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FINAL NOTEBOOK – CHAMPIONSHIPS CLINCHED, RACES WON – THAT’S A WRAP!

1 – BUTNER WINS THE TITLE – Marcus Butner capped off his breakout Pro Nitrous season with a victory at the PDRA World Finals, clinching the 2025 championship after defeating three-time world champion Tommy Franklin along the way. Butner, driving the Musi-powered “Heartbreaker” ’69 Camaro tuned by Jay Cox, earned his third win of the year and fourth of his career.

 

Butner sealed the title by beating past Elite Top Sportsman world champion Buddy Perkinson in the final round. Both drivers left the line with .009 reaction times, but Butner’s 3.647 at 207.53 edged out Perkinson’s 3.660 at 205.91 at the finish line.

 

“We trusted all to God this weekend. We’ve got the best team, the best tuner, and we’ve got the best people on board,” Butner said. “It took every single person, every single minute of the year to get to where we are. Hats off to them. I feel like we ran pretty good all year. We had some bad luck. I messed up in Michigan, turned it red, and let Tommy go win the race. You can look back, and hindsight is 20/20. But when we rolled into GALOT, we had our A game on.”

 

Butner qualified sixth but made a statement in the opening round, running a 3.603 at 209.98 to defeat Chris Rini’s 3.674. The run also broke the late Lizzy Musi’s long-standing speed record from the 2018 World Finals. That earned Butner lane choice against Franklin in round two, where he prevailed with a 3.671 at 208.10 to Franklin’s 3.681 at 206.57.

 

In the semifinals, Butner beat No. 13 qualifier Cam Clark with a 3.688 at 206.86 to advance to the title round. It marked the final step in a season that began with a win at GALOT and ended with a championship celebration at Virginia Motorsports Park.

 

Perkinson, competing in his first Pro Nitrous final, qualified seventh in his Musi-powered LAT Racing Oil ’69 Camaro. He opened eliminations with a 3.641 to 3.681 win over Tim Molnar, then advanced past top qualifier and 2024 champion Fredy Scriba when Scriba lifted. In the semifinals, Perkinson narrowly defeated Billy Albert, using a 3.679 at 205.82 to drive around Albert’s 3.719 at 206.83 by just .002 seconds.

 

2 – HARRIS WINS THE BATTLE NOT THE WAR – Jason Harris closed out the 2025 Pro Boost season with his third straight PDRA World Finals victory, even as he surrendered the No. 1 championship plate to Ty Tutterow. Harris’ ProCharger-boosted Southern Diamond Company “Party Time” ’69 Camaro prevailed after a thrash to complete major repairs before the final round.

 

Facing newly crowned champion Tutterow, Harris got the win when Tutterow left early by .041 seconds on a 3.588-second run at 209.46 mph. Harris completed the pass with a 3.586 at 209.20 to record his first win of the season.

 

“It seems like I’ve got the World Finals down pat, and I didn’t really think so coming into this, but I feel like I’ve been driving better and I really got my head out of my butt and started going back to my old ways,” Harris said. “I hope I can make Harold Denton proud, my dad, my family, my wife, and everybody who’s stood behind me proud. We teamed up with John Doc this year, and they’ve helped out with the thrash. We borrowed tires. We were borrowing stuff from Randy Weatherford. We were borrowing stuff from Scott Lang. We were just trying our best.”

 

Harris started eliminations strong, posting low E.T. of the round with a 3.564 at 210.08 to eliminate rookie Frank Falter IV, who ran a career-best 3.613. In the second round, Harris advanced past teammate John Doc with a 3.621 at 208.71 to Doc’s 3.646 at 208.01.

 

The semifinals gave Harris a solo run after Kurt Steding was unable to make the call. Harris made a full pass in an effort to secure lane choice for the final but damaged his supercharger with a 3.651 at 186.46.

 

Despite the setback, Harris’ final-round performance extended his World Finals win streak to three seasons, reaffirming his mastery of the event and his determination to stay near the top of the Pro Boost field heading into 2026.

 

3 – THE NEW CHAMP – Ty Tutterow secured the 2025 Pro Boost world championship with a strong performance that carried him to the final round at the PDRA World Finals. His path began with one of the tightest races of Saturday night’s opening round.

 

Tutterow left first with a .010 reaction time to Johnny Camp’s .032 and crossed the stripe first with a 3.567 at 210.97 to Camp’s 3.574 at 208.26. The victory set up a high-stakes second-round matchup against championship contender Melanie Salemi.

 

Salemi gained a .007 advantage at the start, but her car slowed to a 4.195 at 139.17, while Tutterow advanced with a 3.706 at 206.20. The win clinched the championship for Tutterow.

 

He followed with a 3.601 at 209.65 and a .009 light to defeat Randy Weatherford, who coasted to an 8.868. That effort sent Tutterow into the final against Jason Harris, where a red light start ended his weekend but not before he sealed his first career PDRA title.

 

4 – STEDING WINS IT ALL – Ethan Steding closed out his championship season in dominant fashion, clinching his second straight Pro Street world title and capping the weekend with a final-round win over No. 1 qualifier Richard Reagan. Steding’s roots-blown P2 Contracting “College Fund” ’24 Camaro left first and never trailed, winning with a 3.925 at 196.79 to Reagan’s quicker but losing 3.920 at 198.58.

 

The victory marked Steding’s third win in four consecutive final rounds and his fourth of the 2025 season. It also solidified his place as one of the series’ most consistent performers, finishing off a season-long battle with rival Blake Denton.

 

“This is real rewarding,” said Steding, who thanked his parents Kurt and Wendi, tuners Ty and Todd Tutterow, crew member John Redfield, and supporters P2 Contracting, Red Line Oil, and Ty-Drive. “I think I was about 400 points out at one point, and me and Blake [Denton] have been going at it all year long. Honestly, it’s my team. Without them, I wouldn’t be here. We fought hard and I came around as a driver and we just kept taking it and that’s what you have to do. It’s a lot of stress on your back, 100 percent, but whenever you surround yourself with great people, it relieves you a lot.”

 

Steding began eliminations from the No. 2 spot and advanced through the opening round on Saturday night with a 3.899 at 197.59 to defeat John Carinci’s 4.067.

 

Racing resumed Sunday, when Steding used a 3.944 at 196.70 to outrun 2023 world champion Bill Riddle’s 4.022 at 190.75. That pass set low E.T. of the round and kept Steding on pace for another title run.

 

In the semifinals, Steding faced his toughest test of the season against championship contender Blake Denton. His 3.950 at 196.50 edged Denton’s 3.957 at 195.99 by just .011 seconds, sealing both the race final and the 2025 Pro Street championship — the third overall title of his career, including his 2021 Pro Jr. Dragster crown.

 

5 – GREAT SHOWING FOR REAGAN – Defending event winner Richard Reagan continued his strong form at the PDRA World Finals, qualifying No. 1 and resetting the Pro Street class E.T. national record.

 

Reagan opened eliminations with a 3.89 at 199.20 to defeat Joel Wensley Jr.’s 3.994. In the second round, he advanced when Marty Merillat went red by .006, despite lifting to a 4.541 at 137.99.

 

The Rutledge, Tennessee, driver then matched retired NFL star Fletcher Cox’s .035 reaction time in the semifinals, running a 3.955 at 197.42 to eliminate Cox and reach his second straight World Finals final round.

