PDRA
Fulton, Pro Line and Allen Early Frontrunners in PDRA Engine Builder Challenges
FREDERICKSBURG, VA – After the first two races of the 2023 Professional Drag Racers Association (PDRA) season, Fulton Competition 
Engines, Pro Line Racing, and Allen Competition Engines have emerged as the early leaders in the series’ engine builder challenge programs. Fulton, the reigning Structural Concrete Nitrous Wars champion, is on top yet again, with Pro Line leading in Boost Wars and Allen leading in Horsepower Wars.
This season, the PDRA engine builder challenge program rewards the top engine builders and their respective drivers through a season-long competition. At each race on the schedule, the top four qualified drivers/engine builders from the previous event square off in a two-round shootout in qualifying. The winning driver earns four points for their engine builder, the runner-up earns three points, and so on.
In Nitrous Wars, four-time and defending Switzer Dynamics Pro Nitrous world champion Jim Halsey has swept the first two races in his Fulton-powered “Daddy Shark” ’68 Camaro. He defeated Albert Racing Engines’ Dane Wood in the final round at the East Coast Nationals at GALOT Motorsports Park and Pat Musi Racing Engines’ Jay Cox in the final at the Mid-Atlantic Showdown at Virginia Motorsports Park. Albert and Musi are tied for second with five points each, and Sonny’s Racing Engines is also on the board with two points.
Laris Motorsports Insurance Expands Partnership with PDRA
FREDERICKSBURG, VA – Expanding on a partnership that began in 2022, Laris Motorsports Insurance signed on as the title rights sponsor 
of the Elite Top Dragster and Top Dragster classes in the Professional Drag Racers Association (PDRA) for the 2023 season. The company is also offering contingency and “Perfect Run” bonuses for its customers competing in the series.
“Laris Motorsports Insurance was a fantastic partner for the series last season,” said Will Smith, marketing director, PDRA. “They wanted to build on their program for this year, and we worked together to find ways to reward their customers who excel in PDRA competition. We’re proud to have them continue on as the official insurance provider of the PDRA, as well as the new title sponsor of our Top Dragster classes.”
Laris Motorsports Insurance is an extension of the Laris Insurance Agency, a fourth-generation south Louisiana multiline insurance agency. Members of the Laris family have been drag racing for over 30 years, with numerous NHRA sportsman racing accomplishments to their name. The family created Laris Motorsports Insurance to offer policies to racers that would specifically cover race cars and racing equipment, with coverage extending from the race shop to the racetrack. On-track coverage is also available.
Red Line Oil Joins PDRA as Title Sponsor of Carolina Nationals at Darlington
FREDERICKSBURG, VA – Red Line Oil, a leading manufacturer of motor oils and lubricants, has signed on as the title sponsor of the 
Professional Drag Racers Association (PDRA) Carolina Nationals, series officials announced today. Held Sept. 14-16 at Darlington Dragway, the Red Line Oil Carolina Nationals is the sixth of eight championship points races on the 2023 PDRA schedule.
“We’re honored to bring in a brand like Red Line Oil to the PDRA family,” said Will Smith, marketing director, PDRA. “As we continue to celebrate our 10th season, it means a lot to have the support of industry leaders and companies that offer the products and support our racers need. From 4,000-horsepower Pro Mods to our Jr. Dragster classes, Red Line Oil has products for all of our racers. We’re excited to begin this relationship with the Red Line Oil team.”
In 1979, Red Line Synthetic Oil began creating lubricants for the racing industry. Today, the company manufactures more than 100 quality products, including motor oils, gear oils, assembly lubes, fuel additives and the popular WaterWetter cooling additive for the automotive, motorcycle, marine and industrial markets.
SP Tools Joins PDRA as Official Tool
FREDERICKSBURG, VA – SP Tools, an Australian manufacturer of a wide variety of tools and equipment, is now the Official Tool of the 
Professional Drag Racers Association (PDRA), series officials announced today. Cutting Edge Automotive Solutions, the exclusive distributor of SP Tools in the United States, is facilitating the PDRA partnership.
