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BENSON, N.C. (Sept. 30, 2024) – It’s been just over one month since the last stop on the Red Line Oil PDRA Drag Racing Series tour, so the professional, sportsman, and Jr. Dragster racers of the PDRA are eager to get back on track this weekend at the ProFabrication DragWars presented by PST Driveshafts, Oct. 3-5, at GALOT Motorsports Park. It’s the second GALOT race of the season, and as the penultimate race on the eight-race 2024 PDRA schedule, DragWars is a pivotal point in the battle for world championships.
“It’s always fun to start the season at GALOT, but this fall race is a whole different ballgame,” said Tyler Crossnoe, series director, PDRA. “If you’re racing for a PDRA world championship, you need to do well at this race. Side-by-side racing all season long has resulted in some tense championship battles, and they’ll only get more tense this weekend. From here on out, every round is a big one. We’ve also seen a lot of first-time winners this season, and we’ll probably see more of that at DragWars. It’s going to be exciting to watch things unfold at GALOT.”
Aside from Drag 965 Pro Extreme Motorcycle, all of PDRA’s professional categories will be in competition this weekend, as well as five sportsman classes and two Jr. Dragster classes.
A back-and-forth battle for the points lead in Switzer Dynamics Pro Nitrous has four-time world champion Jim Halsey leading three-time and reigning world champion Tommy Franklin by less than one round. Halsey has two wins, two runner-up finishes, and five No. 1 qualifier awards in his Fulton-powered “Daddy Shark” ’68 Camaro. Franklin, who is the only other driver to qualify No. 1 other than Halsey this season, has two wins and a runner-up finish in his Musi-powered “Jungle Rat” ’69 Camaro. Fredy Scriba, who earned his first Pro Nitrous win at the non-points-earning Summit Racing Equipment PDRA ProStars all-star race, is also still in the title hunt with his Musi-powered “Sorcerer” ’69 Camaro.
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Kurt Steding, whose tuner and teammate is two-time WS Construction Pro Boost presented by P2 Contracting and Ty-Drive world champion Todd “King Tut” Tutterow, is chasing a championship of his own as the current points leader. Wheeling his screw-blown P2 Contracting ’69 Camaro, he has one win and three semifinal finishes to lead an ultra-competitive field. Reigning world champion Jason Harris, who also has two Pro Nitrous championships to his name, is second with a win and two runner-up finishes in his ProCharged “Party Time” ’69 Camaro. Johnny Camp, who had to miss the season opener, is back in the championship conversation after taking his ProCharged “Hells Bells” ’69 Camaro to a win and a runner-up finish in the last two races.
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Past Liberty’s Gears Extreme Pro Stock presented by AED Competition world champion Chris Powers is on top of the points standings again after scoring one win and a runner-up finish in his Sonny’s Racing Engines ’21 Camaro. With no first-round exits on his scorecard, Powers leads two-time world champion Johnny Pluchino by just over three rounds. Pluchino won the first two races of the season in his Kaase-powered Feather-Lite Batteries ’13 Mustang, but he had to miss the last race on tour. Mountain Motor Pro Stock veteran Elijah Morton has one win in his Allen-powered Cashion Fishing Rods ’19 Mustang, putting him third in points.
With a string of consistent performances in her Musi-powered “OG Jungle Rat” ’69 Camaro, past PDRA Pro 632 world champion Amber Franklin has a sizeable points lead. With two wins, two runner-up finishes, and four No. 1 qualifier awards, Franklin leads by more than one race. Walter Lannigan Jr. is second in points driving Chris Holdorf’s Dewitt Custom Concrete ’10 GTO with a win and a runner-up finish. Young gun Doug Nicholl is seeking his second win of the season in his Musi-powered ’68 Camaro in third.
Ethan Steding is a second-generation points leader, as he leads the way in Menscer Motorsports Pro Street presented by Afco Racing to join his father, Pro Boost points leader Kurt Steding, as a title contender. The rookie driver qualified No. 1 in just his second race, then went on to win three of the last four races in his roots-blown P2 Contracting “College Fund” ’24 Camaro. Another rookie driver, Dan Norris, is still chasing his first win, but consistent late-round finishes in his roots-blown ’22 Mustang have him sitting second going into GALOT. Young gun Scott Kincaid in his screw-blown ’69 Camaro won his fifth consecutive race at the season opener, then added a runner-up and a semifinal exit at the last two races to sit third.
The PDRA’s newest category, Afco Racing Super Street presented by Menscer Motorsports, is poised to crown just its second world champion. Dan Whetstine, driver of the ProCharged “Red Velvet” ’90 Mustang, is the points leader going into DragWars with a win and two runner-up finishes, including one at the most recent race. Last year’s championship runner-up, Derek Mota, is in second again with a win and the class E.T. record in his turbocharged ’93 Mustang. Reigning world champion Blake Denton in his nitrous-fed ’76 Camaro round out the top three with a season-opening win and a runner-up finish.
The sportsman points leaders going into DragWars are Randy Perkinson in MagnaFuel Elite Top Sportsman presented by PAR Racing Engines, Kellan Farmer in Laris Motorsports Insurance Elite Top Dragster presented by Greenbrier Excavating & Paving, Mark Reese in MagnaFuel Top Sportsman presented by Corbin’s RV, and Nick Meloni in Laris Motorsports Insurance Top Dragster presented by Younce RV. Edelbrock Bracket Bash presented by COMP Cams, though not a championship category, will give local bracket racers a place to race at DragWars.
As has become a PDRA tradition, the Jr. Dragster classes boast two of the most competitive championship battles. Ryan Harris, son of Elite Top Dragster contender Kyle Harris, is on top in Coolshirt Systems Pro Jr. Dragster presented by Philadelphia Racing Products. James Beattie III held on to his lead in Classic Graphix Top Jr. Dragster presented by Philadelphia Racing Products at the last race, but Thunder Valley Throwdown runner-up Braydon Crayton and winner Kylie Varner are closing in.
DragWars at GALOT Motorsports Park will begin with Thursday testing from 10 a.m. to around 5:30 p.m. Sportsman qualifying will follow at 5:45 p.m. Friday qualifying will begin at 9 a.m. starting with Jr. Dragster and sportsman sessions, with professional qualifying sessions set for 12 p.m., 4 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 12 p.m.
Tickets are on sale now for $20 for Thursday, $25 for Friday, and $30 for Saturday. Discounted junior and kids tickets are also available, while kids 5 and under get in free. Tickets can be purchased at www.PDRA660.comor at the gate.
Fans at home can watch the full event live on the official livestream through www.FloRacing.com.
Photos by Tara Bowker
