Photos by Robert Richard, Tara Bowker
EVENT FINAL – FLETCHER COX EARNS FIRST PDRA PRO STREET VICTORY AT GALOT MOTORSPORTS PARK
Super Bowl champion Fletcher Cox claimed his first career victory in Liberty’s Gears Pro Street on Thursday night, closing out the rain-delayed PDRA Thunder Valley Throwdown at GALOT Motorsports Park. The former Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle defeated reigning world champion Ethan Steding in the final round to secure his first PDRA 660 Man trophy.
The eliminations were originally scheduled at Bristol Dragway in late August but were postponed by rain and completed during ProFab DragWars, the seventh of eight events in the Red Line Oil PDRA Drag Racing Series. Cox was joined in the winner’s circle by Tommy Franklin (Pro Nitrous), Ty Tutterow (Pro Boost), Jordan Ensslin (Extreme Pro Stock), Jeff Melnick (Pro 632) and Connor McGee (Super Street).
Victories in the sportsman categories went to Tim Lawrence (Elite Top Sportsman), Larry Roberts (Elite Top Dragster), Nick Meloni (Top Sportsman) and Justin Kirk (Top Dragster). Ashton Halas and Knox Schween picked up Junior Dragster wins.
Cox, driving his nitrous-assisted “Training Day” ’69 Camaro, marched through eliminations with consistent 3.90-second passes. He closed the semifinal with a 3.908 at 186.61 mph before posting a 3.898 at 187.50 in the final. Steding slowed to a 4.498 at 122.44 after lifting early.
“Man, it’s almost like your first sack in the NFL, honestly,” Cox said. “You only get one of those first ones, and that was the same as tonight. I got the first win, and this is a double race. The focus is now to celebrate with the team tonight.”
Cox credited his crew and sponsors for the achievement. “I put together a freaking badass team and these guys worked their tails off and I can’t thank them enough,” he said.
Three-time world champion Tommy Franklin delivered his first win of the season in Switzer Dynamics Pro Nitrous, running a string of 3.62-second passes. His 3.626 at 207.08 defeated Tim Molnar’s 3.681 in the final, giving Franklin the points lead over his daughter, Amber Denton.
“Honestly, it is bittersweet,” Franklin said. “She’s having a heck of a season and it’s not over. We’ve got two races left and I know she’s going to be tough.”
In Pro Boost, Ty Tutterow raced past Melanie Salemi in a side-by-side 3.50s final. Tutterow’s 3.58 at 209.52 held off Salemi’s 3.588 at 206.92.
“We’ve got a really good group of guys assembled. We’re running good. The car’s doing good,” Tutterow said. “It’s going to take some really consistent runs to win again on Saturday.”
Florida’s Jordan Ensslin earned his first Extreme Pro Stock win, defeating Elijah Morton after beating 2023 champion Alan Drinkwater in the semifinals. Jeff Melnick extended his Pro 632 points lead with a holeshot victory over teammate Jeff Pittman, marking his third straight win.
In Super Street, Connor McGee continued his title push with his third win in four races, running 4.556 to beat Austin Vincent in the final.
Tim Lawrence captured the Elite Top Sportsman trophy when Dwayne Gallogly fouled in the final. Larry Roberts outpaced Josh Duggins to win Elite Top Dragster. Meloni and Kirk closed out Bristol’s Top Sportsman and Top Dragster titles, respectively.
Halas and Schween took home Junior Dragster honors, with Schween earning his third win of his rookie season.
SATURDAY NOTEBOOK – RAIN SHIFTS THE COMPLETION OF THE EVENT INTO SEPTEMBER
1 – THAT’S ALL FOR HERE – Rain showers Saturday night forced PDRA officials to postpone the completion of the Thunder Valley Throwdown at Bristol Dragway. The Red Line Oil PDRA Drag Racing Series will finish eliminations Sept. 11 at the ProFab DragWars at GALOT Motorsports Park.
“This is obviously not the ideal outcome, but we fought through rain storms earlier in the day and completed as much racing as we could before these forecasted thunderstorms rolled in,” said PDRA series director Tyler Crossnoe. “More rain has moved into the area and is going to stay in the area throughout half of Sunday, effectively losing our back-up date as well.”
