Photos by Robert Richard, Steve Embling, Tara Bowker
FRIDAY NOTEBOOK –
1 – WHICH WAY THE PENDULUM SWINGS – Tommy Franklin added another chapter to his long-running rivalry with Jay Cox on Friday night, claiming the No. 1 qualifying spot in Switzer Dynamics Pro Nitrous at ProFab DragWars at GALOT Motorsports Park. Franklin drove his Musi-powered “Jungle Rat 3.0” ’69 Camaro to a 3.623-second pass at 207.34 mph to edge out Cox’s driver, Marcus Butner, by just six thousandths of a second.
The run gave Franklin his fourth No. 1 qualifier of the season and marked another point in the back-and-forth battle with Cox, who stepped away from driving after 2023 but remains active as a tuner. Cox now works with Butner, a North Carolina standout in the class.
“Marcus is a great guy with a great team. I tell him all the time, I don’t know why he hangs out with Jay Cox, but that’s besides the fact,” Franklin said with a laugh. “Jay’s a home run ball hitter, so he goes out there and throws for it. You always know what you’re going to get with him. It was cool to be able to go out and run a 3.62. We both went .62 finishing up last night for the running of the Bristol race. We knew it was there. We were struggling a little bit earlier and got it put together.”
Butner nearly claimed the top spot in his Musi-powered “Heartbreaker” ’69 Camaro tuned by Cox, recording a 3.629 at 207.37. The margin was the closest of the session and underscored the competitive nature of the rivalry that has defined much of Franklin’s Pro Nitrous career.
Tim Paap rounded out the top three with a 3.659 at 204.35 in his Jeffrey Barker-tuned Paap Auto Body ’16 Corvette. The performance kept him within striking distance but just off the pace set by Franklin and Butner.
For Franklin, the night represented both a continuation of success and a personal victory over familiar opposition. He credited his Jeff Pierce-led team and longtime partners Pat Musi Racing Engines, Jerry Bickel Race Cars, Red Line Oil and Menscer Motorsports for helping him secure the top spot.
2 – IT’S A FAMILY TRADITION – Ty Tutterow carried on his family’s legacy Friday night by racing to the No. 1 qualifying spot in WS Construction Pro Boost at ProFab DragWars at GALOT Motorsports Park. The second-generation driver posted a career-best 3.559-second pass at 209.92 mph in Justin Smith’s screw-blown Quik Fuel ’69 Camaro.
The run capped a cutthroat final qualifying session that saw six drivers dip into the 3.50-second range. Two-time and reigning world champion Jason Harris matched Tutterow’s elapsed time but was edged out by speed, clocking in at 208.97 mph.
Tutterow, the son of two-time Pro Boost champion Todd “King Tut” Tutterow, will look to continue his momentum into eliminations after winning Thursday night’s rain-delayed Bristol race. That victory marked his second of the season and further established him as one of the class’s top contenders.
“It’s incredible. Set a personal best right there,” Tutterow said. “Jason Lee is in the other lane, takes out the cones, then you gotta wait for the moment of suspense for Harris to come behind me, run the same exact elapsed time, and then I just get it on mile-an-hour. It’s pretty unreal. Honestly, it couldn’t be better. The guys are working hard. The car’s running good. We’ve got four more runs tomorrow to try to improve and hopefully chase after another trophy.”
Harris, who also serves as the defending DragWars champion, settled into the No. 2 position with his ProCharged Southern Diamond Company “Party Time” ’69 Camaro. His 3.559-second effort left him just short of the pole but kept him well within striking distance.
Johnny Camp rounded out the top three qualifiers in the ProCharged “Hells Bells” ’69 Camaro. He recorded a 3.591 at 207.85 mph, continuing a string of strong performances late in the season.
The stage is now set for eliminations, where Tutterow will try to follow his father’s championship tradition with another race-day triumph. With Harris and Camp close behind, the fight for the Pro Boost trophy promises to be one of the highlights of the weekend.
3 – FLETCHER’S FIRST DOWN – Fletcher Cox continued to turn heads in his rookie Pro Street season Friday night by qualifying No. 1 at ProFab DragWars at GALOT Motorsports Park. The retired NFL defensive tackle powered his Musi-assisted “Training Day” ’69 Camaro to a 3.855-second run at 190.57 mph in the final session.
The performance gave Cox his third No. 1 start in the last four races and came just one day after his first career victory in Thursday’s rain-delayed Bristol final. The former Philadelphia Eagles standout credited his Killin’ Time Racing crew, led by tuners Phil Shuler, Jeffrey Barker and Stevie “Fast” Jackson, for the effort.
“Man, I’m so proud. It gets emotional because we know how hard we work and it all pays off,” Cox said. “You’ve gotta want more, but at the same time, this sport can humble you at any minute. Just stay cool and calm about it, and then confident at the same time and not cocky, and believe that what you’ve created is a competitive car. It can run in the daytime now. At nighttime it runs good, so the car works. I’ve just gotta do my job.”
