DINWIDDIE, VA – Longtime Switzer Dynamics Pro Nitrous driver Chris Rini scored his first-ever Professional Drag Racers Association (PDRA) win Sunday night at the Drag 965 Summer Shootout presented by Classic Graphix at Virginia Motorsports Park. Rini’s .006 reaction time and 3.732-second, 202.97 MPH pass gave him the win over first-time finalist Dane Wood and his 3.963 at 178.00.

The final rounds closed out a long weekend that extended into Sunday due to afternoon rain showers on Friday and Saturday. A brief shower on Sunday afternoon also tried to derail the completion of the series’ fifth of eight races.

The other winners in the pro classes are Melanie Salemi in WS Construction Pro Boost presented by P2 Contracting and Ty-Drive, Tony Gillig in Liberty’s Gears Extreme Pro Stock presented by AED Competition, Daryl Stewart in $hameless Racing Pro 632, Travis Davis in Drag 965 Pro Nitrous Motorcycle, and Ty Kasper in Menscer Motorsports Pro Street presented by AFCO. Continue reading →

DINWIDDIE, VA – After rain put a stop to Friday qualifying, additional thunderstorms on Saturday afternoon forced Professional Drag Racers Association (PDRA) officials to postpone eliminations to Sunday at the Drag 965 Summer Shootout presented by Classic Graphix at Virginia Motorsports Park. All classes completed one round of qualifying, and some classes started or completed a second session before the rain started. All fields are set for Sunday eliminations.

The No. 1 qualifiers in the professional classes are Jim Halsey in Switzer Dynamics Pro Nitrous, Melanie Salemi in WS Construction Pro Boost presented by P2 Contracting and Ty-Drive, Elijah Morton in Liberty’s Gears Extreme Pro Stock presented by AED Competition, Daryl Stewart in $hameless Racing Pro 632, Chris Garner-Jones in Drag 965 Pro Nitrous Motorcycle, Nick Agostino in Menscer Motorsports Pro Street presented by AFCO, and Ron Rhodes in AFCO Super Street presented by Menscer Motorsports.

In the sportsman categories, the low qualifiers are Buddy Perkinson in MagnaFuel Elite Top Sportsman presented by US Rail, Larry Roberts in Lucas Oil Elite Top Dragster presented by Laris Motorsports Insurance, Ronnie Proctor in MagnaFuel Top Sportsman 32 presented by Vortech Superchargers, and Vaugh Cauffield in Lucas Oil Top Dragster 32 presented by Laris Motorsports Insurance.

Continue reading →

DINWIDDIE, VA – A brief drizzle turned into a constant downpour, putting an early end to Friday qualifying at the Professional Drag Racers Association (PDRA) Drag 965 Summer Shootout presented by Classic Graphix at Virginia Motorsports Park. The series was in the middle of the first qualifying session for Liberty’s Gears Extreme Pro Stock presented by AED Competition when rain started. A continuous heavy downpour led officials to postpone the rest of qualifying to Saturday.

Before the rain started, the series completed the first round of qualifying in three professional classes: Switzer Dynamics Pro Nitrous, WS Construction Pro Boost presented by P2 Contracting and Ty-Drive, and Menscer Motorsports Pro Street presented by AFCO.

Points leader and defending world champion Jim Halsey is the provisional low qualifier in Pro Nitrous with a 3.723-second pass at 205.26 MPH blast in his Fulton-powered “Daddy Shark” ’68 Camaro. Pro Boost record holder Melanie Salemi posted a stunning 3.645 at 203.43 in Eddie Whelan’s roots-blown Slice-and-Ice ’19 Camaro to lead the field. Tim Essick, the defending world champion in Pro Street, is on top with his 4.103 at 185.72 in his ProCharger-boosted “Brown Sugar” ’18 Mustang.

Continue reading →

FREDERICKSBURG, VA – Nearly $70,000 in prize money will be on the line when the stars of the Professional Drag Racers Association (PDRA) square off in the second annual Summit Racing Equipment PDRA ProStars race during Virginia Motorsports Park’s K95 Night of Fire on July 30. Along with the ProStars race, the entertainment-centric event will also include country music concerts, jet dragsters, nostalgia Funny Cars, a wheelstander, fireworks, and more.

