This weekend at Virginia Motorsports Park marked the race that every competitor in the 2025 PDRA season had been waiting for. For those in the hunt for a class championship, this event would determine whether they had done enough to claim the title of PDRA World Champion.

While a few classes had clear front-runners, most championships wouldn’t be decided until the final round of the season. The tension was palpable with every pass and grew with each round. Drivers and teams knew that to secure a title, their win light had to keep coming on. The excitement of victory and the heartbreak of defeat were palpable throughout the day. As the saying goes, “To be the best, you have to beat the best,” and this weekend was no different. By the end of the event, only one driver in each class stood as the 2025 PDRA World Champion.

Switzer Dynamics Pro Nitrous

2025 World Champion: Marcus Butner
Event Winner: Marcus Butner

Coming into the World Finals, the Pro Nitrous championship had narrowed to two contenders, three-time champion Tommy Franklin and Marcus Butner, who was chasing his first title.

In qualifying, Fredy Scriba set a new class elapsed-time record, which he later backed up in eliminations. Both Butner and Franklin advanced out of the first round with strong runs, Butner setting the quickest time of the round. The pivotal second-round matchup between the two would decide the championship. Leaving nearly dead even, Butner edged out Franklin at the stripe with a 3.671 at 208.10 mph to Franklin’s 3.681 at 206.57 mph, keeping his title hopes alive.

In the semifinals, Butner faced Cam Clark and again left first, taking the win with a 3.688 to Clark’s 3.723. On the other side of the ladder, Buddy Perkinson,  a past Elite Top Sportsman champion, was on a strong run, defeating Tim Molnar and Fredy Scriba before reaching the finals.

The final round featured No. 6 qualifier Butner versus No. 7 qualifier Perkinson. Both cut identical 0.009 lights, but downtrack it was the Jay Cox–tuned ’69 Camaro of Marcus Butner taking the win light. By earning the event win, Butner secured his first PDRA Pro Nitrous World Championship.

Top Qualifiers: Fredy Scriba, 3.600 at 208.62 (new national record); Tim Paap, 3.609 at 206.73; Tommy Franklin, 3.612 at 208.75.

WS Construction Pro Boost presented by P2 Contracting and Ty Drive

2025 World Champion: Ty Tutterow
Event Winner: Jason Harris

Like Pro Nitrous, the Pro Boost championship came down to two main contenders, with one or two others still in mathematical contention. Leading the way was Ty Tutterow, who had reached four consecutive finals and won three of them. After a DNQ early in the season, Tutterow and his team rebounded to dominate the class.

In round one, Tutterow defeated Johnny Camp in a tight 3.567-to-3.574 battle. Round two brought a showdown with No. 2 points contender Melanie Salemi, a must-win for both. Salemi left first but encountered issues downtrack, allowing Tutterow to drive around for the win and clinch the 2025 PDRA Pro Boost Championship.

In the semifinals, Tutterow faced past champion Randy Weatherford. A 0.009 light gave Tutterow the advantage, and when Weatherford had issues midtrack, Tutterow advanced once more.

Jason Harris entered the event hoping to keep the No. 1 on his car for a third straight year. Qualifying third, Harris made quick work of Frank Faltor IV and teammate John Doc before moving to the semifinals, where a no-show from Kurt Steding sent him to the final round.

Although the championship was already decided, Harris went on to win his third consecutive PDRA World Finals when Tutterow went red at the start.

Top Qualifiers: Randy Weatherford, 3.556 at 212.13; Steve King, 3.565 at 219.29; Jason Harris, 3.570 at 210.14.

Liberty’s Gears Pro Street presented by Menscer Motorsports

2025 World Champion: Ethan Steding
Event Winner: Ethan Steding

Ethan Steding entered the World Finals leading the points and carrying serious momentum toward a second consecutive title. With three wins and four final-round appearances before Virginia, Steding had the edge, though challenger Blake Denton remained within striking distance.

Steding defeated John Carinci in round one with a 3.899 to 4.067, then drove around Bill Riddle in round two with a class-best run. The semifinals brought the showdown between the top two in points, Steding versus Denton. Steding’s 3.950 narrowly topped Denton’s 3.957, sealing back-to-back championships.

On the opposite side of the ladder, new class record holder Richard Reagan advanced through Joel Wensley Jr. and Marty Merillat before defeating Fletcher Cox in the semifinals.