2 – THE PRO NITROUS SCOREBOARD – One round of eliminations was completed in all professional classes. Virginia’s Dane Wood made the quickest Pro Nitrous run with a 3.761 at 199.82 to upset John Vergotz, who posted a nearly identical 3.760 at 201.52. Other winners included Tommy Franklin, Brian Shrader, Marcus Butner, Cam Clark and Tim Molnar.
3 – HARRIS SETS LOW E.T. BEFORE THE RAINS – Defending event champion Jason Harris set low E.T. in Pro Boost with a 3.686 at 205.51 to defeat Don Tolley. He was joined by Preston Tanner, Ed Marx, David Monday, Melanie Salemi, Steve King, Randy Weatherford and Ty Tutterow in advancing.
4 – STEDING STOPS DENTON – In Pro Street, points leader and No. 1 qualifier Blake Denton broke on the starting line, opening the door for defending champion Ethan Steding to gain ground with a 4.138 at 186.00. Mikey Sasina, Ron Green, Fletcher Cox, Richard Reagan and Bill Riddle also moved on.
5 – BEFORE THE RAINS HIT – Extreme Pro Stock saw upsets for top contenders. Defending champion Chris Powers lost on a holeshot to Dave Hughes, while Jeremy Huffman fell to Jordan Ensslin. Elijah Morton and Alan Drinkwater also advanced.
Pro 632 No. 1 qualifier Nicole Liberty continued her momentum with a 4.239 at 166.66 on a bye. Carson Hoyle, Jeff Pittman, Lexi Tanner, Jeff Melnick and J.C. Beattie Jr. joined her in the second round.
Defending winner Connor McGee posted a 4.635 at 156.59 in Super Street to lead first-round winners Dan Whetstine, Austin Vincent and Carson Perry.
Sportsman and Jr. Dragster competitors also completed multiple rounds before the storms arrived.
6 – THE OUTLAW 10.5 REVIVAL – The Professional Drag Racers Association’s Pro Street class has quickly become one of the most popular divisions on tour, bringing back the flavor of Outlaw 10.5 racing and the old NMCA Pro Street showdowns that once featured names like Pat Musi, Tony Christian and Annette Summer.
Unlike Pro Nitrous and Pro Boost, which split power adders into separate categories, Pro Street throws nitrous, blowers, ProChargers and turbos into the same ring. The result is a fan-friendly “bunkhouse match,” where every combination takes its shot on a 33×10.5W tire.
Race director Tyler Crossnoe said the idea was to tap into nostalgia while giving the series a unique showcase. “Pro Street’s kind of a new age Outlaw 10.5,” Crossnoe said. “They’re full-blown race cars underneath, but on the outside they look more streetable than a Pro Nitrous or Pro Boost car. That’s what makes it unique.”
Pat Musi, who helped shape NMCA Pro Street in the 1990s, sees the same appeal. “The stock body cars, they need to stay that way,” Musi said. “I like the fact they look like a ’69 Camaro or whatever the car is. That’s how the whole NMCA deal started with me and Tony. I even had roll-up windows in the beginning.”
Musi has also been vocal about recent rules adjustments. The PDRA added a 110-pound penalty to nitrous cars after Fletcher Cox’s standout 3.829-second run at Martin, a lap more than six-hundredths quicker than the next qualifier. Musi argued the move was too harsh. “When’d you ever see an organization hang 110 pounds in one shot?” he said. “Fletcher made a hero run. One run, and they put 110 pounds on a nitrous car. Two nitrous cars, the rest are blowers.”
Cox, the retired NFL defensive tackle turned racer, said he was drawn to Pro Street for its competitiveness and its connection to Outlaw 10.5 roots.
“It’s competitive, man,” Cox said. “It’s bringing out the old Outlaw 10.5 stuff. Don’t be surprised if me and the boys make a trip to a few races.”
Crossnoe said that variety is what makes the class stand out. Cars like Ethan Steding’s Camaro or Blake Denton’s “Bonnie” Camaro might share similar drivetrains with Pro Boost machines, but the smaller tire demands a different style of driving and tuning. “You can’t go out and pour the coals to it as early in the run because you’re limited on a 10.5 tire,” Crossnoe said. “That challenge is what makes it different, and that’s why it fits so well with PDRA.”