“This event is all about putting on a show for the fans and treating our loyal PDRA racers to a one-of-a-kind experience,” said Tyler Crossnoe, the PDRA series director and VP of Virginia Motorsports Park. “The inaugural Summit Racing Equipment PDRA ProStars was a success, but we’ve doubled down on the elements that made it successful and we’ve made changes that we believe will take the show to the next level.”

The ProStars race will feature four of the PDRA’s professional classes and all six sportsman and Jr. Dragster categories, with each class getting its own eight-car field. The top eight drivers in ProStars points after the upcoming Drag 965 Summer Shootout presented by Classic Graphix will qualify to compete at the ProStars race, which includes free entry for the driver and two crew members. Drivers earn ProStars points through a unique system that puts an emphasis on rewarding participation at all eight races on the PDRA tour.

Continue reading →

DINWIDDIE, VA – Racers in a range of Professional Drag Racers Association (PDRA) pro, sportsman, and Jr. Dragster categories will be fighting for the final spots to race at the upcoming Summit Racing Equipment PDRA ProStars race when the series returns to Virginia Motorsports Park (VMP) this weekend, June 14-16. The Drag 965 Summer Shootout presented by Classic Graphix is the final race for drivers to earn ProStars points toward a spot in the eight-car ProStars shootouts during VMP’s Night of Fire later this month.

“Along with being the fifth race of our eight-race 2022 world championship season, this weekend is the final opportunity for drivers to lock in spots to race for big money at the Summit Racing ProStars event,” said Tyler Crossnoe, series director, PDRA. “We’re paying out nearly $70,000 to the ProStars winners, with no entry fee, so this is a valuable opportunity to race for a solid payday and help us put on a show for the K95 Richmond Night of Fire fans.”

Like the last race on tour, the North vs. South Shootout presented by Line-X and Iron Man Quick Connect Push Bar at Maryland International Raceway, the Summer Shootout will feature every class the PDRA has to offer, from longtime fan favorites to new programs.

Continue reading →

FREDERICKSBURG, VA – Even though an off-track accident has temporarily kicked Tommy Franklin out of the driver’s seat, the two-time Switzer Dynamics Pro Nitrous world champion is leading the way in the Professional Drag Racers Association (PDRA) Structural Concrete Nitrous Wars, a bonus program rewarding Pro Nitrous top performers and their engine builders.

Franklin’s Pat Musi Racing Engines-powered “Jungle Rat” ’69 Camaro has qualified No. 1 at three of the first four races of the PDRA’s eight-race 2022 season. At the most recent race, fill-in driver Buddy Perkinson took the Jungle Rat to the top spot.

“It’s very rewarding just because I know what we race against,” said Franklin, who is third in points. “Jim Halsey, Jay Cox, Mike Achenbach, Chris Rini – they’re all strong. To outqualify those cars feels good. It’s always a win to be able to do that because this is one of the toughest classes out here. It feels good to do well for Pat Musi and his team because they give us such great power.”

The Structural Concrete Nitrous Wars trophy is a specially branded nitrous bottle that’s handed off to the latest Pro Nitrous low qualifier at each of the eight races on the PDRA tour. At the end of the season, the driver with the most No. 1 qualifiers takes home the bottle and their engine builder is also named the Nitrous Wars champion.

Continue reading →

BUDDS CREEK, MD – Maryland native Jim Halsey scored his second win of the season in Switzer Dynamics Pro Nitrous Saturday night at the Professional Drag Racers Association (PDRA) North vs. South Shootout presented by Line-X and Iron Man Quick Connect Push Bar at Maryland International Raceway. The defending world champion defeated another Maryland racer, Fredy Scriba, in a 3.69-second final round to build a solid points lead going into the second half of the eight-race PDRA season.

Along with Halsey, pro class victories went to Kurt Steding 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, Lexi Tanner in $hameless Racing Pro 632, Travis Davis in Drag 965 Pro Nitrous Motorcycle, and Ty Kasper in Menscer Motorsports Pro Street presented by AFCO.