In the final, newly crowned champion Steding met Reagan. Steding’s 0.029 light and 3.925 ET earned him a holeshot victory over Reagan’s quicker 3.920. The win marked Steding’s fourth of the season and second consecutive event victory.

Top Qualifiers: Richard Reagan, 3.854 at 199.29 (new national record); Ethan Steding, 3.884 at 199.97; Blake Denton, 3.885 at 197.16.

AED Competition Fuel Systems Extreme Pro Stock presented by Sonny’s World Class Racing Engines

2025 World Champion: Alan Drinkwater

Event Winner: Alan Drinkwater

Seven of the best Extreme Pro Stock drivers rolled into Virginia Motorsports Park for the season finale. Alan Drinkwater entered with three event wins and an insurmountable points lead, clinching the championship once qualifying concluded.

In round one, Drinkwater received a bye when Jeremy Huffman suffered engine damage in qualifying. He laid down a 4.046 at 179.11, the low ET of eliminations. In round two, Drinkwater defeated Elijah Morton with a 4.080 to 4.092.

At the top of the ladder, No. 1 qualifier Jordan Ensslin carried his late-season momentum, earning a first-round bye and then advancing past Steven Boone with a 4.100 at 176.33.

The final round saw Drinkwater and Ensslin, the two standout performers of the year, face off. Drinkwater left first and held the lead wire-to-wire, winning with a 4.077 at 177.98 over Ensslin’s 4.079 at 176.72.

Top Qualifiers: Jordan Ensslin, 4.030 at 178.66; Alan Drinkwater, 4.044 at 178.85; Elijah Morton, 4.049 at 179.90.

Pro 632 presented by PTC Torque Converters

2025 World Champion: Jeff Melnick

Jeff Melnick locked up the Pro 632 championship before the World Finals even began, with three wins and five final-round appearances.

During eliminations, rookie Carson Hoyle made an impressive run. After taking down Nicole Liberty and Walter Lannigan, Hoyle met Melnick in the semifinals and scored a holeshot victory with a 4.157 to Melnick’s 4.156.

On the other side, Kyle Salminen advanced past Jeff Pittman, Brian Clauss, and a semifinal bye to reach the final. There, Hoyle’s stellar 0.005 light helped him to a 4.147 win over Salminen’s 4.212.

Top Qualifiers: Jeff Melnick, 4.094 at 173.16; JC Beattie Jr., 4.106 at 173.81; Walter Lannigan, 4.124 at 170.79.

Super Street presented by Brian’s Heating and Cooling

2025 World Champion: Connor McGee

Carson Perry, fresh off his PDRA Pro Stars victory, qualified No. 1 and continued his winning ways with round wins over Brooks McMath and Austin Vincent. Dan Whetstine advanced to the final after a bye and a win over Billy Taylor.

In the final, Whetstine went red, handing the win to Perry, who clocked a 4.595 at 156.57.

Top Qualifiers: Carson Perry, 4.513 at 157.41; Dan Whetstine, 4.519 at 161.71; Connor McGee, 4.595 at 153.93.

MagnaFuel Elite Top Sportsman presented by PAR Racing Engines

2025 World Champion: Bryan LaFlam
No. 1 Qualifier: Jamie Fowler, 3.760 at 200.98
Winner: Ron Whitlock
Runner-up: Randy Perkinson

Laris Motorsports Insurance Elite Top Dragster presented by Greenbrier Excavating & Paving

2025 World Champion: Alan O’Brien
No. 1 Qualifier: Josh Duggins, 3.682 at 204.20
Winner: Linzie Coleman
Runner-up: Jeff Melnick

MagnaFuel Top Sportsman

2025 World Champion: Jeff Talvacchio
No. 1 Qualifier: Michael Cerro, 4.060 at 184.72
Winner: Jeff Melnick
Runner-up: Roubicek

Laris Motorsports Insurance Top Dragster

2025 World Champion: Clayton Roberts
No. 1 Qualifier: Angie Travis, 3.843 at 191.43
Winner: Will Creasman
Runner-up: James Albertson

Paragon Performance Cooling Solutions Pro Jr. Dragster

2025 World Champion: Makinze Alexander

Classic Graphix Top Jr. Dragster

2025 World Champion: Knox Schween