 

6 – DRINKWATER GETS ANOTHER TITLE, WIN – Two-time Extreme Pro Stock world champion Alan Drinkwater capped off his 2025 season with another event victory, defeating Jordan Ensslin in the final round at the PDRA World Finals. Driving his Kaase-powered Flatout Gaskets ’08 Mustang, Drinkwater left first and held on for the win with a 4.077 at 177.98 to Ensslin’s close 4.079 at 176.72.

 

The victory marked Drinkwater’s fourth win of the season and further solidified his championship campaign. Ensslin, who won the PDRA ProStars race on Thursday, settled for the runner-up finish.

 

“This kind of puts a seal of approval on everything,” said Drinkwater, who thanked his team and partners including Flatout Gaskets, Ram Clutches, Kaase Racing Engines, and AED Carburetors. “All weekend I’ve been super comfortable in the car and I knew we were going to be tough to beat. In the final, sitting there in the pre-stage bulb, everything just felt good, and as soon as we left, I didn’t see nothing beside me and it’s just a great feeling.”

 

Drinkwater advanced out of the first round unopposed when Jeremy Huffman couldn’t make the run, posting low E.T. of eliminations with a 4.046 at 179.11. In the semifinals, he led from start to finish with a 4.080 at 178.00 to eliminate Elijah Morton’s 4.092 at 185.97.

 

Ensslin, who qualified No. 1 in his Allen-powered Poke County Pro Stock “Seabiscuit” ’09 Mustang, opened eliminations with a 4.051 at 178.02 on a bye run. That gave him lane choice in the semifinals against 2018 world champion Steven Boone, who grabbed the starting-line advantage before shaking the tires. Ensslin moved on with a 4.100 at 176.33, setting up his close final-round battle with Drinkwater.

 

7 – HOYLE ENDS ROOKIE SEASON WITH WIN – Carson Hoyle wrapped up his Pro 632 rookie campaign by scoring his first career PDRA 660 Man trophy, adding to a resume that already included success in Pro Jr. Dragster. Combining sharp reaction times with consistent passes, Hoyle worked through a tough field to reach the final round.

 

In the final, Hoyle cut a .005 light and drove his car to a 4.147 at 170.43 to defeat Kyle Salminen, who ran a 4.212 at 170.30. The win capped a strong first season for the North Carolina racer.

 

“We’ve made great progression all season, and to cap it off like this and go into next year with a win, it’s amazing,” said Hoyle, who credited ATI Performance Products, Nitrous Outlet, Pat Musi Racing Engines, Maxima Racing Oil, Meziere Enterprises, stepdad Chris Rini, and Jamie and Johnny Miller of Red Hat Mafia. “I’m confident in this team and my guys. I just needed to do my part. That’s all I needed to get it done. It’s been a crazy year with two cars, first time doing it, but we’ve done a great job. The crew’s done a great job and I’m really thankful for that.”

 

Hoyle qualified fourth and started eliminations with a 4.121 at 171.62 to drive around Nicole Liberty’s 4.166. In round two, he was the only driver to dip into the 4.10s with a 4.167 at 170.08 to eliminate points runner-up Walter Lannigan, who lifted to a 5.297.

 

In the semifinals, Hoyle earned a holeshot victory over two-time world champion Jeff Melnick, posting a 4.157 at 170.64 to Melnick’s slightly quicker 4.156. The win secured his spot in the final and ultimately his first professional PDRA victory.

 

Salminen, the spring Virginia race winner in his Musi-powered ’03 Cavalier, opened eliminations with a holeshot 4.186 at 170.99 to beat rookie Jeff Pittman’s quicker 4.130 at 180.00. He then used a 4.220 at 170.32 to hold off Brian Clauss’s 4.283 at 168.35 before improving to a 4.217 at 170.62 on a semifinal bye to reach the final round against Hoyle.

 

8 – A CAREER BEST FOR PERRY – Carson Perry capped off his Super Street rookie season with a breakthrough performance, earning his first PDRA national event victory after defeating 2024 world champion Dan Whetstine in the final round. Driving his Barry Allen AMC-powered Greenbrier Excavating & Paving ’00 Camaro, Perry backed up his ProStars win and first career No. 1 qualifier award with another milestone victory.

 

In the final, Perry ran it out to a 4.595 at 156.57 after Whetstine went red by .029 seconds on a 4.780 at 154.00. The win completed a weekend sweep that included both the all-star and national event titles.

 

“Well, to win ProStars was special because we’ve kind of been struggling all year,” said Perry, who thanked his family, Alan and Kevin O’Brien, Barry Allen, and Patrick Barnhill. “To finally get it together was something, then to win both of them, you can’t ask for a better weekend. And I can’t ask for a better car. It makes my job easy when the car runs good, so it just all came together at one time. I know [Whetstine] went red, but we were gonna give him a good run.”

 

Perry’s path to victory began with a 4.531 at 157.37 to defeat rookie Brooks McMath’s 4.706 at 157.47 in the opening round. He followed with a 4.589 at 156.46 to drive around championship runner-up Austin Vincent’s 4.666. Both rounds showed the consistency that carried him to his career-best weekend.

 

Whetstine, driving his ProCharged “Red Velvet” ’91 Mustang, made one of the quickest passes of the first round with a 4.546 at 160.46 to advance when Dustin Mewborn couldn’t make the run. In the semifinals, Whetstine pedaled to a 4.836 at 153.91, but it was enough to move on when Billy Taylor slowed to a 6.315.

 

Perry’s double victory weekend underscored his rapid rise in the Super Street category and hinted at what could be a strong sophomore season in 2026.

 

9 – THE SPORTSMAN REPORT – Ron Whitlock claimed the Elite Top Sportsman title with a sharp reaction time and a 4.052 on a 4.03 dial-in in his ProCharged GXP, edging out South Chesterfield, Virginia’s Randy Perkinson in the final round. Perkinson, in his ProCharged ’67 Mustang, finished runner-up with a 3.886 on a 3.85 dial-in.

 

In Top Sportsman 48, Joe Roubicek’s hopes for a second world championship and a World Finals win ended by one-thousandth of a second when he red-lighted in the final round. Newly crowned Pro 632 world champion Jeff Melnick capitalized, running a 4.142 on a 4.14 dial-in in his ProCharged Exotic Fabrication ’02 Avenger to secure the victory.

 

Two-time world champion Steve Furr appeared poised for another Elite Top Dragster title after taking out points leader Alan O’Brien in the first round, but Linzie Coleman denied him in the final. Coleman left the line .007 ahead of Furr and posted a 3.775 on a 3.77 dial-in in his ProCharged ’17 American dragster to edge Furr’s 3.804 on a 3.79.

 

In Top Dragster 48, former Pro Jr. Dragster racer Will Creasman earned the victory over fellow North Carolinian James Albertson. Creasman gained a .015 advantage at the tree and held on for the win with a 4.267 on a 4.25 dial-in to Albertson’s 4.254 on a 4.22.

SATURDAY NOTEBOOK – CHAMPIONSHIP BATTLES; SOME DECIDED AND SOME DOWN TO THE WIRE

1 – REAGAN DOMINATES PRO STREET – Richard Reagan backed up his national E.T. record and took the No. 1 spot in Liberty’s Gears Pro Street presented by Menscer Motorsports with another strong performance at the PDRA World Finals. After running a 3.854 at 199.29 on Friday, Reagan delivered a 3.887 at 198.32 in Saturday’s heat with his screw-blown Reagan’s Excavating ’90 Mustang.