He added that maintaining parity between combinations will always be a balancing act. “There’ll never be a perfect rulebook,” Crossnoe said. “But you make it as close as you can for all the conditions and let them battle it out.”
For fans, the show is what matters. Pro Street cars maintain a stock-bodied look while delivering three-second runs and trap speeds well over 180 mph. The mix of nitrous, blower and turbo combinations ensures variety on every qualifying sheet and unpredictability on race day.
Musi said keeping the stock appearance will be key to the class’s future. “I think we need that stock-appearing car,” he said. “I think they’re cool. They stand out there.”
As the division grows, racers like Denton, Steding and Cox are carving out rivalries while connecting to the era Musi helped pioneer. For the PDRA, Pro Street represents a bridge between history and modern technology — and a reminder that unpredictability is still one of drag racing’s greatest draws.
7 – FRANKLIN PROUD OF HIS PRESERVATION ROLE – For Tommy Franklin, drag racing and leadership have reinforced the same lesson: stay in your own lane.
Franklin, a three-time Pro Nitrous world champion and president of the Professional Drag Racers Association (PDRA), has built his approach on honesty, transparency and consistency. “I’m not a step on a whole bunch of toes, just do what we do,” Franklin said. “I tell all my people all the time, do what’s right, do what we say we’re going to do. That’s all you can do.”
Franklin and his wife Judy purchased Virginia Motorsports Park in 2017 after years of racing at the facility. He also helped launch the PDRA in 2014 following the collapse of ADRL and XDRL, and by 2020 the Franklins were sole owners of the eighth-mile series.
“There was a hole, there was a gap that needed to be filled,” Franklin said. “I feel good that we were able to bridge that gap and have racing to where it is today.”
At the time, Pro Modified-style racing was struggling. Franklin said his only concern was keeping the cars on track. “I was just a racer, and I wanted a place to race my car,” he said. “It was probably in dire need. But what’s happened since then, this is some of the strongest racing you’ve
ever seen, I think, in history.”
The PDRA celebrated its tenth anniversary in 2024. Franklin credited loyal racers and sponsors for making the organization stable and competitive.
“All in all, I’m a race fan,” Franklin said. “So as long as the sport is growing and there’s options for it to grow, that is what really matters. I think competition’s good for everybody.”
He noted the biggest challenge is car count, not rival series. “What we need is more inventory of cars,” Franklin said. “And if there’s good places to race, then hopefully people will continue to build cars.”
Franklin also addressed the return of the International Hot Rod Association under new ownership in 2024. “They all seem like they’re doing good things for drag racing,” Franklin said. “And again, that’s all I really care is that good things are being done for drag racing.”
He admitted racers will never cover the cost of competition, but safety and stability remain priorities. “We’ll never get paid enough to do what we deserve, but as a racer, that’s all that really matters,” Franklin said.
As the PDRA enters its second decade, Franklin said the mission remains the same: keep promises and provide a dependable place to race. “Sometimes that’s not enough for some, sometimes that’s plenty for some,” he said. “But I’ve always been a guy that says, ‘Hey, we tell everybody what we’re going to do. And as long as we do that, then we accomplish that part of it.’”
8 – IT’S A NEW WORLD FOR CANNON – Scotty Cannon, the mohawked showman who defined Pro Modified drag racing through the 1990s, first broke through at Bristol Dragway in 1991, defeating Robbie Vandergriff for his first career win.
Cannon went on to dominate the class, winning six IHRA world championships between 1991 and 1998 and collecting 28 national event victories. His record as IHRA’s winningest driver stood nearly a decade after he left the series to pursue a Funny Car career in NHRA.
Over the weekend, Cannon returned to Thunder Valley during the PDRA’s Thunder Valley Throwdown, 34 years after his milestone victory. This time, he was serving as crew chief for his brother, Bubba Greene.
“They say Darlington is too tough to tame for the NASCAR guys. Well, that’s the way it was for us for years,” Cannon said. “But once I got a hold to it, then one of my first one is like, it’s been real good. But I think I was out of it so long and my brother’s driving now, so it’s making us start all over.”
Cannon and Greene are breaking in a new car with only two races of experience. “We ain’t leaning on the car hard,” Cannon said. “We’re just trying to get it down to the racetrack and naturally win a race, but it’s part of a learning process.”
