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FREDERICKSBURG, Va. (Nov. 29, 2024) – As the third generation in a drag racing family, James Beattie III has been surrounded by the straight-line sport his whole life. He's soaked up knowledge and skills, and he put that all to use this year when he won the Classic Graphix Top Jr. Dragster presented by Philadelphia Racing Products world championship in the Red Line Oil PDRA Drag Racing Series. Beattie earned one event win in two final-round appearances to score his first championship in the PDRA.
Beattie, the grandson of ATI Performance Products founder Jim Beattie and son of current ATI president J.C. Beattie Jr., raced to a runner-up finish at the second race of the season, the Mid-Atlantic Showdown at Virginia Motorsports Park. Two races later, the Maryland native picked up a home-race win at the North vs. South Shootout at Maryland International Raceway. It was his second career win, and a bounce back from a tough DNQ at the same race last season. Beattie clinched the title at the Brian Olson Memorial World Finals at Virginia when his closest challengers, Kylie Varnier and Braydon Crayton, lost first round and didn't qualify, respectively. Beattie advanced to the semifinals.
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"Winning the PDRA championship in Top Jr. means a lot because it shows how far I have come in my short racing career and that I was focused all season," said Beattie, 11. "The highlight of my season was most definitely the .001 / dead 9 in the second-to-last race of the season in round one of eliminations because that's my best total package and reaction time in eliminations ever and it was an important round win."
Beattie joins a long list of drivers to win a world championship carrying the ATI Performance Products banner, including 2021 and 2024 PDRA Liberty's Gears Extreme Pro Stock presented by AED Competition world champion Chris Powers. Beattie's late grandfather, Jim Beattie, started the company in 1961, his grandmother remains the vice president, and father J.C. is the company's president.
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"I want to thank my mom, my dad, my grandparents, and all my family," said Beattie, who also thanked ATI, Maxima Racing Oils, Craw Racing Engines, Mickey Thompson Tires, VP Racing Fuels, Braille Batteries, and Stroud Safety. "Special thanks to my grandpa that passed away in 2015 because without him our family would not be racing. I also need to thank Bert Nahory and Buddy McGowen for bringing me to the first race of the season and all my racing friends for cheering me on."
Varnier, the championship runner-up, won once in two final-round appearances. Crayton finished third with a runner-up finish to Varnier.
The Red Line Oil PDRA Drag Racing Series will celebrate its 2024 world champions at the annual PDRA Championship Awards Banquet on Friday, Dec. 13 in downtown Indianapolis.
Photos by Gary Rowe
