Photos by Robert Richard, Steve Embling, Tara Bowker
SATURDAY NOTEBOOK – PAAP IS REMARKABLE IN DEBUT; SALEMI GETS HER THIRD TITLE
THE SO-CALLED ROOKIE – Tim Paap celebrated a remarkable debut in Pro Nitrous, capturing his first win in the class after transitioning from Elite Top Sportsman during the off-season. With a team led by past NHRA Top Sportsman world champion Jeffrey Barker and former PDRA Elite Top Sportsman world champion Donny “Hollywood” Urban, Paap qualified No. 1 and advanced through eliminations to face three-time world champion Tommy Franklin in the final round.
Paap took an early lead in his Musi-powered Paap Auto Body ’16 Corvette and never looked back, securing the event’s low elapsed time with a winning run of 3.651 seconds at 205.26 mph. Franklin finished as the runner-up with a time of 3.652 seconds at 205.66 mph.
As part of the PDRA’s new Power Purse program, Paap’s victory came with a $20,000 check, courtesy of Pat Musi Racing Engines.
“It’s just surreal right now. Absolutely surreal,” said Paap, who expressed gratitude to his team and sponsors, including Killin’ Time Racing, Larry Hodge Racing Tire, Holley, Switzer Dynamics, and RK Racecraft. “We were 0 for 7 in testing, then to come out and do this, it’s unbelievable. You can’t even script this – qualifying No. 1 and then winning the race.”
Paap was impressive on the starting line throughout eliminations, beginning with a .017 reaction time and a run of 3.699 seconds at 203.95 mph in the first round against Edward Wilson, who slowed to a 10.55. He continued to dominate, defeating past world champion Tim Molnar in the second round with a time of 3.679 seconds at 201.67 mph, before edging out Tony Wilson in the semifinals with a time of 3.688 seconds.
Franklin was consistently competitive, kicking off his day with a 3.695 at 204.51 to eliminate Pro Mod veteran Tommy Mauney. He advanced through rounds with runs of 3.678 and 3.666 seconds, setting the stage for a thrilling final against Paap.
THREE TIMES A CHAMP – In a rematch of the Pro Boost final round at the 2023 East Coast Nationals, Melanie Salemi triumphed once again, securing the title at the 2025 event. Salemi, piloting Eddie Whelan’s screw-blown Al-Lee Installations “Purple Reign” ’68 Firebird, posted an impressive .001 reaction time and a winning run of 3.622 seconds at 206.29 mph, defeating Johnny Camp, who recorded a solid .018 reaction time and a time of 3.628 seconds at 205.13 mph. This victory marks Salemi’s third win at the East Coast Nationals, and she averaged a .015 reaction time throughout race day.
“We’ve struggled with this car a lot, but after testing late last week, I finally have my race car back, and it feels so good,” said Salemi. “When I have a good race car under me, I know that I can be good on the tree.” As the season’s points leader, Salemi is determined to chase her first world championship in the class.
“We’ve been in this situation before, and you have to win the first one to win them all,” she added. “It’s a tall task, but I hope this is my year because we’ve been really close in the past. We’re going to keep grinding and working, and hopefully, that pays off in the end.”
Salemi began the day with a 3.639 at 205.41 to eliminate Pro Boost newcomer Lyle Barnett and improved throughout the rounds, notably setting low E.T. of race day with a 3.617 at 206.61 against newly crowned World Series of Pro Mod winner Steve King in the semifinals.
Camp, in his Brandon Stroud-tuned, ProCharged “Hells Bells” ’69 Camaro, secured his place in the final with a series of strong performances, including a 3.653 at 204.51 in the first round and a 3.644 at 205.04 in the second round.
POWERS GETS ANOTHER – Chris Powers, a two-time reigning Extreme Pro Stock world champion, added another title to his impressive legacy at the East Coast Nationals, hosted at GALOT Motorsports Park. This victory marks his fourth win at the venue, where he previously secured his first triumph in the class and paid tribute to his late friend and engine builder, Sonny Leonard. Powers faced 2023 world champion Alan Drinkwater in the final round, where Drinkwater’s .003-second red light opened the door for Powers to take the win with a low elapsed time of 4.066 seconds at 177.42 mph.