Cannon’s trademark mohawk has been replaced by a beard. “Looks like I replaced it with Bubba,” he joked. “I’m using Rogaine. Twice a day. A bottle’s supposed to do all month. I use it every two weeks. I’m trying to get my mohawk back.”
His 1991 Bristol triumph eventually led to his induction into the Don Garlits International Drag Racing Hall of Fame and his name on the Bristol Dragway “Legends of Thunder Valley” display. “If someone asked me what’s one of the most prestigious things I’ve done, it’s get on the wall right there above my hero, Gene Fulton,” Cannon said.
Now, Cannon said he enjoys working with family, just as he once did with his son, Scott Cannon Jr. “Someone’s got your blood in them and they’re driving the car, it’s nothing like driving the car for me. It’s way worse. Just nerves,” he said.
Greene admitted the lessons can be tough, but invaluable. “Every race. You got the best in the business trying to teach me how to do it,” Greene said. “Oh, I would never be where I’m at right now if it wasn’t for him. No doubt.”
For Cannon, the reward comes from helping family and sharing stories with fans. “Just looking back on the old days and hearing the stories,” he said. “That’s the most rewarding part in this whole deal.”
9 – THE PLAN MOVING FORWARD – Officials said eliminations will resume at GALOT, starting with the remaining Thunder Valley rounds on Sept. 11.
FRIDAY QUALIFYING – ORNERY RACING SURFACE EVENTUALLY SQUELCHED BY MOTHER NATURE
1 – THE STRUGGLE WAS REAL – The struggle was real in qualifying at Bristol Dragway as many teams fought to get down the hot and tricky surface. Most of the Pro Nitrous field had trouble laying down strong numbers, but three-time world champion Tommy Franklin found the right combination.
Franklin powered his Musi-equipped “Jungle Rat 3.0” ’69 Camaro to a 3.784-second run at 202.67 mph. The performance secured the No. 1 qualifying position for the third time this season. Qualifying was called off after two sessions when a torrential downpour that went well into the night forced the cancellation of qualifying.
Franklin upgraded to the new car after winning at Bristol a year ago. He enters the weekend coming off a runner-up finish to his daughter, points leader Amber Denton, at the recent Northern Nationals.
The Franklin family made headlines at Bristol last season when father and daughter both reached the winner’s circle. Denton claimed Pro 632 while Franklin won in Pro Nitrous, giving Tommy Franklin Motorsports a rare double victory.
Now, they are chasing the possibility of another all-family final round on Saturday. “It’s tricky out here,” Franklin said. “That racetrack’s been really hot, but we made a nice lap in Q1, so we’ll be ready to go for the first round.”
Franklin credited his group for adjusting to the conditions. “It’s probably going to be hot most of the day [Saturday], so I think it’ll be a lot like what we were out there in today,” he said. “There’s a younger girl [Denton] in front of me in points that I’m trying to chase down, so I need a little bit of confidence for that right now—our team’s good. I’m always confident in what we can do out there. I’m ready to go.”
Erie, Pennsylvania’s John Vergotz came close to securing his first career No. 1 qualifier. He recorded a 3.789 at 199.82 in his Musi-powered ’69 Camaro to take the No. 2 position, missing the top spot by just five-thousandths of a second.
Defending world champion Fredy Scriba rounded out the top three in qualifying. He drove his Musi-powered ’69 Camaro to a 3.823 at 201.52 mph.
2 – TANNER HOLDS STEADY – Preston Tanner and tuner Jeff Pierce carried momentum from Thursday testing into Friday qualifying at Bristol Dragway. The young driver’s screw-blown “Sweetheart” ’15 Corvette posted a 3.674-second run at 203.98 mph to secure the provisional No. 1 spot.
While Tanner didn’t improve in the second session, none of the other 18 drivers were able to surpass him. The effort marked his first No. 1 qualifier since the 2022 season.
“We are really excited because we have been working the past couple of years to really get back up on this horse, and it feels nice to finally get one,” Tanner said. He credited his family-based crew and sponsors including Wyo Motorsports, G-Force Race Cars, M&M Transmissions, Manhattan Collision Center, AJ Wendt & Son Trucking, Tanner Transport, PD Products and Talbert Manufacturing.