 

He maintained that pace when eliminations began, posting a 3.879 at 199.20 to defeat Joel Wensley Jr.’s 3.994 at 193.24. The pass was the second-quickest of the round and solidified Reagan as a frontrunner heading into Sunday competition.

 

Championship contenders Ethan Steding and Blake Denton also kept their title hopes alive by scoring first-round wins. Steding, the defending world champion and current points leader, ran 3.899 at 197.59 in his roots-blown P2 Contracting “College Fund” ’24 Camaro to advance past John Carinci’s 4.067.

 

Denton, driving his nitrous-assisted “Bonnie” ’69 Camaro, set low E.T. of the round with a 3.876 at 197.08 to eliminate Ron Green’s 3.959. Both drivers are expected to continue their head-to-head battle for the championship in Sunday eliminations.

 

Other round-one winners included Marty Merillat, who ran 3.941 to beat Dan Norris’ 4.348, and Nick Agostino, who turned in a 3.950 to top Jerry Morgano’s 3.975. Fletcher Cox posted a 3.911 to move past Andy Manson’s 3.931.

 

Bill Riddle’s 3.937 edged Mikey Sasina’s 3.951, while Scott Kincaid advanced with a 3.942 over Chris Tuten’s 4.007. Reagan’s pace-setting performance capped a round where eight drivers ran under four seconds in one of the quickest Pro Street fields of the season.

 

2 – THE PRO NITROUS STORM IS BREWING – Fredy Scriba backed up his record-setting 3.600-second pass from qualifying with a 3.633 at 207.62 in the opening round of Pro Nitrous eliminations, officially sealing the new class E.T. mark. The outgoing world champion earned a bye run as the No. 1 qualifier in his Musi-powered “Sorcerer” ’69 Camaro and will face former Elite Top Sportsman champion Buddy Perkinson in round two.

 

While Scriba focused on records, the championship fight between Tommy Franklin and Marcus Butner took center stage. Butner, in his Musi-powered “Heartbreaker” ’69 Camaro, set low E.T. of the round with a 3.603 at 209.98 to defeat Chris Rini’s 3.674.

 

Franklin, the points leader and three-time world champion, advanced with a 3.611 at 209.17 after Brian Shrader left early by .018 seconds. The two will square off Sunday in a high-stakes second-round matchup that could determine the 2025 Pro Nitrous title.

 

Amber Denton continued her solid weekend, posting a 3.615 to drive past Dane Wood’s 3.690. Billy Albert followed with a 3.654 over Matt Deitsch’s 3.694 in another strong side-by-side pairing.

 

Perkinson advanced to meet Scriba after running 3.641 to eliminate Tim Molnar’s 3.681, while Cam Clark used a 3.700 at 206.23 to beat Tim Paap’s off-pace 4.485. Each winner will return for Sunday’s eliminations with lane choice implications adding to the tension.

 

The Pro Nitrous field delivered one of the quickest overall first rounds of the season, featuring seven runs in the 3.60s. With Franklin and Butner set for a crucial second-round battle and Scriba already in record-setting form, the Pro Nitrous storm shows no signs of calming before championship Sunday.

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3 – TUTTEROW IN THE DRIVER’S SEAT – Ty Tutterow maintained his advantage in the WS Construction Pro Boost presented by P2 Contracting and Ty-Drive championship race after advancing from the opening round at the PDRA World Finals. Entering the weekend with a three-round lead over Melanie Salemi, both drivers kept their title hopes alive with strong qualifying efforts and first-round victories.

 

Tutterow, driving Justin Smith’s screw-blown Quik Fuel ’69 Camaro, posted a 3.567 at 210.97 to edge out Johnny Camp’s 3.574 at 208.26. The run came off a sharp .010 reaction time, giving the son of two-time world champion Todd “King Tut” Tutterow a narrow margin of victory.

 

Salemi answered with a 3.574 at 208.62 in Eddie Whelan’s screw-blown Al-Lee Installations “Purple Reign” ’68 Firebird to eliminate Scott Lang’s 3.601 at 205.82. The pair will meet in the second round, with Tutterow holding lane choice as the championship battle intensifies.

 

Elsewhere in the first round, Randy Weatherford set the pace with a 3.556 to defeat Chuck Ulsch’s 3.626 in one of the quickest side-by-side races of the session. Jason Harris also impressed with a 3.564 over Frank Falter IV’s 3.613.

 

Kurt Steding moved on with a 3.600 over Jay Cox, who slowed to a 3.971, while Steve King’s 3.586 advanced past Joel Wensley, who failed to record a time. Ed Burnley used a 3.612 to top Cameron Hensley’s 3.599 in another tight pairing.

 

John Doc closed out the round by running a 3.671 to take down Jason Lee, who went red by .079 seconds. With just two rounds separating Tutterow and Salemi in points, Sunday’s head-to-head meeting will go a long way toward determining who takes home the 2025 Pro Boost world title.

 

4 – DRINKWATER SEALS THE DEAL – Alan Drinkwater locked up his second consecutive AED Competition Extreme Pro Stock presented by Sonny’s Racing Engines world championship as soon as he qualified his Kaase-powered Flatout Gaskets ’08 Mustang at the PDRA World Finals. The 2023 champion then reinforced his title credentials with the quickest pass of the opening round of eliminations.

 

Drinkwater ran a 4.046 at 179.11 to eliminate championship challenger Jeremy Huffman, who failed to record a time. The run earned Drinkwater lane choice for his semifinal matchup with veteran Elijah Morton.

 

Morton advanced after posting a 4.062 to defeat Dave Hughes, who slowed to a 10.271. The victory continued Morton’s late-season momentum in a class known for its parity.

 

Jordan Ensslin made a solo run of 4.051 to move into the semifinals, while Steven Boone’s 4.079 was enough to send Chris Powers home after he encountered problems and coasted to a 7.205.

5 – MELNICK GETS THE 632 RECORD – Jeff Melnick added another milestone to his Pro 632 career by chasing down the class E.T. record just weeks after clinching his second world championship in three seasons. The newly crowned champion entered the PDRA World Finals focused solely on performance after securing the title with a runner-up finish at DragWars in September.

 

Melnick led qualifying after dipping into the 4.00-second range during Friday’s second session in Alan O’Brien’s Barry Allen-powered Greenbrier Excavating & Paving ’20 Camaro. The run positioned him as the top contender for the record and set the tone for another strong weekend.

 

In the opening round of eliminations, Melnick delivered a 4.101 at 173.47 to advance past Gary Hood, who fouled on the starting line. The pass ranked among the quickest in class history and further underscored Melnick’s dominance in Pro 632 competition.

 

 

6 – 632 E1 RESULTS – First-round results: Jeff Melnick 4.101 def. Gary Hood 4.373 (-.002 red), Walter Lannigan 4.127 def. Jason Ventura 4.219, Carson Hoyle 4.121 def. Nicole Liberty 4.166, JC Beattie Jr. 4.127 def. Brian Clauss 4.147, Kyle Salminen 4.186 def. Jeff Pittman 4.130.

7 – PERRY CONTINUES TO SHINE – Carson Perry’s standout weekend in Super Street continued as he followed up his first career No. 1 qualifying effort with a dominant first-round win. Driving his nitrous-fed Greenbrier Excavating & Paving ’00 Camaro, Perry ran a 4.531 at 157.37 to advance at the PDRA World Finals.