FIRST TIME IS THE CHARM –Blake Denton, the 2023 Super Street world champion, made a striking debut in the Pro Street class, paying tribute to the late Lizzy Musi while driving the Musi-powered “Bonnie” ’69 Camaro, formerly piloted by Musi in Street Outlaws: No Prep Kings . Supported by Lizzy’s parents, Pat and Liz Musi, the Tommy Franklin Motorsports team excelled throughout the event, with Denton sweeping the competition by qualifying No. 1 and ultimately securing the victory.
In the final round, Denton faced Chris Tuten, who suffered a catastrophic engine failure and was forced to stop before the finish line. Denton capitalized on the opportunity, racing to the event’s low elapsed time of 3.951 seconds at 194.83 mph.
“It’s a big deal. This is a serious class and the competition is tough,” said Denton, expressing gratitude to Tommy and Judy Franklin, the Musis, wife Amber, and partners like Red Line Oil and Pat Musi Racing Engines. “These guys make you put in the work, and that’s what I’m here to do. I had confidence in the car before the weekend, but struggling early really got me behind the eight-ball. Hitting No. 1 in the final qualifying session gave me all the confidence I needed to win.”
Denton started his eliminations by defeating John Carinci with a 4.059 at 192.03 mph, followed by a second-round win when opponent Marty Merillat went red on a 4.063 pass, while Denton clocked in at 4.011 at 193.38. In the semifinals, Denton edged out Richard Reagan with a 3.967 at 194.04.
Tuten, who qualified No. 6 in his turbocharged ’87 Mustang, began eliminations with a win over Bill Devine before improving to a 4.035 at 201.94 mph to defeat Joel Wensley Jr. Tuten then scored a holeshot win against two-time world champion Tim Essick in the semifinals, posting a 4.000 at 202.76 compared to Essick’s 3.977 at 189.84.
LANNIGAN WINS PRO 632 –Walter Lannigan kicked off his 2025 Pro 632 season with a victory at the East Coast Nationals, driving Chris Holdorf’s Nelson-powered Freedom Grow ’10 GTO. Lannigan, the No. 2 qualifier, faced off against first-time No. 1 qualifier Lexi Tanner in the final round. Both drivers left the line with identical .054 reaction times, but Lannigan gradually pulled ahead, posting the quickest pass of the event with a time of 4.166 seconds at 168.16 mph, defeating Tanner, who finished with a 4.185 at 169.23 mph.
“It feels great to start the season off as the points leader,” said Lannigan. “I wasn’t expecting to be here, but I’m glad to be here. It was a great final. The .054 was my worst light of the weekend, so I’ll take it. Lexi was a great competitor. The car is for sale, but as long as we keep winning, we’re going to keep racing.”
Lannigan began his journey to the final by defeating defending event winner Andy House in the opening round, where he recorded a time of 4.236 seconds at 166.81 mph compared to House’s 4.358. In the second round, he benefited from a red light from opponent Jason Ventura, who posted a 4.257, while Lannigan improved to a 4.223 at 167.18. In the semifinals, Lannigan faced off against Pro Nitrous driver Chris Rini. Lannigan again emerged victorious with a time of 4.177 at 167.57 to Rini’s 4.212.
Tanner, driving her Musi-powered “Thunder” ’16 Camaro, began eliminations with a perfect reaction time and a 4.223 at 168.22, winning on a red light against Gary Hood. She then set low E.T. of the second round with a 4.208 on a bye run, earning lane choice for the semifinals. Tanner defeated 2023 champion Jeff Melnick, who went red by .001, posting a time of 4.21 at 168.45 to advance to the final.
MCGEE SEALS THE DEAL –Two-time Super Street winner Connor McGee proved that teamwork and consistency can triumph over speed, as his family-based team rallied on race day to secure a win at the East Coast Nationals. Though he qualified No. 2, McGee advanced through three rounds to face No. 3 qualifier Matt Schalow in an all-nitrous final. While Schalow gained a slight advantage off the starting line, it wasn’t enough to hold off McGee’s strong run of 4.629 seconds at 149.83 mph in his Fulton-powered Brian’s Heating & Cooling ’90 Mustang. Schalow finished with a respectable 4.663 at 157.52.
“This definitely sets the standard,” McGee said. “We missed a race last year and weren’t sure if we would be competitive. This year, we’re definitely here to win and stay competitive. This win puts that fire in the whole team. We set the bar and can’t go much higher, but we’ll keep chipping away to hopefully end up with the championship.”
McGee faced newcomer Carson Perry in the opening round, clocking a 4.753 at 146.15 to overcome Perry’s quicker leave and 5.862. Against Michael Webb in the next round, McGee again left first, improving to a 4.713 at 152.80 over Webb’s 5.038. He then coasted through a bye run in the semifinals with a 6.499 at 73.25.
