As the 2026 PDRA racing season nears its end, the number of rounds left to win gets fewer and fewer. Those looking to win or secure a championship know that, at this point, every round they advance is one step closer to the goal.
Every time the PDRA comes to Darana Motorsports Park – Benson, the racers step up their game, and Drag Wars was a prime example. Even with less-than-ideal conditions, every team reached deep and put on a show for the fans. From some of the tightest fields to upset wins and even a record reset, the weather did not seem to affect things at all.
Once again, Mother Nature tried to “rain on the parade,” but she stayed off in the distance just enough for the event to be completed.
The next event for the PDRA series will be its World Finals and Pro Stars race, September 17-20 at Virginia Motorsports Park.
Switzer Dynamics Pro Nitrous Presented By Jerry Bickel Race Cars
Pro Nitrous newcomer Ryan Bush was able to hold on to the No. 1 qualifier spot with his 3.629-second pass at 209.56 mph in the final round of qualifying, giving him a bye run in the first round of eliminations.
Coming off a dominating performance and win at the last race, Marcus Butner has come on strong in the back half of the season and is on a mission to claim back-to-back Pro Nitrous championships. Butner struggled early in the weekend, but when eliminations started, he and the team chipped away at the competition, getting quicker every round.
In the final, Butner saved the best for last as he faced Amber Denton. Butner had his best reaction time and elapsed time of the day against Denton, and he would make it two wins in a row while taking over the points lead. Butner ran 3.628 at 209.20 mph to Denton’s 3.643 at 207.46 mph.
WS Construction Pro Boost Presented By P2 Contracting And Ty-Drive
For the third race, Ty Tutterow claimed the No. 1 qualifying position with an elapsed time of 3.556 at 209.79 mph. Tutterow held low elapsed time through every round of qualifying. Unfortunately, Tutterow suffered a mechanical failure and pushed through the beams in round one of eliminations.
No. 2 qualifier Johnny Camp has his eye on a Pro Boost championship this season and is doing what it takes to get there. Camp missed the event at Maryland International Raceway earlier in the year, but when he shows up, he has gone rounds. Camp defeated Joel Wensley in the opening round, then moved past multi-time Pro Boost champion Jason Harris in round two and class newcomer Carson Perry in the semifinals.
On the other side of the ladder, Randy Weatherford made his way through the field, claiming wins against the last winner on tour, Ned Dunphy, in a close side-by-side race in the opening round, Jay Santos in round two, and Ethan Steding on a holeshot in the semifinals.
The final-round matchup between Johnny Camp and Randy Weatherford was going to be one to watch. As the pair left the line, Weatherford, who had been cutting great reaction times all day, pushed it a little too much against Camp and turned on the red light, allowing Camp to make his way to the winner’s circle.
Camp ran 3.594 at 210.44 mph to Weatherford’s quicker but losing 3.578 at 210.11 mph. Camp’s win moved him into the championship points lead by a mere 10 points over No. 2 Jason Harris.
Liberty’s Gears Pro Street Presented By KTR
Pro Street put on a show at Darana Motorsports Park – Benson during qualifying. At the end of each round, we saw a new No. 1 qualifier, but in the end, it was Tim Essick in his “Brown Sugar” Mustang who put the class on notice. Essick’s blistering run of 3.893 at 195.65 mph was the only run that broke into the 3.80s.
Essick continued the momentum from qualifying into race day. After a runner-up finish at the last race in Bristol, Essick was looking for that final-round win light and found himself in another final.
Sitting in the No. 2 qualifying spot, Ron Green had his sights set on claiming his first PDRA Pro Street win. Green got win lights in the first three rounds and needed only one more to make that happen. Standing in his way was Tim Essick.
The final-round matchup between Ron Green in his ’00 Firebird, “Game Changer,” and Tim Essick in his Mustang, “Brown Sugar,” was going to be a battle. Essick had a slight advantage off the starting line, and by the 330-foot mark, they were dead even. After that, it was Green who pulled away for the win.
Green ran his quickest pass of the weekend with a 3.907 at 197.48 mph to Essick’s slowing 3.951 at 181.69 mph.
Pro 632 Presented By Mark Williams
JC Beattie Jr. has been on a tear this year, and he continued that momentum at Benson. Beattie claimed another No. 1 qualifier and, due to his opponent not being able to make the call in the first round, moved on with another round win. He also ran an impressive 4.116 at 175.05 mph.
Beattie made it to another final round, where he would face Ryan Altman in back-to-back finals. Beattie was looking for payback from Bristol, where Altman bested him in the final.
This time, Beattie was ready. He was first to leave the line and the first to make it to the finish line for the win, making it his third victory of the season and stretching out his points lead in the class. Beattie ran 4.121 at 174.80 mph to Altman’s 4.154 at 170.86 mph.
1320 Fabrication Super Street Presented By Brian’s Heating And Cooling
After an early exit at the last race on tour and dropping to second in the championship points chase, Connor McGee came to Benson ready for war. In the third round of qualifying, McGee clicked off a record-setting elapsed time of 4.484 at 164.43 mph. McGee went on to back up the record in the first round of eliminations, running a 4.486 at 164.91 mph.
No. 2 qualifier and championship points leader coming into Benson, Austin Vincent ran a pair of 4.53s in the first two rounds and dropped to a 4.515 at 154.16 mph on a bye run in the semifinals, putting him in his fourth consecutive final of the year.
After a tough start to the season, Troy Hill has turned things around during the past two races. Hill made it to the final at Bristol, where he fell to Austin Vincent after having trouble down track.
Qualified fourth, Hill made his way past Kenny Fox, Matt Schalow, and Dan Whetstine, finding himself facing Vincent once again in the final.
As the pair of Mustangs left the line, they were side by side with almost identical reaction times, but by half-track, it was the Fox-body Mustang of Vincent that was pulling away for the win. Both drivers ran their best elapsed times of eliminations against each other, with Vincent running a 4.512 at 167.91 mph to Hill’s 4.583 at 158.35 mph.
This marked Vincent’s third win of the season and added to his championship points lead over Connor McGee.
MagnaFuel Elite Top Sportsman Presented By PAR Racing Engines
No. 1 qualifier: Jamie Fowler — 3.788 at 199.14 mph
Winner: Bryan LaFlam
Runner-up: John Benoit
MagnaFuel Top Sportsman
No. 1 qualifier: Ronnie Proctor — 4.114 at 178.76 mph
Winner: Mike Alexander Jr.
Runner-up: Mark Reese
Greenbrier Excavating And Paving Elite Top Dragster
No. 1 qualifier: Alan O’Brien — 3.678 at 205.22 mph
Winner: Brian Anderson
Runner-up: Michael White
ATI Performance Top Dragster Presented By TBM Brakes
No. 1 qualifier: Bruce Holland — 4.130 at 170.21 mph
Winner: Taylor Holland
Runner-up: Scott Neal
Paragon Pro Jr. Dragster (7.90 Index)
No. 1 qualifier: Ashton Halas — 7.900
Winner: Charlee O’Meara
Runner-up: Ethan Santmyer
Classic Graphix Top Jr. Dragster
No. 1 qualifier: Camden Bean — .006 (qualifying by reaction time)
Winner: Mason Dudley
Runner-up: Korbin Helms
Edelbrock Bracket Bash Presented By PRP
Winner: Donald Webb
Runner-up: Mike Buie
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