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MARTIN, Mich. (July 28, 2025) – The stars of the Red Line Oil PDRA Drag Racing Series are set to light up the summer this weekend at the Talbert Manufacturing Northern Nationals presented by Callies Performance, July 31-Aug. 2, at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park in Martin, Michigan. As the fifth stop on the eight-race 2025 PDRA tour, the Northern Nationals will bring side-by-side, eighth-mile action from the series’ top pro and sportsman classes, plus thrilling exhibition runs from ground-pounding nitro cars and flame-throwing jet cars.
“We’re coming off a bit of a break in the schedule, so everyone’s eager to get back to racing,” said Tyler Crossnoe, series director, PDRA. “The Northern Nationals at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park is always a highlight of the season. The Northern Nationals has been a destination event for fans in this area for years thanks to the incredible show the Peterson family puts together every year. We’re thrilled to bring our brand of drag racing to the table. The fans in Martin really show up and bring the energy. It’s the perfect place to kick off the second half of the season.”
On top of the PDRA’s touring classes, the Northern Nationals will feature two Top Fuel dragsters, Nostalgia Front-Engine dragsters, four Top Fuel Harleys, Outlaw Nostalgia Nitro Funny Cars, Fuel Altereds, two Jet Funny Cars, the Larsen Motorsports Jet Dragsters, Jerry McCart’s “Home Wrecker” Jet Truck, and Rick Ream’s Fire Truck wheelstander.
Switzer Dynamics Pro Nitrous rookie Amber Denton took over the points lead at the most recent event on the PDRA tour, the North vs. South Shootout at Maryland International Raceway. A two-time Pro 632 world champion, Denton is chasing her first career Pro Nitrous victory in her Musi-powered “OG Jungle Rat” ’69 Camaro. Just 15 points behind Denton sits young gun Marcus Butner, who earned his second career win earlier this season in his Musi-powered “Heartbreaker” ’69 Camaro. Three-time world champion Tommy Franklin, Denton’s father, rounds out the top three in his Musi-powered “Jungle Rat 3.0” ’69 Camaro, which carried him to No. 1 qualifier awards at the last two races. Michigan’s own Jackie Slone, who earned his first-ever Pro Nitrous win at Martin last year, enters as the defending event winner.
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Another defending event champion, Johnny Camp, rolls into Martin as the points leader in WS Construction Pro Boost presented by P2 Contracting and Ty-Drive. Consistent late-round finishes in his ProCharged “Hells Bells” ’69 Camaro, including a runner-up finish at the season opener, put Camp on top of a stacked Pro Boost field. Melanie Salemi, who defeated Camp to win the season opener, is only 11 points behind him as she pursues another win in Eddie Whelan’s screw-blown Al-Lee Installations “Purple Reign” ’68 Firebird. Two-time and reigning world champion Jason Harris, who was the runner-up to Camp at Martin last year and the event winner in 2023, is third in the points standings with his ProCharged Southern Diamond Company “Party Time” ’69 Camaro.
Blake Denton, husband of Pro Nitrous points leader Amber Denton, leads the way in Liberty’s Gears Pro Street presented by Menscer Motorsports, where he has two wins in three final rounds behind the wheel of the Musi-powered “Bonnie” ’69 Camaro formerly piloted by the late Lizzy Musi. Defending world champion Ethan Steding won two races ago in Virginia, putting him and his roots-blown P2 Contracting “College Fund” ’24 Camaro second in the standings. Two-time world champion Tim Essick is third in his ProCharged “Brown Sugar” ’18 Mustang with a trio of strong finishes.
A win at the last race put 2023 AED Competition Fuel Systems Extreme Pro Stock world champion Alan Drinkwater back on top of the class going into the second half of the season. Driving his Kaase-powered Flatout Gaskets ’08 Mustang, Drinkwater also took runner-up honors at the season opener. Jeremy Huffman, who picked up his first career Extreme Pro Stock victory earlier this season, is second in points. Two-time and reigning world champion Chris Powers has qualified No. 1 at all three races this season in his Sonny’s Racing Engines ’21 Camaro, putting him third. He’s also the defending event champion. Michigan-based Liberty’s Gears is the class presenting sponsor for the weekend.
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Jeff Melnick, the 2023 Pro 632 presented by PTC world champion, returned to the winner’s circle at Maryland to move into the points lead. Piloting Alan O’Brien’s Barry Allen-powered Greenbrier Paving & Excavating ’20 Camaro, Melnick qualified No. 1 and reached the final round at the two most recent races. He’s also won the last two Northern Nationals. Walter Lannigan, who won the season opener in Chris Holdorf’s Nelson-powered C&C Pumping Services ’10 GTO, is second as he chases his first world championship. Lexi Tanner, who calls the Northern Nationals her home race on the PDRA tour, sits third with two runner-up finishes in her Musi-powered “Thunder” ’16 Camaro.
Former Jr. Dragster racer Connor McGee made big moves in the PDRA Super Street presented by Brian’s Heating & Cooling points standings at the last race, where he qualified No. 1 and scored his second win of the season in his Fulton-powered ’90 Mustang. Matt Schalow also had a strong outing in his new Knieriem-powered ’68 Camaro, as he qualified No. 2 and reached the final round to move up to second. Austin Vincent, who earned his first career win at Virginia, slipped to third with a first-round exit in his Vincent Performance ’88 Mustang.
The points leaders in the PDRA’s ultra-competitive sportsman divisions going into the Northern Nationals are Bryan LaFlam in MagnaFuel Elite Top Sportsman presented by PAR Racing Engines, Kyle Harris in Laris Motorsports Insurance Elite Top Dragster presented by Greenbrier Excavating & Paving, Jeff Talvacchio in MagnaFuel Top Sportsman, and Nick Meloni in Laris Motorsports Insurance Top Dragster presented by Derrick Wolfe Trucking. Bracket racers from Michigan and beyond will have the opportunity to compete in Edelbrock Bracket Bash presented by COMP Cams.
Though her last race wasn’t as strong as her first two events of the season, Makinzie Alexander held on to the points lead in Paragon Pro Jr. Dragster presented by Philadelphia Racing Products thanks to a win and runner-up finish to start the season. The last race saw Jayden Hogan pull ahead for the points lead in Classic Graphix Top Jr. Dragster presented by Philadelphia Racing Products.
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The Northern Nationals will kick off Thursday starting with pre-race testing until 5 p.m., when Top Sportsman and Top Dragster will start qualifying. Jr. Dragster qualifying will begin Friday at 8:30 a.m., while pro qualifying sessions are set for noon, 4 p.m., and 7:30 p.m. The action-packed Saturday schedule starts with Jr. Dragster final qualifying at 9 a.m., while pro eliminations will start around noon. Nitro shows are scheduled for 6 p.m. and 9 p.m.
Tickets purchased in advance are $20 for Friday and $37 for Saturday, children ages 6-12 are $7 each day, and children five and under get in free with paid adult. At-gate prices are $25 for Friday and $45 for Saturday, children ages 6-12 are $10 each day, and children five and under get in free with paid adult. Purchase tickets at www.PDRA660.com or at the gate.
PDRA fans around the world can catch all the action live on the official event live stream through www.FloRacing.com.
Photos by Tara Bowker