Schalow, driving his Knieriem-powered ’00 Camaro, had been quicker than McGee throughout the day. He set the low E.T. of the opening round with a 4.725 at 156.23, defeating World Finals winner Brad McBride. Schalow then advanced with a 4.686 at 157.12, eliminating defending world champion Dan Whetstine. He achieved a standout upset in the semifinals, knocking out No. 1 qualifier Austin Vincent with a time of 4.663 at 156.70, as Vincent slowed to a 4.906 at 152.21.
THE SPORTSMAN REPORT –In a highly competitive Elite Top Sportsman final, Jeremy Creasman faced off against Tim Lawrence, with Creasman driving his ProCharged PAR Racing Engines Camaro and Lawrence in his nitrous-fed, Albert-powered Bell Trucking ’13 Camaro. Lawrence gained the starting line advantage but ultimately broke out with a time of 3.888 seconds on a 3.89 dial-in. Creasman capitalized on this misstep, lighting the win light with a run of 3.979 seconds on a 3.91 dial-in, securing the victory.
In the Top Sportsman 48 category, the final round featured a stark contrast in performance, pitting one of the slowest cars in the field against one of the quickest. No. 43 qualifier Ken Langlois showcased his skills as he advanced through five rounds to reach the final. Langlois led the race, clocking in at 4.521 seconds on a 4.49 dial-in in his ’92 Cutlass based out of Milan, Michigan. Meanwhile, No. 2 qualifier Mark Payne ran a 4.112 on a 4.10 dial-in in his turbocharged small-block House of Payne ’06 Cavalier. Langlois’s victory earned him a $6,000 payout, double the standard winner’s prize, thanks to the Power Purse sponsorship by House of Payne.
The Elite Top Dragster final round proved to be chaotic, featuring two-time world champion Steve Furr against reigning world champion Kyle Harris. While Harris recorded the quicker reaction time in his supercharged KHR ’32 Bantam Altered, his short wheelbase machine crossed the centerline, resulting in disqualification. This handed the win to Furr, who coasted to a time of 7.383 seconds in his ProCharged ’13 American dragster. Furr’s victory follows his success at the 2023 East Coast Nationals and a runner-up finish in 2024, further solidifying his reputation in the series.
Rarely do drivers achieve perfect .000 reaction times, but past Top Sportsman world champion Chad Traylor accomplished this feat twice in a row on his way to victory in Top Dragster 48. He notched a perfect start on a semifinal bye run and then repeated the performance against Cameron Manuel in the final. Traylor ran a 4.264 on a 4.26 dial-in in his ’22 Maddox dragster, narrowly denying Manuel’s run of 4.291 on a 4.29 dial-in in his ’18 Elite dragster.
The Red Line Oil PDRA Drag Racing Series will return to action in one month with the Travis Mills Foundation Mid-Atlantic Showdown presented by Red Line Shirt Club, taking place from May 1-3 at Virginia Motorsports Park in Dinwiddie, Virginia.
FRIDAY NOTEBOOK – LEADERBOARD REMAINS UNCHANGED HEADED INTO SATURDAY ELIMINATIONS
1 – ONCE, TWICE, THREE TIMES A CHAMPION? – Melanie Salemi set the stage for her pursuit of a third straight PDRA East Coast Nationals by securing the No. 1 spot in Pro Boost during qualifying on Thursday night. Behind the wheel of Eddie Whelan’s screw-blown Al-Lee Installations “Purple Reign” ’68 Firebird, which is tuned by her husband Jon Salemi and brother-in-law Jim Salemi, Salemi posted a lightning-fast time of 3.615 seconds at 206.29 mph.
Despite the efforts of 27 other drivers attempting to outpace her in Friday’s two sessions, Salemi’s time remained unchallenged.
“It never, ever fails – you qualify No. 1, you have to work your butt off to win a race. You qualify No. 16, you have to work your butt off to win a race,” Salemi said. “It doesn’t really matter where you qualify, especially in a field of all these extraordinary cars. We have a lot of competition in PDRA, and that’s what drives us to come here.”
Salemi emphasized the importance of adaptability as track and atmospheric conditions change during the event. “To be able to win a race, you kind of have to throw all your testing and qualifying aside and take each run as you’re given,” she added.