 

Perry’s run was the quickest of the round and came against fellow rookie Brooks McMath, who clocked a 4.706 at 157.47 in the same ’76 Camaro that captured the 2023 world title with Blake Denton. The victory sends Perry into the semifinals, where he’ll meet Austin Vincent.

 

Vincent moved forward after his opponent, Frank Saffelle, left early by .115 seconds, ending his day with a red light. Perry’s consistent pace has positioned him as one of the class’s most promising newcomers heading into Sunday eliminations.

 

Meanwhile, newly crowned world champion Connor McGee fell victim to a holeshot in the opening round. Billy Taylor’s 4.89 at 153.58 held off McGee’s quicker 4.818 at 153.13, ending the champ’s bid for another event win.

8 – SUPER STREET ROUND ONE – First-round results: Carson Perry 4.531 def. Brooks McMath 4.706, Austin Vincent 7.037 def. Frank Saffelle 5.122 (-.115 red), Dan Whetstine 4.546 def. Dustin Mewborn (no time), Billy Taylor 4.890 def. Connor McGee 4.818.

9 – THE SPORTSMAN REPORT – World champions are yet to be decided in the PDRA’s sportsman classes – MagnaFuel Elite Top Sportsman presented by PAR Racing Engines, Laris Motorsports Insurance Elite Top Dragster presented by Greenbrier Excavating & Paving, MagnaFuel Top Sportsman, and Laris Motorsports Insurance Top Dragster presented by Derrick Wolfe Trucking – as well as Paragon Pro Jr. Dragster presented by Philadelphia Racing Products and Classic Graphix Top Jr. Dragster presented by Philadelphia Racing Products.

10 – SUNDAY’S SCHEDULE – Sunday eliminations will begin with Edelbrock Bracket Bash presented by COMP Cams at 10:30 a.m. followed by the Jr. Dragster and sportsman classes. Pro eliminations will continue at 1:30 p.m.

FRIDAY NOTEBOOK – RECORDS ARE FLYING ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE 2025 FINALE

1 – ALMOST A RECORD SETS THE PACE FOR PRO BOOST – It took a 3.556-second pass at 212.13 mph — just one thousandth off the class E.T. record — to lead the field in one of the quickest qualifying sessions in Pro Boost history. Danville, Virginia’s Randy Weatherford delivered the run in his Harts Charger-boosted WS Construction ’21 Camaro during the second session, improving on his earlier 3.600 at 211.33.

 

The former Pro Nitrous standout is one session away from earning his second No. 1 qualifier award of the season. Nine other drivers joined him in the 3.50-second range, underscoring the class’s depth at the PDRA World Finals.

 

“I guess there in August I was pretty hot,” Weatherford said, referring to his dominant showing at the PDRA Northern Nationals, where he debuted the new Harts Charger combination. “Hopefully this time I can go out here and just win this one right here. I’ve been testing this car, reworked some things out, got it back around. I think they’re going to have a hard time with me this weekend. If it’s warm, we can run right up there with them.”

 

Weatherford’s near-record pass continued his late-season surge after several strong performances in the back half of the year. His Camaro, tuned for maximum efficiency in the eighth mile, showed consistency and power in both qualifying rounds.

 

Steve King, winner of the World Series of Pro Mod and Yellowbullet Nationals, qualified second with a 3.565 in Gene Pilot’s screw-blown “Savage” ’19 Corvette. Two-time and reigning world champion Jason Harris followed closely in third with a 3.570 at 210.14 mph in his ProCharged Southern Diamond Company “Party Time” ’69 Camaro.

 

2 – IT’S SCRIBA AGAIN – Reigning Pro Nitrous world champion Fredy Scriba moved to the top of the qualifying sheet Friday with a pass that could rewrite the class record books. Scriba powered his Musi-equipped “Sorcerer” ’69 Camaro to a 3.600-second run at 208.62 mph, the first leg of a potential new E.T. national record.

 

The run came one night after Scriba claimed his second consecutive ProStars title, adding to his momentum entering the final race of the season. To make the record official, he’ll need to back it up with a 3.636 or quicker before the weekend concludes.

 

“I didn’t think it was going to go a 3.600 – maybe a .62 or .63,” Scriba said. “We’ll go back and look and see why it ran that fast so we can hopefully do it again. We weren’t even thinking about the record. We just wanted to run faster than everybody else. We ran decent today, so we knew we could put something in it to run harder tonight, and it did it, so we’re happy.”

 

Scriba’s lap capped a standout second qualifying session that saw several of Pro Nitrous’ biggest names trading low E.T.s. The Maryland racer, who won his first world championship at last year’s World Finals, appeared confident in both his tune-up and consistency heading into eliminations.

 

On the other side of the track, former Elite Top Sportsman contender turned Pro Nitrous rookie Tim Paap nearly matched the record himself. He clocked a 3.609 at 206.73 in his Musi-powered Paap Auto Body ’16 Corvette, missing the existing 3.608 benchmark by just one thousandth.

 

Three-time world champion and current points leader Tommy Franklin briefly held the top spot before Scriba’s final run. Franklin rebounded from a first-session shutdown to post a 3.612 at 208.75 in his Musi-powered “Jungle Rat 3.0” ’69 Camaro, securing the No. 3 position heading into the final round of qualifying.

 

The night closed with three cars within two thousandths of the existing record, setting up a potential historic battle for the official mark. As track conditions improve, Scriba’s 3.600 may only be the beginning of a record-threatening weekend in Pro Nitrous.

 

3 – REAGAN SETS PROVISIONAL RECORD – Richard Reagan put himself in the record books Friday night, posting the first leg of a new Pro Street E.T. national record to take the provisional No. 1 spot. Driving his screw-blown Reagan’s Excavating ’90 Mustang, Reagan clocked a 3.854-second run at 199.29 mph in the final pair of the second qualifying session.

 

The pass was one hundredth quicker than the existing mark set by Brian Weddle at last year’s World Finals. Reagan will need to back up the number with a 3.892 or quicker to officially claim the record before the event concludes.

 

“Man, we’ve got a hot rod,” Reagan said. “I’d like to thank Tim and Scott Kincaid. If it wasn’t for them, I couldn’t do it, letting an old fat boy from Tennessee have some fun. Thanks to my wife at home and my mom for supporting me. My daughter’s here, and I’m going to be a papa here in March, so I can’t wait for that. It’s just awesome.”

 

The performance capped off a strong week for Reagan, who finished runner-up in Thursday night’s ProStars all-star race. His consistency across both nights positioned him as one of the weekend’s top contenders in the record-tight Pro Street field.

 

The night also featured a side-by-side showdown between the two championship frontrunners, Ethan Steding and Blake Denton. Steding, the reigning world champion and current points leader, grabbed the No. 2 spot with a 3.884 at 199.97 mph in his roots-blown P2 Contracting “College Fund” ’24 Camaro.

 

Denton, running his nitrous-fed “Bonnie” Lizzy Musi tribute ’69 Camaro, was just one thousandth behind with a 3.885 at 197.16 in a near-identical matchup. Both drivers remained locked in the title fight, while Reagan’s record-level performance added another layer to an already competitive Pro Street qualifying session.