Tanner said the approach heading into eliminations will remain steady.
“Going into race day No. 1 in this kind of field really doesn’t mean a whole bunch because every racer here is stout,” he said. “What I plan to do – and what I started in Michigan – was I just gave each racer the same every single time and I just work on myself. I don’t worry about who’s in the other lane.”
Jason Harris, the defending event winner and reigning two-time world champion, qualified second. He drove his ProCharged Southern Diamond Company “Party Time” ’69 Camaro to a 3.679 at 205.98 mph.
Randy Weatherford, winner of the recent Northern Nationals, locked into the No. 3 spot. He recorded a 3.709 at 208.23 mph in his Hart’s Charger-boosted WS Construction ’21 Camaro.
Tanner’s run stood as the highlight of a challenging day of qualifying. Hot conditions and a tricky racing surface kept most of the Pro Boost field searching for traction.
Still, Tanner’s team left with confidence. “Our team’s worked really hard to get here, and it feels good to finally put it together,” he said. “Now it’s about going rounds.”
3 – DENTON NAILS IT IN PRO STREET – Blake Denton added another top qualifying effort Friday night to continue his strong sophomore season in Pro Street. The Virginia driver’s nitrous-assisted, Musi-powered “Bonnie” ’69 Camaro posted a 4.036 at 191.73 mph to secure the No. 1 spot at Bristol Dragway.
Denton was one of just two drivers to dip below 4.10 seconds on the tricky surface. The run marked his third No. 1 qualifier award of the season after opening the year with back-to-back No. 1 qualifiers.
The Camaro serves as a rolling tribute to the late Lizzy Musi. Denton will begin eliminations with a high-stakes matchup against defending world champion Ethan Steding, who sits second behind him in the points standings.
“Over the break we had to put 110 pounds in the car and we went to work with Jeff [Pierce, tuner] and brainstormed where to put the weight because that’s a lot of weight to disperse in the car and not get it upset,” Denton said. “The car seems really happy.”
Behind Denton, Chris Tuten returned to competition on a high note. After crashing his turbocharged ’87 Mustang at Maryland in June, he bounced back to qualify second with a 4.098 at 196.90 mph.
Newcomer Adrian Herrera achieved a career-best performance to secure the No. 3 spot. He posted a 4.151 at 184.65 in his ProCharger-boosted E-Shoot Systems ’67 Chevelle.
4 – FIRST ROUND RACE WITH CHAMPIONSHIP IMPLICATIONS – The championship picture in Pro Street could take a major turn Saturday when points leader Blake Denton meets defending world champion Ethan Steding in the first round of eliminations at Bristol Dragway.
Denton secured the No. 1 qualifying position with a 4.036 at 191.73 in his Musi-powered “Bonnie” ’69 Camaro. Steding, who trails Denton in the standings, ended up on the opposite end of the qualifying order, setting up an early elimination clash between the division’s top two contenders.
“It looks like I have Ethan first round, so that’s the championship in the making, hopefully,” Denton said. “I’ve got a good car underneath me and I’ve just gotta do my job.”
The matchup highlights a contrast in approaches this season. Denton has relied on consistent top-end performance, qualifying No. 1 at three of the first four events, while Steding has leaned on race-day experience as the defending series champion.
For Denton, eliminating Steding early would create separation in the points race. A loss, however, could allow Steding to close the gap and shift the momentum back toward the reigning champion.
Both drivers are familiar with high-pressure situations. Denton is in just his second full season in Pro Street but has shown composure in big rounds, while Steding has carried the weight of defending a title.
The Bristol surface, which challenged much of the field during qualifying, adds another layer of unpredictability. “I know a lot of people struggled this weekend with the track, but the car is speaking for itself,” Denton said. “What Jeff’s got going right now is great.”
5 – MUSI BEING MUSI: CLASSIC PRO STOCK EDITION – Pat Musi is widely recognized as a dominant nitrous engine builder and an eight-time NMCA Pro Street champion with multiple Pro Modified victories. What many fans may not realize is that Musi was also an accomplished Pro Stock racer in both IHRA and NHRA competition.