2 – LOADED PRO BOOST FIELD – This weekend’s East Coast Nationals features a competitive Pro Boost division with 28 entries vying for top honors. Two-time and reigning Pro Boost world champion Jason Harris, a local favorite, secured the No. 2 qualifying position with a time of 3.623 seconds at 206.80 mph in his ProCharged Southern Diamond Company “Party Time” ’69 Camaro.
Harris is followed by Johnny Camp, who qualified third in the “Hells Bells” entry, also a ProCharged ’69 Camaro, with a time of 3.631 seconds at 205.44 mph. Both drivers, tuned by Brandon Stroud, are looking to make their mark as they navigate the challenges of a packed field.
3 – SMOOTH TRANSITION – Tim Paap has made a seamless transition from Top Sportsman to Pro Nitrous, showcasing his skills behind the wheel of his 2016 Corvette. The former Elite Top Sportsman standout entered the Pro Nitrous category with modest expectations, having converted his Elite entry over the offseason to compete in the heads-up, nitrous-only class.
Paap, now teamed with Killin’ Time Racing and tuner Jeffrey Barker, quickly proved his prowess. After seizing the provisional No. 1 spot in Thursday’s qualifying session, he improved further on Friday, posting a remarkable time of 3.676 seconds at 204.45 mph. That time held through the third session, despite a fierce challenge from multiple competitors seeking to dethrone him.
“We came here just trying to get into the field and just to win,” said Paap, who expressed gratitude to his team, including Barker, past Elite Top Sportsman world champion Donny “Hollywood” Urban, Jered and Jody Gall, Zack Paap, and Chad Crawford, as well as sponsors like KTR, Larry Hodge Racing Tire, Holley, and Switzer Dynamics.
“I can’t believe we did it, to be quite honest. I wouldn’t put it past us with Barker behind the keyboard and the team that we’ve got. Anything is possible,” he added. Paap highlighted the hard work that preceded their impressive showing, stating, “What people didn’t see was a struggle before we got here. Everyone thought we came here as the season opener and got to where we’re at, but it did not work out that way.”
4 – FATHER AND DAUGHTER MAKE THEIR MARK AHEAD OF ELIMINATIONS – The father-daughter team of Tommy Franklin and Amber Denton made a strong showing in Pro Nitrous qualifying, securing the No. 2 and No. 3 spots, respectively. Franklin, behind the wheel of his brand-new, Musi-powered “Jungle Rat 3.0” ’69 Camaro, narrowly missed the top position, posting a time of 3.679 seconds at 204.54 mph in the final qualifying session.
Denton, who is making her Pro Nitrous debut, also impressed with a solid performance. The two-time and reigning Pro 632 world champion improved her time in the final session, clocking in at 3.686 seconds at 205.34 mph in her Musi-powered “OG Jungle Rat” ’69 Camaro.
5 – MISSING IN ACTION – Multi-time Pro Nitrous champion Jim Halsey is sitting out this weekend in what appears to be somewhat of a protest towards new rules applied to the class. Halsey never publicly stated what rule has perturbed him other than what he describes as a move to slow the class.
“My statement in response to all the calls, texts and messages from our fans and friends as to why I am not at the PDRA Galot event:
I’m choosing not to run Pro Nitrous this year because the rules have continually, over the past 4 or 5 years, shifted in a direction that slows the class down, rather than allowing it to evolve and remain competitive with Pro Boost.
“With the class not being competitive with Pro Boost, it becomes increasingly difficult for a Pro Nitrous car to compete with the Pro Boost cars at the Drag Illustrated Winter Series, Yellowbullet Nationals and the Mid West Drag Racing Series. Instead of promoting faster, more exciting racing, the focus seems to be on limiting performance, which has made it harder for teams to push the boundaries and compete at the highest level. This shift in rules goes against the spirit of progression and innovation that the class once thrived on, and as a result, it no longer aligns with my goals.
“We will be out soon and FASTER THAN EVER!”
Looking back to last season’s Pro Nitrous PDRA finale at Virginia Motorsports Park, the No. 1 qualifying position was .06 quicker than Friday’s best. However, Tim Paap’s 3.676 would have been only good enough for No. 13 in Pro Boost.
6 – POWERS HAS THE POWER – Two-time and reigning Extreme Pro Stock world champion Chris Powers secured the No. 1 qualifying position at the East Coast Nationals, showcasing his dominance throughout the weekend. Powers, driving his Chuck Samuel-tuned Sonny’s Racing Engines/ATI Performance ’21 Camaro, initially recorded a time of 4.101 seconds on Thursday and improved to a 4.100 in Friday’s second session. He capped off his qualifying with a final run of 4.099 seconds at 176.26 mph, solidifying his top spot.