 

4 – ENSSLIN’S HOT STREAK CONTINUES – Jordan Ensslin’s late-season surge in Extreme Pro Stock kept rolling Friday night as he grabbed the provisional No. 1 qualifying position with a 4.030-second run at 178.66 mph. Driving his Allen-powered “Seabiscuit” ’09 Mustang, Ensslin continued a streak that has seen him stack victories and top qualifiers over the past month.

 

The Florida racer recently captured his first career Extreme Pro Stock win at the Thunder Valley Throwdown, followed by his first No. 1 qualifier at DragWars. He added another highlight Thursday night by winning the ProStars all-star race, setting the tone for his World Finals weekend.

 

“All I can say is I’m blessed,” Ensslin said. “The good Lord above keeps us safe and keeps us doing this. My crew, my family, everybody – I’m speechless. Yeah, we went No. 1. Did we go as fast as we wanted to? No. But the track was pretty tricky today, so I was trying to tip-toe and I knew I needed to get down the track. That 3.99 is just going to have to hold off for a little bit.”

 

Ensslin’s run kept him on top in a tight qualifying session that saw several drivers dip deep into the 4.00-second range. The performance also reinforced his growing reputation as one of the most consistent Pro Stock drivers on the PDRA circuit.

 

Alan Drinkwater, who locked up his second world championship in three years earlier in the day, qualified second with a 4.044 at 178.85 in his Kaase-powered Flatout Gaskets ’08 Mustang. His steady showing came after a dominant season that has kept him near the top of the class standings all year.

 

Veteran driver Elijah Morton rounded out the top three with a 4.049 at 179.90 in his Allen-powered Morton Brothers Motorsports ’19 Mustang. With several drivers closely grouped on the performance charts, Saturday’s final qualifying session promises to determine who carries the momentum into race day.

5 – MELNICK’S EXTRA CREDIT – Fresh off clinching his second world championship, Jeff Melnick and the Greenbrier Excavating & Paving team turned their focus toward chasing a new class E.T. national record. With Patrick Barnhill calling the shots and Barry Allen supplying the horsepower in the Greenbrier ’20 Camaro, Melnick came close with a 4.094-second run at 173.16 mph — the second-quickest in Pro 632 history.

 

The mark was just eight thousandths of a second off the record held by two-time world champion Amber Denton. It also solidified Melnick’s position as the provisional No. 1 qualifier heading into the final session of the weekend.

 

“We’re here to set the record,” said Melnick, who won his first world title in 2023. “We tried a bunch of stuff yesterday and none of it worked, but we learned we had a lot of power in what we found. I think they’re just trying to make baby steps towards that, and that was a pretty big baby step. The 4.09 felt great. We’re just happy it went down the track because yesterday we had trouble in ProStars. That’s the whole reason we’re here is to set the record. We already won the championship and we have enough trophies on the shelf. We’d rather set the record and lose than win the whole race.”

 

Melnick’s strong run came one night after the team’s struggles during ProStars competition, where traction issues hampered progress. Friday’s performance showed that their incremental approach paid off with a nearly flawless pass down the Virginia Motorsports Park eighth mile.

 

JC Beattie Jr. followed closely behind with a career-best 4.106 at 173.81 mph in his ATI Performance Products ’69 Camaro. The run also ranked among the fastest in class history, marking Beattie as a legitimate contender for the top spot.

 

Walter Lannigan, Thursday night’s ProStars winner, continued his consistent form by qualifying third with a 4.124 at 170.79 in David Cook’s Nelson-powered Copy&PrintWarehouse.com ’10 GTO. As qualifying continues, all three drivers remain within striking distance of a new Pro 632 record, adding another layer of drama to the championship weekend.

 

6 – PERRY’S MOMENTUM STILL ROLLING – Carson Perry kept his winning streak alive Friday night, earning his first career provisional No. 1 qualifier in Super Street. Coming off a breakthrough ProStars win a night earlier, the rookie posted a 4.513-second run at 157.41 mph in his nitrous-fed Greenbrier Excavating & Paving ’00 Camaro.

 

The pass was just a few thousandths quicker than reigning world champion Dan Whetstine, who ran 4.519 at 161.71 in his ProCharged “Red Velvet” ’91 Mustang. The two drivers are separated by one of the narrowest margins of the season heading into Saturday’s final session.

 

Points leader Connor McGee rounded out the top three with a 4.595 at 153.93 in his nitrous-assisted Brian’s Heating & Cooling ’90 Mustang. Perry’s steady progression over back-to-back nights continued to make him one of the standout stories of the World Finals weekend.

 
 

7 – LAFLAM CONTINUES TO BE TOP SPORTSMAN – Bryan LaFlam maintained his dominant form in Elite Top Sportsman qualifying Friday, backing up his ProStars victory with the provisional No. 1 spot at the World Finals. The points leader drove his supercharged BigStuff TPM ’67 Mustang to a 3.772-second run at 194.55 mph to lead the field after two sessions.

 

Jamie Fowler followed closely in second with a 3.784 at 199.73 in his nitrous-fed Pee Dee Fleet ’69 Camaro. Bruce Thrift secured third with a 3.806 at 192.60 in his nitrous-assisted “Color Me Gone” ’08 GTO.

 

Dan Hill narrowly missed the 16-car Elite Top Sportsman field with a 4.080 at 176.01 in his Connecticut-based ’69 Camaro. That performance, however, was enough to place him at the top of the Top Sportsman 48 field heading into Saturday’s final qualifying round.

8 – O’BRIEN SETS THE STAGE FOR CHAMPIONSHIP RUN – Alan O’Brien strengthened his hold on the Elite Top Dragster championship chase by taking the provisional No. 1 spot Friday at the World Finals. The points leader ran a 3.729-second pass at 199.73 mph in his quad-turbocharged, AMC-powered Greenbrier Excavating & Paving ’23 Race Tech dragster.

 

O’Brien’s run set the tone for a fast field as he aims to close out the season with both a title and a top qualifying effort. His performance also highlighted the versatility of his unique quad-turbo power combination.

 

The father-son duo of Kyle and Ryan Harris followed in second and third. Kyle, the reigning world champion, ran a 3.735 at 199.02 in his supercharged DFS Projects ’32 Bantam Altered, while Ryan posted a 3.738 at 195.76 in his supercharged DFS Projects ’18 Horton dragster.

 

In Top Dragster 48, North Carolina’s Angie Travis claimed the provisional No. 1 position with a 3.843 at 191.43 in her Hickory Enclosed Trailer Sales dragster. Both classes will wrap up qualifying Saturday before heading into eliminations to decide their respective season champions.

 
 

9 – SATURDAY’S PROGRAM – Jr. Dragster and sportsman qualifying will continue Saturday at 8:30 a.m. Pro classes will wrap up qualifying at 12:45 p.m. The first Night of Fire thrill show is set for 6 p.m., followed by the first round of eliminations in the pro classes. A final thrill show session will run at 9 p.m. Eliminations will continue Sunday.

THURSDAY NOTEBOOK – SCRIBA, SALEMI WIN BIG AT PDRA PROSTARS

1 – SCRIBA GRABS ANOTHER –  One year after clinching his first career Pro Nitrous world championship, Fredy Scriba captured his second straight ProStars victory Friday at Virginia Motorsports Park. Driving his Musi-powered “Sorcerer” ’69 Camaro, Scriba defeated reigning Pro 632 champion Amber Denton in the final round.

