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MARTIN, Mich. (July 29, 2024) – For the second consecutive year, the stars of the Red Line Oil PDRA Drag Racing Series will take part in one of the most anticipated drag racing events in the Midwest. The PDRA Northern Nationals presented by Talbert Manufacturing, Aug. 1-3, will once again join forces with U.S. 131 Motorsports Park's 23rd Northern Nationals presented by Gun Lake Casino. Along with the PDRA's numerous professional, sportsman, and Jr. Dragster categories, the race weekend will feature modern Top Fuel dragsters, nostalgia front-engine Top Fuel, nostalgia Nitro Funny Cars, a Fuel Altered, jet cars and more.
"Fans in Michigan and beyond have come to expect a thrilling show at the Northern Nationals, and we couldn't be more excited to be a part of that show again this weekend," said Tyler Crossnoe, series director, PDRA. "The PDRA has raced at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park numerous times over our 10-year history, but last year was our first time being a part of the Northern Nationals. The fan turnout was incredible and really welcomed our racers with open arms. From our headlining Pro Nitrous and Pro Boost classes to the unpredictable Pro Street and our ultracompetitive sportsman and Jr. Dragster classes, the PDRA will have something for everyone at the Northern Nationals."
Outside of PDRA competition, the Northern Nationals lineup features a four-car Top Fuel shootout including Larry Dixon, Scott Palmer, Krista Baldwin, and Shawn Reed; an eight-car qualified field of front-engine Top Fuel dragsters; the Outlaw Funny Cars of Joe Haas and John Lawson; the Larsen Motorsports Jet Dragsters; the "Buzzy's Bomber" nostalgia Funny Car; and the "War Wagon" Fuel Altered.
Three-time and defending Switzer Dynamics Pro Nitrous world champion Tommy Franklin heads to Michigan with the points lead after driving his Musi-powered "Jungle Rat" '69 Camaro to his first win of the season at the last race on tour, the North vs. South Shootout at Maryland International Raceway. With two wins, four No. 1 qualifiers, and the class E.T. record, four-time world champion Jim Halsey is looking to take back the points lead in his Fulton-powered '68 Camaro. Another Maryland native, Fredy Scriba, is third in points seeking his first points-earning win in Pro Nitrous after winning the Summit Racing Equipment PDRA ProStars all-star event in mid-July.
Just over two rounds of racing separate the top three in WS Construction Pro Boost presented by P2 Contracting and Ty-Drive, where recent Maryland winner Kurt Steding is the points leader in his screw-blown P2 Contracting '69 Camaro. Melanie Salemi, a two-time runner-up in this season's four races, is second in Eddie Whelan's screw-blown "Purple Reign" '68 Firebird. Steding's tuner and teammate, Todd "King Tut" Tutterow, is third with two victories in Justin Smith's screw-blown Quik Fuel '69 Camaro.
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Johnny Pluchino, the defending event winner in Liberty's Gears Extreme Pro Stock presented by AED Competition, is the points leader going into the Northern Nationals with back-to-back wins at the beginning of the season in his Kaase-powered Feather-Lite Batteries '13 Mustang. His rival, past world champion Chris Powers, is sitting second with his Sonny's Racing Engines '21 Camaro chasing his first win of the season. Elijah Morton, who picked up his first win of the season at the last race on tour, is third in points behind the wheel of his Allen-powered Cashion Fishing Rods '19 Mustang.
Four different winners have succeeded at the first four races of the season in PDRA Pro 632. Past world champion Amber Franklin is hoping to break that streak by chasing a second consecutive win in her Musi-powered "OG Jungle Rat" '69 Camaro. Class veteran Walter Lannigan Jr. has a win and a runner-up in the last two races driving Chris Holdorf's Nelson-powered Dewitt Custom Concrete '10 GTO, putting him second in the points standings. Dearborn, Michigan's own Doug Nicholl is third with one win in his Musi-powered '68 Camaro.
In Menscer Motorsports Pro Street presented by Afco Racing, rookie Ethan Steding is riding the momentum of two back-to-back victories into Michigan. Driving his roots-blown P2 Contracting "College Fund" '24 Camaro, Steding is the points leader. Chasing Steding in second is Brighton, Michigan's Dan Norris, who was runner-up to Steding at Maryland in his roots-blown '22 Mustang. Two-time world champion Tim Essick picked up a win and runner-up finish at the first two races of the season in his ProCharged "Brown Sugar" '18 Mustang, but he's looking to rebound from two recent first-round exits to move up from third in points.
The PDRA's other two professional classes, Drag 965 Pro Extreme Motorcycle and Afco Racing Super Street presented by Menscer Motorsports, will not compete at the Northern Nationals.
Points leaders in the PDRA's sportsman classes going into the Northern Nationals are Randy Perkinson in MagnaFuel Elite Top Sportsman presented by PAR Racing Engines, Steve Furr in Laris Motorsports Insurance Elite Top Dragster presented by Greenbrier Excavating & Paving, Mike Alexander Jr. in MagnaFuel Top Sportsman presented by Corbin's RV, and Chad Traylor in Laris Motorsports Insurance Top Dragster presented by Younce RV. Edelbrock Bracket Bash presented by COMP Cams will give local bracket racers the opportunity to race on the national stage.
The PDRA's rising stars in the Jr. Dragster classes are also fighting for world championships. The points leaders are Ashley Franklin in Coolshirt Systems Pro Jr. Dragster presented by Philadelphia Racing Products and Victoria Beaner in Classic Graphix Top Jr. Dragster presented by Philadelphia Racing Products.
The Northern Nationals presented by Talbert Manufacturing at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park will start with Thursday testing from 10 a.m. to around 6:30 p.m. Sportsman qualifying will begin Thursday at 7 p.m. Friday qualifying will begin at 10 a.m. starting with Jr. Dragster and sportsman sessions, with professional qualifying sessions set for 1 p.m., 4:15 p.m., and 7:15 p.m. On Saturday, Jr. Dragster final qualifying will kick off at 9 a.m. before going into sportsman and Jr. Dragster eliminations. Professional eliminations will begin at 2:30 p.m. The nitro show is set to begin at 6:30 p.m.
Tickets purchased in advance are $15 for Friday and $32 for Saturday general admission. Children ages 6-12 are $7 each day, and children five and under get in free with paid adult. Free parking for cars. Tickets can be purchased at www.PDRA660.com or at the gate.
Fans at home can watch the full event live on the official livestream through www.FloRacing.com.