“This is the result of a lot of hard work,” said Powers, who has claimed victory at the East Coast Nationals three times, including his first win in the class. He expressed gratitude to his sponsors, including Sonny’s Racing Engines, ATI Performance, and C.R. Powers Heating & Air Conditioning. “We’ve wrenched on that car all winter trying to find a little more power out of it. The track’s been pretty good and we’ve just figured it out,” he added.
Powers is focused on defending his championship title, stating, “We want to go back-to-back for a championship, so we’re here to throw down. We’re going to do everything we can to win this race.”
Qualifying second was North Carolina’s Jeremy Huffman, who clocked a time of 4.100 seconds at 175.37 mph in his 3V Performance-powered ’10 Cobalt. Returning past world champion Alan Drinkwater rounded out the top three, posting a time of 4.103 seconds at 175.75 mph in his Kaase-powered ’08 Mustang. The stage is set for an exciting race as these top competitors prepare to battle for the win.
7 – DENTON MAKES PRO STREET HISTORY – In a thrilling turn of events for the Pro Street class, Blake Denton claimed the No. 1 qualifying spot during the final session, marking a historic moment as the first nitrous car to ever achieve this in the PDRA Pro Street division. Denton drove the nitrous-fed “Bonnie” ’69 Camaro, previously piloted by the late Lizzy Musi in Street Outlaws: No Prep Kings , and posted an impressive time of 3.976 seconds at 201.61 mph, surpassing Tim Dutton based on speed.
“It’s where the car deserves to be,” said Denton. “This weekend, we’ve struggled. Going into Q3 tonight, it was more stressful than any final round I’ve been in. I knew the car could do it, and to do it for Pat and Liz [Musi] with them being here is just great.”
In addition to the No. 1 qualifier bonus check, Denton received a custom baseball bat trophy from Victus Sports and Kasper Performance Edge. “I tell the guys all the time, I really want a bat,” Denton said. “That’s something I’ve been looking forward to getting.”
Dutton, making his PDRA debut in both Pro Street and Pro Boost, qualified No. 2 with a matching time of 3.976 seconds but recorded a slower speed of 190.14 mph in his ProCharged “Azul” ’19 Corvette. Reigning world champion Ethan Steding secured the No. 3 spot in his roots-blown P2 Contracting “College Fund” ’24 Camaro with a time of 4.01 seconds at 190.65 mph.
8 – MORE PERSONAL HISTORY – Lexi Tanner made history Friday by securing her first No. 1 qualifier award in Pro 632, a significant milestone in her drag racing career. The past Top Jr. Dragster world champion drove her Musi-powered “Thunder” ’16 Camaro to a solid performance, clocking in at 4.201 seconds at 168.58 mph during Thursday’s first qualifying session. By the end of the third session on Friday evening, Tanner’s time remained the quickest in the class, marking a new achievement for the accomplished racer.
Walter Lannigan, a perennial contender in the division, claimed the No. 2 spot with a time of 4.204 seconds at 167.63 mph in Chris Holdorf’s Nelson-powered ’10 GTO. Multi-time Pro Nitrous winner Chris Rini, competing in a double-duty effort this weekend, qualified third with a time of 4.209 seconds at 167.49 mph in a new Musi-powered ATI Performance ’69 Camaro, which his stepson Carson Hoyle will drive later in the season.
9 – FIRST TIME FOR VINCENT – Austin Vincent secured his first No. 1 qualifier award in Super Street, finishing with a standout performance during the first qualifying session on Thursday evening that proved unbeatable on Friday. Driving his nitrous-fed Vincent Performance ’88 Mustang, Vincent was the only competitor to break into the 4.50s, posting an impressive time of 4.583 seconds at 152.30 mph.
Following Vincent in the qualifying ranks was Connor McGee, who has already claimed two victories in 2024. McGee managed to clock a time of 4.611 seconds at 149.73 mph in his Fulton-powered Brian’s Heating & Cooling ’90 Mustang, securing the No. 2 position.
Matt Schalow, in pursuit of his first victory of the season, earned the No. 3 slot with a time of 4.653 seconds at 157.26 mph in his Knieriem-powered ’00 Camaro.