Cox’s rise in the class has been marked by consistent runs in the 3.80-second range, proving his transition from the NFL to drag racing is more than symbolic. His quickening pace has positioned him as a contender in only his first full season.
Richard Reagan, known for crowd-pleasing launches in his screw-blown ’91 Mustang, qualified second with a 3.899 at 196.50. Current points leader Blake Denton posted a 3.926 at 194.86 to take the No. 3 spot in the Musi-powered “Bonnie” Camaro once driven by the late Lizzy Musi.
4 – DELAY OF GAME, DRAG RACING STYLE – Cox earned his first career Liberty’s Gears Pro Street victory Thursday night, closing out the rain-delayed PDRA Thunder Valley Throwdown at GALOT Motorsports Park. Cox defeated reigning world champion Ethan Steding in the final to collect his first PDRA 660 Man trophy.
The eliminations were originally scheduled for Bristol Dragway in late August but were postponed by rain and completed during ProFab DragWars, the seventh of eight races in the Red Line Oil PDRA Drag Racing Series. Cox shared the winner’s circle with Tommy Franklin (Pro Nitrous), Ty Tutterow (Pro Boost), Jordan Ensslin (Extreme Pro Stock), Jeff Melnick (Pro 632) and Connor McGee (Super Street).
Cox, driving his nitrous-assisted “Training Day” 1969 Camaro, posted consistent 3.90-second passes to march through eliminations. He ran 3.908 at 186.61 mph in the semifinals before a 3.898 at 187.50 mph in the final, while Steding slowed to 4.498 at 122.44 after lifting.
“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 praised his crew and backers 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 Franklin notched his first Switzer Dynamics Pro Nitrous win of the season with a string of 3.62-second passes. His 3.626 at 207.08 mph topped Tim Molnar’s 3.681 in the final, moving Franklin ahead of daughter Amber Denton in points. “Honestly, it is bittersweet,” Franklin said. “She’s having a heck of a season and it’s not over.”
In Pro Boost, Tutterow edged Melanie Salemi in a close 3.50s battle, winning with a 3.58 at 209.52 to her 3.588 at 206.92. “We’ve got a really good group of guys assembled,” Tutterow said. “It’s going to take some really consistent runs to win again on Saturday.”
Florida’s Ensslin captured his first Extreme Pro Stock trophy, Melnick extended his Pro 632 points lead with a holeshot win over teammate Jeff Pittman, and McGee scored his third Super Street victory in four races. Sportsman winners included Tim Lawrence (Elite Top Sportsman), Larry Roberts (Elite Top Dragster), Nick Meloni (Top Sportsman), and Justin Kirk (Top Dragster). Ashton Halas and rookie Knox Schween claimed Junior Dragster honors, with Schween earning his third win of the year.
5 – CAREER BEST WEEKEND FOR ENSSLIN CONTINUES – Jordan Ensslin extended the best weekend of his Extreme Pro Stock career Friday by qualifying No. 1 at ProFab DragWars at GALOT Motorsports Park. One day after collecting his first PDRA 660 Man trophy in the completion of the weather-delayed Bristol race, Ensslin delivered a 4.050-second run at 176.42 mph to take the top spot.
The Florida driver, who has raced in the Professional Drag Racers Association for several seasons, showed rare consistency throughout two days of competition. He piloted his Allen-powered Poke County Pro Stock ’09 Mustang with bracket-like precision, giving him confidence heading into eliminations.
“This weekend’s been amazing,” Ensslin said. “I never would have thought we’d be here. This is uncharted waters for us. Allen Competition builds the horsepower. We’re just able to put it to the ground. We figured something out. Coming from winning last night to this is just surreal. I told everybody back in the pit they need to pinch me because I’m still dreaming.”
Ensslin credited his small, family-based team for helping make the weekend possible. He races with the support of his wife, Jacie, and his grandfather, Larry Ensslin, who have been with him throughout his progression in the PDRA ranks.
His 4.050 was strong enough to hold off two of the class’s most established names. North Carolina’s Elijah Morton qualified second with a 4.064 at 177.70 in his Allen-powered Morton Brothers Motorsports ’19 Mustang. Points leader and 2023 world champion Alan Drinkwater settled into third with a 4.065 at 177.14 in his Kaase-powered Flatout Gaskets ’08 Mustang.
6 – FEELS LIKE THE FIRST TIME – Mike Fiorelli earned his first career Pro 632 No. 1 qualifier Friday night at ProFab DragWars at GALOT Motorsports Park. The Hollywood, Florida, driver posted a 4.123-second run at 168.96 mph in his nitrous-fed Chassis Engineering ’68 Camaro during the final qualifying session.
The accomplishment marked Fiorelli’s breakthrough on the Professional Drag Racers Association stage after years of racing in Outlaw 632 competition in his home state. His effort came on one of the quickest qualifying nights in class history, further elevating the significance of the milestone.
“I can’t tell you how special this is,” Fiorelli said. “I love coming to the PDRA races. I’d like to do more. We’re trying to get some sponsorship. I have an awesome crew. It’s so nice to come here. It’s a beautiful facility. Track prep was awesome. We work hard. In the beginning of the year, we won the U.S. Street Nationals in Bradenton, and we’ve been working hard on the car. We’ve got a good hot rod, and if it wasn’t for my guys, I couldn’t make it happen.”