 

Denton left first but shut off early, while Scriba powered to his quickest run of the season at 3.622 seconds and 207.24 mph. Denton slowed to a 4.283 at 130.89 mph.

 

“Sometimes it’s the car, sometimes it’s the driver,” Scriba said. “I was a little tardy on the tree, but we made up for it down track. I’m just happy the car is making consistent runs right now. It’s a good start for the weekend. We’ll see how the rest of it goes. It’s pretty neat – two events in one weekend. It’s good to get a lot of laps the first day. It’s really helpful.”

 

Scriba advanced through eliminations with consistent performances. He used a holeshot to knock out recent DragWars winner and title contender Marcus Butner, who ran quicker at 3.629 but lost to Scriba’s 3.645 at 206.83 mph.

 

In the semifinals, Scriba was quicker than John Vergotz at both ends of the track. He recorded a 3.630 at 207.34 to beat Vergotz’s 3.712 at 200.41.

 

Denton, who led the standings earlier in her rookie Pro Nitrous campaign, reached the final with a string of steady passes in her Musi-powered “OG Jungle Rat” ’69 Camaro. She opened eliminations with a 3.648 at 206.73 over Brian Shrader’s 3.870 at 156.64.

 

She then faced her father, points leader and three-time world champion Tommy Franklin, in the semifinals. Denton left first and held on with a 3.635 at 206.86, defeating Franklin’s quicker 3.615 at 208.59.

 

The matchup marked a milestone for Denton’s debut season as she transitioned from Pro 632 into the higher-horsepower Pro Nitrous category. Scriba’s win added another highlight to his back-to-back championship runs.

 

2 – SALEMI’S MOMENTUM BUILDER – Pro Boost championship contender Melanie Salemi delivered a string of record-quick runs to claim the ProStars title in Eddie Whelan’s screw-blown Al-Lee Installations “Purple Reign” ’68 Firebird. All three of her passes in eliminations were faster than the current class E.T. national record of 3.555 seconds.

 

Salemi closed with a 3.547 at 210.87 mph in the final round to defeat Jason Lee, who left early on a red-light but still posted a 3.566 at 211.20. The victory served as a boost for Salemi as she chases the season points lead heading into the World Finals.

 

“Evan and Jon [Salemi] have been working tirelessly to get our program to be where it is right now,” Salemi said. “We’ve had a lot of struggles, but then we’ve also had a lot of great times at the racetrack this year. I’m going to probably say it’s been my best season so far, but like I said, there’s been trials and tribulations along the way.”

 

“To get this win tonight, obviously it’s not a full four-round race, but there were tough competitors and I don’t think anybody was ready for us to come out this evening and lay down the 3.54,” Salemi added. “I actually wasn’t even ready for it because I just focus on driving. It’s just really awesome being able to race with our family and our best friends and know that everybody has the same goal in mind and everybody puts in 100% of their effort into everything that they do.”

 

Salemi, who sits second in the standings just under three rounds behind Ty Tutterow, opened eliminations with a 3.543 at 211.73 to defeat Kurt Steding’s 3.583 at 210.24. She backed it up in the semifinals with a 3.550 at 212.39 against Joel Wensley Sr., who slowed to a 4.217.

 

Lee reached the final as an alternate entry. He advanced past two-time and reigning world champion Jason Harris in the opening round when Harris went red on a 3.604 at 209.56, while Lee posted a 3.597 at 209.07 in Eric Gustafson’s screw-blown Coast Packing Co. ’20 Camaro.

 

In the semifinals, Lee faced Steve King, who rolled the beams at the start. That gave Lee a free pass to the final, where his red-light ended his run against Salemi.

 

3 – ENSSLIN AIN’T FINISHED YET – Less than a month after collecting his first Extreme Pro Stock victory, Jordan Ensslin added another trophy by defeating 2023 world champion and current points leader Alan Drinkwater in the ProStars final. Driving his Allen-powered “Seabiscuit” ’09 Mustang, Ensslin posted a career-best 4.014 at 179.40 mph to Drinkwater’s 4.024 at 179.78.

 

“Winning ProStars is pretty special and important,” Ensslin said. “It’s a specialty race. The money is good, of course, but just being able to go rounds with our family and friends helping us, it means a lot because we put a lot of heart and soul and dedication into this whole program and to see it come to fruition is pretty astounding.”

 

Ensslin produced his best numbers of the season in each round leading up to the final. He opened with a 4.030 at 178.33 to eliminate two-time and reigning world champion Chris Powers, who shut off to a 9.924.

 

The Florida driver then used a semifinal bye run to reset his personal best again, recording a 4.017 at 179.02 to advance to the final. The momentum carried through to his quickest and fastest pass against Drinkwater.

 

Drinkwater, racing his Kaase-powered Flatout Gaskets ’08 Mustang, opened with a 4.046 at 179.02 to defeat Elijah Morton’s 4.076 at 175.68. The defending world champion moved past Jeremy Huffman in the semifinals with a 4.042 at 179.56 to Huffman’s troubled 4.082 at 164.65.

 

The win marked another step forward for Ensslin, who just weeks earlier captured his first career Extreme Pro Stock win at the Thunder Valley Throwdown. His back-to-back performances placed him firmly among the class contenders as the season heads toward its conclusion.

 

4 – TWO IN A ROW FOR GREEN – For the second straight year, Ron Green claimed the ProStars Pro Street victory, this time driving his screw-blown “Gamechanger” ’00 Firebird. Entering the race-your-way-in event as an alternate, Green left first in the final and held on with a 3.872 at 202.58 mph over Richard Reagan’s 3.852 at 199.67.

 

Reagan’s pass would have set a new class E.T. record if the ProStars were record-eligible. Green, from Chesterfield, Virginia, made the most of his alternate spot to secure back-to-back wins.

 

Green opened eliminations with a 3.896 at 203.92 to defeat Reagan’s teammate, Scott Kincaid, who posted a 3.925. In the semifinals, Green beat championship contender Blake Denton, running 3.879 at 203.22 to Denton’s 3.914 at 188.33.

 

Reagan reached the final with a strong effort in his screw-blown ’91 Mustang. He took out Joel Wensley Jr. in the first round with a 3.902 at 186.95, then advanced past points leader and reigning champion Ethan Steding with a 3.875 at 199.17 when Steding slowed to a 4.389.

 

5 – LANNIGAN IN SEVENTH HEAVEN – Walter Lannigan extended his round-win streak to seven by adding a ProStars victory in David Cook’s Nelson-powered Copy&PrintWarehouse.com ’10 GTO. In the final, Lannigan ran a 4.172 at 169.25 after opponent Kyle Salminen fouled with a .009 red light on a quicker 4.158 at 176.70.

 

Lannigan started with a come-from-behind win over Gary Hood, using a 4.129 at 170.67 to drive around Hood’s early advantage and 4.412 at 160.40. He then knocked out two-time world champion Jeff Melnick in the semifinals with a 4.131 at 170.17 while Melnick slowed to an 8.797.

 

Salminen opened eliminations with a 4.166 at 166.58 when opponent Nicole Liberty was unable to run. In the semifinals, he advanced past Jason Ventura, who left first but lost despite a 4.198 as Salminen drove around with a 4.15 at 164.99 in his Musi-powered ’03 Cavalier.

