The PDRA racing series rolled into Darana Motorsports Park in Benson this past weekend for a full three days of racing. Fans got to see not only the East Coast Nationals but also the completion of the postponed Carolina Nationals on Thursday. Teams faced hot temperatures and challenging track conditions, but that didn’t stop them from making great runs.
Switzer Dynamics Pro Nitrous presented by Jerry Bickel Race Cars
The Pro Nitrous category saw Marcus Butner light up the scoreboard with a 3.636 at 208.20 mph to take the No. 1 spot during qualifying. Mid-West Drag Racing Series owner Keith Haney made the long haul to Benson after his event was canceled due to weather. Haney made great runs all weekend, working himself into a final round. He would earn the win light against Billy Albert, Mike Achenbach, and Buddy Perkinson, holding the low elapsed time of the round with a 3.664.
After struggling most of the weekend leading into eliminations, Tommy Franklin and his team overcame their struggles and earned wins over Chris Rini, Rickie Smith, and Tim Molnar. The final pitted Keith Haney against Tommy Franklin, team PDRA versus team MWDRS. As the pair left the starting line, Haney posted a stellar 0.007 reaction time, giving him a huge advantage. He carried that lead to just past the 330-foot mark before suffering engine problems, allowing Franklin to drive around him for the win with a 3.676 at 206.64 mph.
WS Construction Pro Boost presented by P2 Contracting and Ty-Drive
The Pro Boost class has been the talk of the internet for the past couple of weeks following a recent rule change. Melanie Salemi’s screw-blown car topped the field with a 3.580 at 208.68 mph. With only fifteen cars entered this weekend, Salemi received a first-round bye and went on to post wins against Travis Harvey and Jay Cox on a holeshot. No. 2 qualifier Jason Harris, one of the recipients of a “lead trophy” stemming from the rules change, showed that it wasn’t going to stop him from going rounds. Harris won against Joel Wensley, Ethan Steding, and Johnny Camp.
The final matched No. 1 qualifier Salemi against No. 2 qualifier Harris in a screw blower versus centrifugal blower matchup. In typical Harris fashion, he left with the starting line lead and never looked back, turning on his win light with a 3.643 at 200.47 mph.
Liberty’s Gears Pro Street presented by KTR
Following the completion of the Carolina Nationals on Thursday, where Fletcher Cox won, Cox turned over driving duties of his “Training Day” Camaro to Andy Mac. In Mac’s race debut, he drove straight to the top of the thirteen-car field with a 3.895 at 192.38 mph, earning the first-round bye. On his way to the finals, Mac defeated Scott Kincaid and Ron Green. On the other side of the ladder, No. 3 qualifier Blake Denton did what he needed to do to reach the final, moving past Graham Hayes, Joel Wensley Jr., and Richard Reagan on a holeshot.
In the final, Mac left the starting line first but had to pedal the car just before half-track, and that was all Denton needed to drive to the stripe first for the win. Denton ran 3.943 at 201.76 mph to Mac’s 4.056 at 185.77 mph.
Pro 632 presented by Mark Williams
Jeff Pittman topped the field with a 4.147-second qualifying run at 171.29 mph. After winning the Carolina Nationals make-up race, JC Beattie Jr.’s winning ways carried into the weekend. Beattie won his way to back-to-back finals, where he faced David Cook Jr. Unfortunately, Cook went red, allowing Beattie to claim his second class win of the weekend.
1320 Fabrication Super Street presented by Brian’s Heating and Cooling
Connor McGee made a statement during the final round of qualifying with a blistering 4.467 at 160.29 mph. McGee’s run was the first half of a class elapsed time record, but he was unable to back it up. Despite falling short of the record, McGee advanced to yet another final, looking to go back-to-back. No. 2 qualifier Austin Vincent made his way through the field, posting the low elapsed time of each round. In a familiar final-round matchup, it was once again the two Mustangs of Vincent and McGee. Vincent went low elapsed time of eliminations and added another PDRA 660 win to his collection, running 4.517 at 167.01 mph to McGee’s 4.569 at 156.35 mph.
Elite Top Sportsman presented by PAR Racing Engines No. 1 qualifier: Jamie Fowler, 3.772 at 198.41 mph Winner: Scott Duggins over Zach Houser
MagnaFuel Top Sportsman No. 1 qualifier: Mike Alexander Jr., 4.172 at 172.30 mph Winner: Seth Garrison over Gary Pitts
Greenbrier Excavating and Paving Elite Top Dragster No. 1 qualifier: Bruce Westfall, 3.719 at 196.53 mph Winner: Josh Duggins over Will Creasman
ATI Performance Top Dragster presented by TBM Brakes No. 1 qualifier: Taylor Holland, 4.168 at 168.60 mph Winner: Stacy Hall over Steven Boone
PDRA Pro Jr. Dragster (7.90) No. 1 qualifier: Mckenzee Hogan, 7.900 Winner: Katelyn Page over CJ Jenkins
Classic Graphix Top Jr. Dragster No. 1 qualifier: Jayden Hogan, 0.000 (qualified by reaction time) Winner: Kole Paone over Lukas Alexander
Edelbrock Bracket Bash presented by PRP Winner: Carson Brown over Kristen Byrd
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