Musi never claimed an NHRA national event win, but his resume includes a runner-up finish and a No. 1 qualifying effort at the 1981 NHRA U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis. That season proved to be his best, as he finished fourth in the NHRA Pro Stock championship standings.
“I had some good memories racing in NHRA Pro Stock,” Musi said.
Musi opened the 1981 NHRA season with a runner-up finish to Bob Glidden at the Winternationals. The performance helped set the tone for a season in which he became a consistent challenger to the established NHRA stars.
Musi said that in the early 1980s, IHRA competitors often faced skepticism when they crossed over to NHRA events. The IHRA roster featured Warren Johnson, Ronnie Sox, Don Nicholson, and Rickie Smith, but Musi said NHRA racers were slow to respect them.
“All I used to hear was, ‘if he comes over here to NHRA, we’ll teach him a lesson,’” Musi recalled. “I turned it around on them, first race — runner-up to [Bob] Glidden. They played it off as us being lucky.”
At Pomona, Musi advanced by beating championship contender Lee Shepherd, who fouled in their second-round matchup. He backed up the win two weeks later in Gainesville by outrunning Shepherd straight-up in eliminations.
Musi, being Musi, even directed a remark at Shepherd’s team owner, David Reher. “Hey, I am ready for that lesson,” Musi told him.
While relationships with rivals improved as the season continued, Musi said Glidden always showed him respect. “There was nothing aftermarket then,” Musi said. “Everything was over the counter, nothing but GM or junkyard blocks. We took a block and shortened the deck. I had a 9-inch deck height block. It was just fast… badass fast.”
Musi began the 1981 campaign in a three-link Camaro built by Don Ness, but realized the car was behind the leaders. After the fourth race, he switched to a four-link chassis also built by Ness, which proved competitive.
The upgrade paid off at Indianapolis, where Musi qualified No. 1 at the U.S. Nationals. “The new four-link Ness car was the ticket,” Musi said.
He also reflected on the financial challenges of Pro Stock racing. “I learned long before I started racing in NHRA Pro Stock that we all put our pants on the same way,” Musi said. “Unfortunately, this sport is built more on money than your knowledge. When the money came in, as well as the 500-inch engines, it put it all a bit out of reach. I call Pro Stock the millionaire’s club today. They can have it.”
Before his NHRA success, Musi had built a strong reputation in IHRA competition. From 1976 to 1980, he reached six Pro Stock finals and won three times, including back-to-back runner-up finishes in 1977 and 1978.
Musi also qualified for the semifinals at the first IHRA Mountain Motor Pro Stock race in Darlington in 1977. “I’d definitely like to make a run in one,” he said of the Mountain Motor cars.
6 – TRADING PLACES – Fletcher Cox spent 12 seasons disrupting offenses as a defensive tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles. Now, the retired NFL veteran is chasing wins in drag racing.
Cox, a six-time Pro Bowl selection, four-time All-Pro, and Super Bowl champion, retired in March 2024. The former Mississippi State standout announced his decision on Instagram, opening the door for him to pursue his longtime passion.
“I was always wanting to drive the car,” Cox said. “But obviously, my profession was more important than driving a race car.”
During his NFL career, Cox supported drag racing as a team owner, often standing behind his doorslammer entries with a headset on. When his playing days ended, he decided it was time to climb into the seat.
Cox made his debut at the PDRA Mid-Atlantic Showdown in Dinwiddie, Va., qualifying No. 4 and advancing to the semifinals. Weeks later, he claimed his first No. 1 qualifier at Maryland International Raceway, less than 50 miles from the stadium where he recorded 15.5 sacks against the Washington Commanders.
He added another No. 1 qualifying effort in Martin, Mich. “It just took some time,” Cox said. “We obviously ran some no time stuff with the same car ‘Training Day,’ but took some time and took the car down to RK Racecraft on a Sunday, and Ryan was gracious enough to come.”
Cox credited his team for his transition. “The biggest part was taking up on it the right way,” he said. “And I say that is really just putting together a badass team like we have right now with Phil and Andy and Joe, all of my friends that come help, Tommy, Kirk, Macbeth, obviously Casey, my girlfriend.”
Knowledge, Cox said, has been his foundation. “The good saying going is knowledge is power, and when you have knowledge it’s power, and you just have to listen to those guys and soak everything that they’re saying in,” he said. “I’m humble enough to do that, and I don’t know it all, because we all know anything in life can humble you.”