 

6 – PERRY GETS HIS FIRST – Carson Perry earned his first Super Street victory by defeating Matt Schalow in a final that guaranteed a first-time winner. Schalow was quicker off the line, but Perry powered to a career-best 4.503 at 157.58 mph in his Greenbrier Excavating & Paving ’00 Camaro as Schalow slowed to a 5.078 at 104.58.

 

Perry began his run to the trophy with a first-round win over defending event winner and reigning world champion Dan Whetstine. Both drivers left together, but Perry pulled ahead with a 4.507 at 157.69 to Whetstine’s 4.576 at 160.08.

 

In the semifinals, Perry advanced with a bye run. He clicked off early, coasting to a 4.911 at 113.38 to set up his final-round appearance.

 

Schalow reached the final in his Knieriem-powered ’69 Camaro after taking a free pass in the first round. He rolled to a 9.230 at 67.89 to move on.

 

In the semifinals, Schalow matched points leader Connor McGee’s .048 reaction time. He held on for the win with a 4.622 at 155.76, while McGee followed closely with a 4.631 at 150.95.

 

Perry’s victory capped off a career night that saw him post his quickest numbers of the season. The rookie joined the list of new winners in the Super Street category.

 

7 – SHAZAAM! IT’S LAFLAM- Elite Top Sportsman points leader Bryan LaFlam opened his World Finals weekend with a ProStars victory in a non-points race. Driving his supercharged BigStuff TPM ’67 Mustang, LaFlam defeated fellow title contender Tim Lawrence in the final round.

 

LaFlam left the line first and won with a 3.734 on a 3.71 dial-in. Lawrence, in his nitrous-fed Bell Trucking ’13 Camaro, followed with a 3.91 on a 3.89 dial-in.

 

The win added to LaFlam’s season résumé, which already includes one national event victory. His performance also gave him a boost of momentum entering the championship-deciding World Finals.

 

In the Top Sportsman 32final, Dinwiddie native Mark Reese claimed the trophy in a double-red-light outcome. His opponent, Ronnie Proctor, rolled through the beams and coasted to the finish.

 

Reese left .006 seconds too soon but still advanced with a 4.212 on a 4.18 dial-in in his ’08 Mustang. The result kept the Top Sportsman ProStars hardware in town.

8 – HARRIS WINS TOP DRAGSTER – Kyle Harris, the defending Elite Top Dragster world champion and current points leader, scored a ProStars victory over two-time champion Steve Furr in a tight final-round matchup. Harris, driving his supercharged DFS Projects ’32 Bantam Altered, cut a .002 reaction time to Furr’s .004 and ran a 3.74 on a 3.73 dial-in for the win.

 

Furr, in his ProCharged ’13 American dragster, broke out by .001 with a 3.739 on a 3.74 dial-in. The margin ended his bid to reclaim ProStars honors against the reigning champion.

 

The matchup featured the two most recent world champions in the category. Harris added another victory to his resume while reinforcing his hold on the points lead.

 

In the Top Dragster 32 ranks, Virginia driver Troy Williams narrowly missed a home track win. Williams went red by .006 in his ’15 Miller dragster before clocking a 4.476 on a 4.46 dial-in.

 

That mistake allowed Pennsylvania’s Dave Petrofske to advance for the victory. He coasted to the finish in his ’21 Precision dragster with a 10.400 on a 4.18 dial-in.

 

9 – NEXT-GEN REPRESENTED – The Jr. Dragster ranks were on full display at ProStars as Sofie Cooper and Knox Schween claimed class victories. Cooper won in Paragon Pro Jr. Dragster presented by Philadelphia Racing Products, while Schween took the Classic Graphix Top Jr. Dragster presented by Philadelphia Racing Products final.

 

Cooper, who closed the 2024 season with a World Finals win, added another Virginia accolade to her resume. She left first in the final and posted a 7.902 on the 7.90 index to defeat points leader Alyssa Rabon, who broke out with a 7.899.

 

The victory gave Cooper another milestone as she continued to establish herself in the Jr. Dragster ranks. Rabon, despite the loss, maintained her position as the class points leader entering the final stretch of the season.

 

In Top Jr. Dragster, Schween reinforced his hold on the standings with a sharp reaction time and consistent pass. He cut a .001 light and ran 8.916 on his 8.90 dial-in to edge Braydon Crayton’s 8.951 on an 8.95 dial-in.

 

Schween enters the World Finals as the points leader with three wins already in hand. His performance at ProStars showed he remains the driver to beat in the category.

 

10 – THE REST OF THE PLAN – The Red Line Oil PDRA Drag Racing Series will roll into Brian Olson Memorial World Finals qualifying on Friday morning starting with Jr. Dragster and sportsman classes at 8:30 a.m. Pro sessions are set for noon and 5:45 p.m.

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2025 PDRA WORLD FINALS – EVENT PAGE

Photos by Robert Richard, Tara Bowker

FINAL NOTEBOOK – CHAMPIONSHIPS CLINCHED, RACES WON – THAT’S A WRAP!

1 – BUTNER WINS THE TITLE – Marcus Butner capped off his breakout Pro Nitrous season with a victory at the PDRA World Finals, clinching the 2025 championship after defeating three-time world champion Tommy Franklin along the way. Butner, driving the Musi-powered “Heartbreaker” ’69 Camaro tuned by Jay Cox, earned his third win of the year and fourth of his career.

 

Butner sealed the title by beating past Elite Top Sportsman world champion Buddy Perkinson in the final round. Both drivers left the line with .009 reaction times, but Butner’s 3.647 at 207.53 edged out Perkinson’s 3.660 at 205.91 at the finish line.

 

“We trusted all to God this weekend. We’ve got the best team, the best tuner, and we’ve got the best people on board,” Butner said. “It took every single person, every single minute of the year to get to where we are. Hats off to them. I feel like we ran pretty good all year. We had some bad luck. I messed up in Michigan, turned it red, and let Tommy go win the race. You can look back, and hindsight is 20/20. But when we rolled into GALOT, we had our A game on.”

 

Butner qualified sixth but made a statement in the opening round, running a 3.603 at 209.98 to defeat Chris Rini’s 3.674. The run also broke the late Lizzy Musi’s long-standing speed record from the 2018 World Finals. That earned Butner lane choice against Franklin in round two, where he prevailed with a 3.671 at 208.10 to Franklin’s 3.681 at 206.57.

 

In the semifinals, Butner beat No. 13 qualifier Cam Clark with a 3.688 at 206.86 to advance to the title round. It marked the final step in a season that began with a win at GALOT and ended with a championship celebration at Virginia Motorsports Park.

 

Perkinson, competing in his first Pro Nitrous final, qualified seventh in his Musi-powered LAT Racing Oil ’69 Camaro. He opened eliminations with a 3.641 to 3.681 win over Tim Molnar, then advanced past top qualifier and 2024 champion Fredy Scriba when Scriba lifted. In the semifinals, Perkinson narrowly defeated Billy Albert, using a 3.679 at 205.82 to drive around Albert’s 3.719 at 206.83 by just .002 seconds.

 

2 – HARRIS WINS THE BATTLE NOT THE WAR – Jason Harris closed out the 2025 Pro Boost season with his third straight PDRA World Finals victory, even as he surrendered the No. 1 championship plate to Ty Tutterow. Harris’ ProCharger-boosted Southern Diamond Company “Party Time” ’69 Camaro prevailed after a thrash to complete major repairs before the final round.