10 – THE SPORTSMAN REPORT – In Elite Top Sportsman, reigning world champion Glenn Butcher successfully maintained the No. 1 position he established in Thursday’s first qualifying session. Stepping up his performance, Butcher clocked a time of 3.742 seconds at 198.90 mph in his nitrous-fed, Albert-powered Butcher & Son Demolition ’69 Camaro, outpacing competitors Bryan LaFlam and Randy Perkinson. LaFlam secured the No. 2 spot with a run of 3.773 seconds at 194.18 mph in his supercharged Big Stuff Total Power Management ’67 Mustang. Perkinson, the defending event winner, qualified third with a time of 3.824 seconds at 189.63 mph in the ProCharged ’67 Mustang he debuted with a win last year.
In Top Sportsman 48, Vonnie Mills narrowly missed qualifying for the 16-car Elite field but grabbed the No. 1 position with a time of 4.052 seconds at 179.02 mph in her nitrous-fed “Show-N-Tell” ’13 Camaro.
In Top Dragster, Jody Stroud from Chesterfield, South Carolina, set a benchmark in Thursday’s qualifying session that proved unchallenged. Stroud’s time of 3.691 seconds at 199.14 mph in his supercharged “Zombie” ’07 Spitzer dragster remained at the top throughout Friday’s sessions. Josh Duggins and Russ Whitlock were the closest challengers, with Duggins qualifying second with a 3.73 at 200.29 mph in his ProCharged Maddox dragster. Whitlock rounded out the top three with a 3.769 at 192.28 mph in his ProCharged ’08 Race Tech dragster.
Danielle Gonzalez claimed the No. 1 spot in Top Dragster 48 with a time of 3.889 at 191.24 mph in her ProCharged ’23 American dragster, just missing the cut for the 16-car Elite field.
The PDRA East Coast Nationals at GALOT Motorsports Park will conclude Saturday, starting with Jr. Dragster final qualifying at 9 a.m., followed by Sportsman eliminations and professional class eliminations at noon.
THURSDAY – PAAP, SALEMI, POWERS, LEAD PDRA EAST COAST NATIONALS QUALIFYING
You only have one time to make a good first impression and on the opening day of the 2025 Red Line Oil PDRA Drag Racing Series a pair of rookies took this to the next level.
Rookies Tim Paap (Pro Nitrous) and Tim Dutton (Pro Street) took the provisional No. 1 positions in their respective divisions at the PDRA East Coast Nationals hosted by Galot Motorsports Park.
Seasoned veterans Melanie Salemi (Pro Boost) and Chris Powers (Pro Stock) are at the top of the leaderboard with the rookies.
Paap, who most recently competed in Top Sportsman, recorded a 3.696-second pass to set the pace with two sessions to go on Friday. Three-time world champion Tommy Franklin was second with a 3.702 at 205.16. Engine builder Billy Albert was third with a 3.707 at 204.70.
Of 21 entries, Dutton shined the brightest in the Pro Street division, a 3.979 at 187.13 to take the provisional No. 1 position. He was the only driver in the crowded field to dip into the 3-second range.
Salemi, a two-time Pro Boost winner at the East Coast Nationals, set the pace with a 3.637 at 205.47 and was tops amongst the 27 entries. Kurt Steding qualified No. 2 with a 3.652 at 205.69, while Travis “The Carolina Kid” Harvey laid down a 3.654 at 205.72 and was third.
Powers, the defending series Pro Stock champion, went to the top with a 4.101 at 176.35 in his Sonny’s Racing Engines ’21 Camaro.
Dwayne Rice, who won the East Coast Nationals in 2023, started off on the right foot with a 4.127 at 174.48 while past world champion Steven Boone qualified third in his Allen-powered Boone Motorsports ’07 Cobalt with a 4.142 at 175.25.
Other leaders in the heads-up categories included Lexi Tanner (Pro 632), and Austin Vincent (Super Street).
In the sportsman classes, Glenn Butcher (MagnaFuel Elite Top Sportsman presented by PAR Racing Engines), Jody Stroud (Laris Motorsports Insurance Elite Top Dragster presented by Greenbrier Excavating & Paving), Steve Furr (MagnaFuel Top Sportsman), and John Platt Jr. (Laris Motorsports Insurance Top Dragster presented by Derrick Wolfe Trucking) claimed the provisional top positions.
Qualifying for the Jr. Dragster classes, including PDRA Pro Jr. Dragster and Classic Graphix Top Jr. Dragster, will commence Friday morning.
