Rapidly falling temperatures forced officials to make the tough, but necessary decision to postpone the remainder of eliminations at the season-opening KTR Drag Racing PDRA Carolina Nationals at Darlington Dragway. The event will now be completed during the PDRA East Coast Nationals at Darana Motorsports Park, scheduled for April 16–18.
After completing two rounds of professional eliminations and making significant progress in the sportsman ranks, PDRA officials pulled the plug as conditions became unsafe. Dropping track temperatures caused the racing surface to lose grip. It’s never an easy call, especially at a season opener where teams are eager to make a statement. But in drag racing, safety and track conditions always come first.
Series director Tyler Crossnoe made it clear that safety drove the decision.
“This event is now secure due to extended downtime and cold temperatures,” said Crossnoe. “We have lost the racing surface and do not feel it is a smart move to continue in the interest of safety.”
While the cold ultimately ended racing early, it also created ideal conditions earlier in the day for record-setting performances. In PDRA Pro Boost, the class delivered headline-worthy numbers thanks to dense air and a well-prepped surface during the daytime session.
No. 1 qualifier Randy Weatherford backed up his E.T. record pace from Friday night during the opening round of eliminations. However, despite the performance, a red light ended his day early. That opened the door for Johnny Camp, who capitalized in round two with a 3.542-second pass at 213.88 mph in his ProCharged “Hells Bells” 1969 Camaro. The run edged the record by just one thousandth of a second and showcased just how competitive the class has become.
Camp is now set to face Melanie Salemi in the semifinals when racing resumes, while reigning world champion Ty Tutterow will square off against Lyle Barnett on the other side of the ladder.
If you’re looking for star power, the semifinals in PDRA Pro Nitrous are loaded. The class will feature three of its most recent champions battling for a spot in the final round. Three-time world champion Tommy Franklin will face 2024 champion Fredy Scriba, while reigning champion Marcus Butner lines up against fan-favorite Mike Achenbach. That’s a semifinal round that could easily pass for a championship showdown.
Over in PDRA Pro Street, No. 1 qualifier Jerry Morgano continued to show why he topped the field. Morgano advanced to the semifinals after eliminating E.T. record holder Richard Reagan, setting up a matchup with Blake Denton. On the other side of the ladder, former NFL standout and Super Bowl champion Fletcher Cox continues to make waves in drag racing. Cox will face second-generation racer Joel Wensley Jr. in what promises to be a compelling semifinal matchup.
In PDRA Pro 632, reigning two-time world champion Jeff Melnick will meet No. 1 qualifier J.C. Beattie Jr. in the semifinals. Meanwhile, Melnick’s teammate Jeff Pittman, has already secured a bye run into the final round.
The PDRA Super Street category is also stacked heading into the next round of competition. Top qualifier Matt Schalow will take on 2024 world champion Dan Whetstine, while reigning champion Connor McGee faces rising talent Austin Vincent.
The sportsman categories also saw partial completion before the postponement.
- Elite Top Sportsman completed two rounds
- Elite Top Dragster completed one round
- Top Sportsman and Top Dragster completed three rounds
Meanwhile, the Edelbrock Bracket Bash did not begin eliminations, with entry fees set to be refunded.
In the junior ranks, Pro Jr. Dragster completed one round, while Top Jr. Dragster did not start eliminations.
The remainder of the Carolina Nationals will now be completed during the PDRA East Coast Nationals at Darana Motorsports Park in Dunn, North Carolina. If the performances at Darlington are any indication, fans can expect record-setting runs, championship-caliber matchups, and plenty of unfinished business when racing resumes.
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