Cox said he is enjoying the sport without intimidation. “The best thing about the 2025 season with this team is we’re having so much fun,” he said. “There’s no bad vibes and everybody likes each other, everybody gets along, and there’s not really much that shakes me up.”
Former NFL quarterback Dan Pastorini remains the fastest ex-football player on the strip, but Cox said he isn’t ready to chase him yet. “Actually, a conversation we had the other day that I need to get my quarter-mile license, and I’ll get it in this car, but we’ll be fine,” he said.
Cox, at six-four and 270 pounds, said his size made a doorslammer the right choice. “So obviously very, very blessed to know that I own this car and was able to fit, and it’s all working out, so we’re having a lot of fun doing it,” he said.
His background as a lineman helps. “My reaction time when I first started was not that bad, but I’ve been getting better, and I’m really, really hard on myself about it,” Cox said. “But I decided to stay patient and just keep chipping away.”
Cox said his goal is progress. “You just keep chipping away,” he said. “And it all comes together.”
7 – WIN, LOSE OR TY – For Ty Tutterow, drag racing is more than a career — it is a family tradition. The son of multi-time champion Todd Tutterow has emerged as a Pro Boost contender in the PDRA while carrying lessons passed down through three generations.
“It’s really just a dream come true,” Ty said. “Watching him run from my entire childhood to now being in the seat and him watching me run some, it’s just something I’ve always wanted to do my whole life.”
Ty said he knew early that racing would be his path. “I was probably at least, probably six or seven years old,” he said.
He recalled long days watching his father balance a grading operation with nights spent in the race shop. “Growing up, seeing that, knowing that I might be going into pushing dirt to, fortunately enough, turning this into a career and just working on race cars ever since I graduated high school,” Ty said.
His father has been both mentor and trainer. “He’s good,” Ty said. “He’s easy to talk to most days, but just like everybody who always, when somebody gets their mind on something, it’s just got to have a little bit of time to think about stuff too.”
Ty is currently leading the PDRA Pro Boost standings. “It is, and I’ve run for points, this is my second championship I’ve gotten to chase, well actually the third championship I’ve gotten to chase in Pro Modified,” he said.
He previously finished second to Jose Gonzalez while driving for Earl Wells and later won an NMCA title with Tyler Jenkins’ ’57 Buick. Now, he is competing in the car his father drove last year for Justin Smith, chasing another Pro Boost crown.
Todd said racing alongside his son has been rewarding. “It’s special,” he said. “Something you always want to dream of, and he’s come up through the ranks.”
Todd praised his son’s growth and work ethic. “He’s seen what I’ve done, good and bad, and knows the difference,” Todd said. “I can’t say no more about his work ethic.”
The veteran tuner admitted he can be quiet when focused, a trait he said came from his own father. “You got to stop and remember,” Todd said. “You got to talk to people correctly, and try to do the right thing, but still, heated moments, you’re still family.”
Todd credited his wife with instilling discipline. “His mama gave him that right off the bat, because she didn’t listen to much back talk or nothing,” Todd said. “He’s been very respectful his whole life.”
For the Tutterows, drag racing remains a family bond. “It’s good that you can work with your family,” Todd said. “And I got to work with my dad too toward the end of his career, and he had a love for drag racing, and I got a love for drag racing.”
Todd said the passion is likely to continue. “Ty’s got a love for drag racing, looked like his little boy’s got one because he’s been wearing out the Hot Wheels in here,” he said.
He called competing with his son the fulfillment of a dream. “A dream come true, exactly,” Todd said.
8 – ELIJAH RAINS DOWN ON XPS – Mountain Motor Pro Stock veteran Elijah Morton returned to action at Bristol Dragway and made an immediate impact. The North Carolina driver qualified No. 1 in Extreme Pro Stock for the first time this season after sitting out the recent Northern Nationals.
Morton, from Swansboro, guided his Allen-powered Morton Brothers Motorsports ’19 Mustang to a 4.174-second pass at 173.72 mph in the opening session. The run held through the second session, securing the top position heading into eliminations.