“We’re thrilled to welcome SP Tools to the PDRA family as we continue to celebrate our 10th season,” said Will Smith, marketing director, PDRA. “Our racers use top-of-the-line engines, race cars, parts, and equipment. They also need the best tools available to put those components together and keep them running to their potential. SP Tools offers a range of tools and equipment that will appeal to our teams.”
SP Tools are available in the U.S. exclusively through Cutting Edge Automotive Solutions, an Alabama-based company that specializes in diagnostic tools and equipment. When the company decided to expand its offerings to include hand tools, power tools, tool storage, and automotive specialty tools, its commitment to customer service excellence guided them to SP Tools. SP Tools and SP Air are represented by over 40 international agents in 30 countries.
Halsey, Harvey, Powers, A. Franklin, Garner-Jones, Riddle, and Mota Secure Victories at PDRA Mid-Atlantic Showdown
DINWIDDIE, VA – Two of the most prolific drivers in nitrous Pro Modified racing, Jim Halsey and “Tricky” Rickie Smith, squared off in the 
Switzer Dynamics Pro Nitrous final round Sunday afternoon at the Professional Drag Racers Association (PDRA) Mid-Atlantic Showdown presented by Classic Graphix. Racing at Virginia Motorsports Park, Halsey won when Smith went red. Halsey recorded a weekend-best 3.646-second pass to go back-to-back at the second stop on the 2023 PDRA tour.
The professional class winners also included Travis Harvey in WS Construction Pro Boost presented by P2 Contracting and Ty-Drive, Chris Powers in Liberty’s Gears Extreme Pro Stock presented by AED Competition, Amber Franklin in M&M Transmission Pro 632, Chris Garner-Jones in Drag 965 Pro Nitrous Motorcycle, Bill Riddle in Menscer Motorsports Pro Street presented by Afco, and Derek Mota in Afco Super Street presented by Menscer Motorsports.
The sportsman winners were Donny Urban in MagnaFuel Elite Top Sportsman presented by PAR Racing Engines, Steve Furr in Laris Motorsports Insurance Elite Top Dragster, Chad Traylor in MagnaFuel Top Sportsman presented by Corbin’s RV, and TG Paschal in Laris Motorsports Insurance Top Dragster. Rick Hustwayte picked up the win in Edelbrock Bracket Bash presented by COMP Cams.
PDRA Mid-Atlantic Showdown Eliminations to Continue Sunday
DINWIDDIE, VA – An afternoon of heavy rain showers put a stop to Saturday eliminations at the Professional Drag Racers Association 
(PDRA) Mid-Atlantic Showdown presented by Classic Graphix at Virginia Motorsports Park. Eliminations will continue Sunday.
“We’ve been expecting this rain all week, and we’ve done as much as possible to get ahead of it,” said Tyler Crossnoe, race director, PDRA. “By starting eliminations on Friday night, we put ourselves one round closer to finishing before the rain came in, but we just ran out of time. Fortunately, Sunday’s forecast is promising. Our PDRA and VMP teams will work through the night to rebuild the racing surface to provide our racers with the conditions they need to complete the Mid-Atlantic Showdown.”
Before the rain started, the second round of eliminations was completed in Switzer Dynamics Pro Nitrous, WS Construction Pro Boost presented by P2 Contracting and Ty-Drive, Liberty’s Gears Extreme Pro Stock presented by AED Competition, M&M Transmission Pro 632, Drag 965 Pro Nitrous Motorcycle, Menscer Motorsports Pro Street presented by Afco, and Afco Super Street.
Low Qualifiers Harvey, Halsey, Pluchino, A. Franklin, Essick, Garner-Jones, and Denton Highlight First-Round Winners at PDRA Mid-Atlantic Showdown
DINWIDDIE, VA – With several hours of rain in the forecast for Saturday afternoon, Professional Drag Racers Association (PDRA) officials 
moved the first round of eliminations up to Friday night at the Mid-Atlantic Showdown presented by Classic Graphix at Virginia Motorsports Park. The low qualifiers in several classes continued their success with first-round wins.