Wes Ervin became the first winner in PDRA’s new small-tire class, AFCO Super Street presented by Menscer Motorsports, after becoming the first No. 1 qualifier on Friday.

Continue reading →

BUDDS CREEK, MD – Longtime doorslammer wheelman Buddy Perkinson ended Friday qualifying as the No. 1 qualifier in two different classes at the Professional Drag Racers Association (PDRA) North vs. South Shootout presented by Line-X and Iron Man Quick Connect Push Bar at Maryland International Raceway. Perkinson earned his first No. 1 qualifier award in Switzer Dynamics Pro Nitrous as the fill-in driver for two-time world champion Tommy Franklin, and he’s the provisional low qualifier in MagnaFuel Elite Top Sportsman presented by US Rail.

The No. 1 spots in the rest of the PDRA’s professional classes went to Kurt Steding (WS Construction Pro Boost presented by P2 Contracting and Ty-Drive), Elijah Morton (Liberty’s Gears Extreme Pro Stock presented by AED Competition), Walter Lannigan Jr. ($hameless Racing Pro 632), Paul Gast (Drag 965 Pro Nitrous Motorcycle), and Nick Agostino (Menscer Motorsports Pro Street presented by AFCO).

In the debut of the PDRA’s new small-tire class, AFCO Super Street presented by Menscer Motorsports, Maryland’s own Wes Ervin is the No. 1 qualifier.

Continue reading →

BUDDS CREEK, MD – The competition is heating up as the Professional Drag Racers Association (PDRA) rolls into the halfway point in its eight-race 2022 season this weekend at the North vs. South Shootout presented by Line-X and Iron Man Quick Connect Push Bar, June 23-25 at Maryland International Raceway. World championship contenders are emerging, while the series’ new small-tire class will make its debut.

“The Maryland fans have always been very supportive of us over the years, and we have an incredible show lined up for them this weekend,” said Tyler Crossnoe, race director, PDRA. “Competition is at an all-time high across the board in our professional and sportsman classes. Plus, we’re debuting our newest class, AFCO Super Street presented by Menscer Motorsports. Fans of all kinds of different classes will find something for them at this event.”

Just one point separates Switzer Dynamics Pro Nitrous points leader Tommy Franklin and three-time and defending world champion Jim Halsey after the first three races. Franklin, a two-time world champion, won the most recent race on tour. Halsey, a Maryland native, is the defending event champion. “Mountain Man” Mike Achenbach, who won the season opener, is also in the hunt less than 20 points behind Franklin and Halsey.

Continue reading →

NORWALK, OH – Past Professional Drag Racers Association (PDRA) world champions Tommy and Amber Franklin made series history Saturday night when they became the first father-daughter duo to win the same event. Racing at the DeCerbo Construction American Doorslammer Challenge presented by Callies at Summit Motorsports Park, Tommy won in Switzer Dynamics Pro Nitrous and Amber won in $hameless Racing Pro 632.

The other pro class victories went to Johnny Camp in WS Construction Pro Boost presented by P2 Contracting and Ty-Drive, JR Carr in Liberty’s Gears Extreme Pro Stock presented by AED Competition, Paul Gast in Drag 965 Pro Nitrous Motorcycle, and Bill Riddle in Menscer Motorsports Pro Street presented by AFCO.

Sportsman class wins were claimed by Donny Urban in MagnaFuel Elite Top Sportsman presented by US Rail, Larry Roberts in Lucas Oil Elite Top Dragster presented by Laris Motorsports Insurance, Ray Bamond in MagnaFuel Top Sportsman 32 presented by Vortech, and Frank Falter IV in Lucas Oil Top Dragster 32 presented by Laris Motorsports Insurance. In the Edelbrock Bracket Bash presented by COMP Cams final round, Mike Carroll used a .001 reaction time and a 4.881 on a 4.87 dial-in in his ’22 American dragster to beat Chris Schneider’s 4.718 on a 4.71 dial-in.

Continue reading →