The weekend carried additional significance for Morton’s program. His engine builder, Allen Competition Engines of Surgoinsville, Tenn., is serving as the presenting sponsor for the class at Bristol.
Morton’s effort edged out 2023 world champion Alan Drinkwater, who continues to hold the series points lead. Drinkwater posted a 4.179 at 173.41 in his Kaase-powered Flatout Gaskets ’08 Mustang to claim the No. 2 spot.
Jeremy Huffman rounded out the top three qualifiers with a 4.183 at 172.67. He drove his 3V Performance-powered ’10 Cobalt to the mark, ensuring a tight front half of the ladder.
9 – FIRST TIME FOR LIBERTY – Nicole Liberty earned her first career No. 1 qualifier award in Pro 632 on Friday at Bristol Dragway. The Michigan driver’s 4.253-second pass at 166.89 mph stood as the quickest effort of the day after two sessions.
Liberty made the lap in the opening round of qualifying in her Khoury-powered Liberty’s Gears ’99 Firebird. The Marine City-based engineer carried momentum into Bristol after setting a career-best elapsed time earlier this month at the Northern Nationals in Martin, Mich.
The milestone marked the second straight event in which Liberty has added a personal highlight to her growing Pro 632 résumé. “It’s been a lot of hard work to get here, and to see it pay off like this is special,” she said earlier in the season.
Behind Liberty, defending world champion Jeff Melnick slotted into the No. 2 position. He ran a 4.263 at 167.95 in Alan O’Brien’s Barry Allen-powered Greenbrier Excavating & Paving ’20 Camaro.
Melnick will chase his third consecutive event win when eliminations begin on Saturday. The Pennsylvania driver has leaned on consistency to maintain his status as one of the favorites in the category.
Melnick’s rookie teammate, Jeff Pittman of Hickory, N.C., qualified third with a 4.275 at 168.28. He drove his Barry Allen-powered Hickory Enclosed Trailer Sales ’68 Chevelle to his best performance of the season.
10 – THE BEST OF THE REST – Defending event winner Connor McGee kept his Super Street momentum alive Friday at Bristol Dragway. The young standout posted a 4.716-second run at 155.70 mph in his Fulton-powered Brian’s Heating & Cooling ’90 Mustang to secure his second consecutive No. 1 qualifier.
The performance followed a dominant showing at the most recent stop on tour. McGee is chasing his second straight victory overall and back-to-back wins at Bristol.
McGee’s effort edged fellow young gun Austin Vincent by three thousandths of a second. Vincent, who claimed his first career win earlier this season at Virginia, qualified second with a 4.719 at 157.01 in his nitrous-fed Vincent Performance ’88 Mustang.
“I feel confident with the car we have right now,” McGee said. “The field is tough, and we know eliminations at Bristol will be a challenge, but our goal is the same — go rounds and stay consistent.”
Glenn Butcher returned to form in Elite Top Sportsman with another No. 1 qualifier. The defending world champion, who had qualified No. 1 at the first three races before slipping to third at the last event, posted a 3.789 at 199.02 in his Butcher & Son Demolition ’69 Camaro.
Jamie Fowler took the second spot with a 3.822 at 195.31 in his Pee Dee Fleet ’69 Camaro. Randy Perkinson was third after running a 3.867 at 188.99 in his ProCharged ’67 Mustang.
In Top Sportsman 32, veteran Ronnie Proctor added another accolade by qualifying No. 1. He ran a 4.229 at 168.18 in his nitrous-fed ’09 Mustang.
Jody Stroud extended his qualifying streak in Top Dragster to five straight events. The driver of the supercharged “Zombie” ’07 Spitzer dragster laid down a 3.687 at 201.70 to lead the 16-car Elite field.
KC Ingram followed closely with a 3.719 at 201.22 in his supercharged ’20 Miller dragster, good enough for the No. 2 spot for the second consecutive race. Ashley Johnson of Cynthiana, Ky., qualified third with a 3.734 at 195.00 in her supercharged ’13 Spitzer dragster.
Russ Whitlock fell just short of the Elite Top Dragster cut with a 3.892 at 186.33. The run instead put him on top of the Top Dragster 32 field.
All classes will move into eliminations Saturday, beginning with Jr. Dragster rounds at 8:30 a.m. Pre-race ceremonies and pro class eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m.
