be honest – drag racing, as much as it’s identified by cars, has always been about the people. But the people are known by their personas, personas that are often emblazoned on the sides of their hotrods.
The PDRA is calling for a return of these personas, so beloved by fans. Many PDRA racers already tout a recognizable nickname and in 2017 you can expect to hear those names a great deal more. As Bob Harris explains, the PDRA is continuing their mission of making each event better than the last by putting a strong emphasis on racer personas in 2017: “We believe in the roots of our sport and this idea so strongly that we’re going to offer our racers a nice incentive to name their car this year. They have the first three races to get this done and if, within that time frame, any racer in Pro Extreme, Pro Nitrous, or Pro Boost names their car, he or she will receive 200 bonus points.
Outlaw 632 Joins PDRA at Four 2017 Events
PITTSBORO, NC – After a successful outing with the PDRA at the 2016 Sunshine State Shootout, the Florida-based Outlaw 632 series will expand its reach, competing with the national series for four events in 2017. Outlaw 632 will compete with the PDRA at GALOT Motorsports Park Mar. 31-Apr. 1, Darlington Dragway May 19-20, the second stop with GMP Sept. 8-9 and the World Finals at Virginia Motorsports Park Oct. 20-21. Eastside Auto Transport has stepped up to sponsor the class for 2017.
Ken Kershaw has been pivotal in the Outlaw 632 series both in Florida and in linking the class to PDRA. The class, which actually sprung from Outlaw 10.5, looks a lot like Pro Mods of the 1990s. “In the last several years it’s grown from 16 or 18 cars to 45 or more,” told Kershaw. “I’ve had calls from Oklahoma, Tennessee, Alabama, Louisiana, Georgia, the Carolinas, Virginia all about running this class. Plus 15 to 20 of our regulars here in Florida that are willing to travel. Four guys down here in Florida have started building cars specifically for the PDRA. So many guys can’t compete in Pro Mod classes because of the financial requirements, so this is a good fit for them. We’re looking forward to running with the PDRA in 2017. I want to thank the PDRA, Bob and the owners, for allowing us to come run with them. ”