Fiorelli credited his family and his team, led by crew chief Clayton Murphy and engine builder Ronnie Viccaro, for the success. He also recognized support from Wilson Manifolds, Rossler Transmission, Induction Solutions and Hoosier Tires.
The top three in qualifying were separated by just six thousandths of a second, highlighting the depth of the field. Rookie Carson Hoyle, a graduate of the PDRA Jr. Dragster program, claimed the No. 2 spot with a career-best 4.127 at 170.26 in his Musi-powered ATI Performance Products ’69 Camaro.
Points leader and defending world champion Jeff Melnick followed close behind. Driving Alan O’Brien’s Barry Allen-powered Greenbrier Excavating & Paving ’20 Camaro, Melnick secured third with a 4.129 at 171.79.
7 – IT’S WHETSTINE AGAIN – Reigning Super Street world champion Dan Whetstine returned to the top of the qualifying ladder Friday night at ProFab DragWars at GALOT Motorsports Park. For the second straight year, Whetstine claimed the No. 1 qualifying spot at the event, this time with a 4.561-second pass at 159.23 mph in the final session.
The run gave Whetstine his first No. 1 qualifier award of the season and came by the slimmest of margins, just two thousandths of a second. He drove his ProCharged “Red Velvet” ’91 Mustang with guidance from two-time Pro Street champion Tim Essick, who has served as his crew chief this year.
“This is big,” Whetstine said. “It’s bigger than normal because we really fought some issues in the beginning of the year, hurting the motor, and thought we were chasing a tune-up problem and it turns out we had an electrical problem, but we fixed that. The last two or three races, we’ve really been able to put the power back in the car. That’s a testament to my crew chief, Tim Essick, who’s got tons of data on small tires. We tried something there. We have never, ever been that fast to the 60-foot and it liked it.”
The performance was significant because Whetstine had battled mechanical struggles earlier in the season, slowing his progress in defense of his title. With the electrical issue resolved, his car responded with one of its best runs yet, giving him renewed confidence heading into eliminations.
Austin Vincent qualified second with a 4.563 at 157.89 mph in his nitrous-fed Vincent Performance ’88 Mustang. Matt Schalow secured the third spot with a 4.567 at 155.76 mph in his Knieriem-powered ’68 Camaro.
8 – LAFLAM IS THE TOP SPORTSMAN – Bryan LaFlam, the current points leader in Elite Top Sportsman, added to his season résumé Friday night by qualifying No. 1 at ProFab DragWars at GALOT Motorsports Park. LaFlam drove his supercharged BigStuff TPM ’67 Mustang to a 3.749-second run at 194.24 mph to secure the top spot.
The performance marked his first No. 1 qualifier of the season and came in one of the class’s quickest sessions. Three drivers dipped into the 3.70-second range, with LaFlam just edging out reigning world champion Glenn Butcher.
Butcher, piloting his Albert-powered Butcher & Son Demolition ’69 Camaro, clocked a 3.751 at 199.08 mph to qualify second. The run left him just two thousandths behind LaFlam in what was one of the closest battles of the night.
Jamie Fowler rounded out the top three in his Fulton-powered Pee Dee Fleet ’69 Camaro. He posted a 3.793 at 196.99 mph, giving the veteran driver another strong starting position as eliminations approach.
9 – JUST OUTSIDE – Outside the Elite field, Connecticut’s Dan Hill fell just short of the 16-car cutoff. His 4.098 at 174.57 mph in a ’69 Camaro was enough to place him at the top of the Top Sportsman 32 field, giving him a provisional No. 1 qualifying position heading into Saturday.
10 – THE DRAGSTERS – Josh Duggins was the only Elite Top Dragster driver to dip into the 3.60-second range, taking the No. 1 spot in a tough 16-car field during ProFab DragWars presented by PST Driveshafts at GALOT Motorsports Park. The Inman, S.C., driver closed qualifying with a 3.688 at 202.64 mph in his ProCharged PAR Racing Engines ’15 Maddox dragster.
Points leader Alan O’Brien secured the second position with a 3.719 at 197.91 mph in his turbocharged Greenbrier Excavating & Paving ’23 Race Tech dragster. Brian Anderson rounded out the top three after a 3.734 at 193.10 in his ProCharged ’23 Race Tech entry.
While the focus remained on the Elite Top Dragster group, the competition was also strong just outside the 16-car lineup. Bill Burrow, from Mountain City, Tenn., grabbed the No. 1 position in Top Dragster 48 with a 4.013 at 177.93 in his ’09 Cressman dragster.
The performance sets the stage for a busy final day of racing at GALOT.
The event schedule begins Saturday at 8:30 a.m. with Jr. Dragster final qualifying, followed by sportsman eliminations. Pro eliminations are slated for 11:45 a.m., and the FuelTech Winner’s Circle celebrations are scheduled for 8 p.m.