After three qualifying sessions – one on Thursday night and two on Friday – the No. 1 qualifiers were Jim Halsey in Switzer Dynamics Pro Nitrous, Travis Harvey 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, Amber Franklin in M&M Transmission Pro 632, Chris Garner-Jones in Drag 965 Pro Nitrous Motorcycle, Tim Essick in Menscer Motorsports Pro Street presented by Afco, and Blake Denton in Afco Super Street presented by Menscer Motorsports. All seven drivers won their first-round matchups.
In the sportsman classes, the low qualifiers were Buddy Perkinson in MagnaFuel Elite Top Sportsman presented by PAR Racing Engines, Victor Puglia in Laris Motorsports Insurance Elite Top Dragster, Barry Daniluk in MagnaFuel Top Sportsman presented by Corbin’s RV, and Frank Falter IV in Laris Motorsports Insurance Top Dragster.
Tenth PDRA Season Rolls On at Mid-Atlantic Showdown at Series’ Home Track
DINWIDDIE, VA – After a thrilling start to the 2023 season, the Professional Drag Racers Association (PDRA) is continuing its 10th season 
of all-eighth-mile drag racing this weekend, April 20-22, at the series’ home track, Virginia Motorsports Park (VMP). The second of eight points-earning national events, the Mid-Atlantic Showdown presented by Classic Graphix will feature competition in all 12 classes the PDRA offers between professional and sportsman categories.
“Virginia Motorsports Park has been a staple on the PDRA tour since the very beginning,” said Tyler Crossnoe, who is both the PDRA series director and the vice president of VMP. “VMP is the only track to host a PDRA race in each of the past nine seasons, and we’ve hosted two races per season for the last few years. It’s our home track as a series and the home track for a lot of our racers, especially in the sportsman classes.”
VMP is also the home of the third annual Summit Racing Equipment PDRA ProStars race held during the track’s Night of Fire on July 22. The Mid-Atlantic Showdown is one of just three races left on the schedule before ProStars, so racers in several pro and sportsman classes will be competing to earn enough points to secure their spot in the race-your-way-in event.
Halsey, Salemi, Rice, Melnick, Davis and Essick Score PDRA East Coast Nationals Victories
BENSON, NC – Four-time and reigning Switzer Dynamics Pro Nitrous world champion Jim Halsey is starting his championship defense 
season with a win as he raced to victory Sunday night at the Professional Drag Racers Association (PDRA) Summit Racing Equipment East Coast Nationals presented by FuelTech at GALOT Motorsports Park. Halsey defeated fellow multi-time world champion Tommy Franklin in the final round, claiming his third East Coast Nationals victory.
The East Coast Nationals, the first race of the PDRA’s 10th season, was pushed into Sunday when rain and wind forced officials to postpone Saturday eliminations.
Halsey was joined in the winner’s circle by additional pro class winners Melanie Salemi in WS Construction Pro Boost presented by P2 Contracting and Ty-Drive, Dwayne Rice in Liberty’s Gears Extreme Pro Stock presented by AED Competition, Jeff Melnick in M&M Transmission Pro 632, Brayden Davis in Drag 965 Pro Nitrous Motorcycle, and Tim Essick in Menscer Motorsports Pro Street presented by Afco.
PDRA East Coast Nationals Eliminations Postponed to Sunday
BENSON, NC – Inclement weather on Saturday forced Professional Drag Racers Association (PDRA) and GALOT Motorsports Park officials 
to postpone eliminations at the season-opening Summit Racing Equipment PDRA East Coast Nationals presented by FuelTech to Sunday. Rain and heavy winds put a stop to Saturday morning’s activities, and the forecast for the rest of the day predicted more of the same conditions.
“Between the wind and the rain, we weren’t going to be able to get cars on track until late in the evening,” said Tyler Crossnoe, series director, PDRA. ”With a full day of eliminations left to run, we’ve decided to postpone the rest of the event to Sunday. The forecast for the day looks much better, and will provide the conditions our racers need for safe and competitive racing.”
Qualifying in the PDRA’s professional and sportsman classes was completed Friday night. Classic Graphix Top Jr. Dragster completed its final qualifying session Saturday morning, and Pro Jr. Dragster ran one pair of its final session.