 

Facing newly crowned champion Tutterow, Harris got the win when Tutterow left early by .041 seconds on a 3.588-second run at 209.46 mph. Harris completed the pass with a 3.586 at 209.20 to record his first win of the season.

 

“It seems like I’ve got the World Finals down pat, and I didn’t really think so coming into this, but I feel like I’ve been driving better and I really got my head out of my butt and started going back to my old ways,” Harris said. “I hope I can make Harold Denton proud, my dad, my family, my wife, and everybody who’s stood behind me proud. We teamed up with John Doc this year, and they’ve helped out with the thrash. We borrowed tires. We were borrowing stuff from Randy Weatherford. We were borrowing stuff from Scott Lang. We were just trying our best.”

 

Harris started eliminations strong, posting low E.T. of the round with a 3.564 at 210.08 to eliminate rookie Frank Falter IV, who ran a career-best 3.613. In the second round, Harris advanced past teammate John Doc with a 3.621 at 208.71 to Doc’s 3.646 at 208.01.

 

The semifinals gave Harris a solo run after Kurt Steding was unable to make the call. Harris made a full pass in an effort to secure lane choice for the final but damaged his supercharger with a 3.651 at 186.46.

 

Despite the setback, Harris’ final-round performance extended his World Finals win streak to three seasons, reaffirming his mastery of the event and his determination to stay near the top of the Pro Boost field heading into 2026.

 

3 – THE NEW CHAMP – Ty Tutterow secured the 2025 Pro Boost world championship with a strong performance that carried him to the final round at the PDRA World Finals. His path began with one of the tightest races of Saturday night’s opening round.

 

Tutterow left first with a .010 reaction time to Johnny Camp’s .032 and crossed the stripe first with a 3.567 at 210.97 to Camp’s 3.574 at 208.26. The victory set up a high-stakes second-round matchup against championship contender Melanie Salemi.

 

Salemi gained a .007 advantage at the start, but her car slowed to a 4.195 at 139.17, while Tutterow advanced with a 3.706 at 206.20. The win clinched the championship for Tutterow.

 

He followed with a 3.601 at 209.65 and a .009 light to defeat Randy Weatherford, who coasted to an 8.868. That effort sent Tutterow into the final against Jason Harris, where a red light start ended his weekend but not before he sealed his first career PDRA title.

 

4 – STEDING WINS IT ALL – Ethan Steding closed out his championship season in dominant fashion, clinching his second straight Pro Street world title and capping the weekend with a final-round win over No. 1 qualifier Richard Reagan. Steding’s roots-blown P2 Contracting “College Fund” ’24 Camaro left first and never trailed, winning with a 3.925 at 196.79 to Reagan’s quicker but losing 3.920 at 198.58.

 

The victory marked Steding’s third win in four consecutive final rounds and his fourth of the 2025 season. It also solidified his place as one of the series’ most consistent performers, finishing off a season-long battle with rival Blake Denton.

 

“This is real rewarding,” said Steding, who thanked his parents Kurt and Wendi, tuners Ty and Todd Tutterow, crew member John Redfield, and supporters P2 Contracting, Red Line Oil, and Ty-Drive. “I think I was about 400 points out at one point, and me and Blake [Denton] have been going at it all year long. Honestly, it’s my team. Without them, I wouldn’t be here. We fought hard and I came around as a driver and we just kept taking it and that’s what you have to do. It’s a lot of stress on your back, 100 percent, but whenever you surround yourself with great people, it relieves you a lot.”

 

Steding began eliminations from the No. 2 spot and advanced through the opening round on Saturday night with a 3.899 at 197.59 to defeat John Carinci’s 4.067.

 

Racing resumed Sunday, when Steding used a 3.944 at 196.70 to outrun 2023 world champion Bill Riddle’s 4.022 at 190.75. That pass set low E.T. of the round and kept Steding on pace for another title run.

 

In the semifinals, Steding faced his toughest test of the season against championship contender Blake Denton. His 3.950 at 196.50 edged Denton’s 3.957 at 195.99 by just .011 seconds, sealing both the race final and the 2025 Pro Street championship — the third overall title of his career, including his 2021 Pro Jr. Dragster crown.

 

5 – GREAT SHOWING FOR REAGAN – Defending event winner Richard Reagan continued his strong form at the PDRA World Finals, qualifying No. 1 and resetting the Pro Street class E.T. national record.

 

Reagan opened eliminations with a 3.89 at 199.20 to defeat Joel Wensley Jr.’s 3.994. In the second round, he advanced when Marty Merillat went red by .006, despite lifting to a 4.541 at 137.99.

 

The Rutledge, Tennessee, driver then matched retired NFL star Fletcher Cox’s .035 reaction time in the semifinals, running a 3.955 at 197.42 to eliminate Cox and reach his second straight World Finals final round.

 

6 – DRINKWATER GETS ANOTHER TITLE, WIN – Two-time Extreme Pro Stock world champion Alan Drinkwater capped off his 2025 season with another event victory, defeating Jordan Ensslin in the final round at the PDRA World Finals. Driving his Kaase-powered Flatout Gaskets ’08 Mustang, Drinkwater left first and held on for the win with a 4.077 at 177.98 to Ensslin’s close 4.079 at 176.72.

 

The victory marked Drinkwater’s fourth win of the season and further solidified his championship campaign. Ensslin, who won the PDRA ProStars race on Thursday, settled for the runner-up finish.

 

“This kind of puts a seal of approval on everything,” said Drinkwater, who thanked his team and partners including Flatout Gaskets, Ram Clutches, Kaase Racing Engines, and AED Carburetors. “All weekend I’ve been super comfortable in the car and I knew we were going to be tough to beat. In the final, sitting there in the pre-stage bulb, everything just felt good, and as soon as we left, I didn’t see nothing beside me and it’s just a great feeling.”

 

Drinkwater advanced out of the first round unopposed when Jeremy Huffman couldn’t make the run, posting low E.T. of eliminations with a 4.046 at 179.11. In the semifinals, he led from start to finish with a 4.080 at 178.00 to eliminate Elijah Morton’s 4.092 at 185.97.

 

Ensslin, who qualified No. 1 in his Allen-powered Poke County Pro Stock “Seabiscuit” ’09 Mustang, opened eliminations with a 4.051 at 178.02 on a bye run. That gave him lane choice in the semifinals against 2018 world champion Steven Boone, who grabbed the starting-line advantage before shaking the tires. Ensslin moved on with a 4.100 at 176.33, setting up his close final-round battle with Drinkwater.

 

7 – HOYLE ENDS ROOKIE SEASON WITH WIN – Carson Hoyle wrapped up his Pro 632 rookie campaign by scoring his first career PDRA 660 Man trophy, adding to a resume that already included success in Pro Jr. Dragster. Combining sharp reaction times with consistent passes, Hoyle worked through a tough field to reach the final round.

 

In the final, Hoyle cut a .005 light and drove his car to a 4.147 at 170.43 to defeat Kyle Salminen, who ran a 4.212 at 170.30. The win capped a strong first season for the North Carolina racer.

 

“We’ve made great progression all season, and to cap it off like this and go into next year with a win, it’s amazing,” said Hoyle, who credited ATI Performance Products, Nitrous Outlet, Pat Musi Racing Engines, Maxima Racing Oil, Meziere Enterprises, stepdad Chris Rini, and Jamie and Johnny Miller of Red Hat Mafia. “I’m confident in this team and my guys. I just needed to do my part. That’s all I needed to get it done. It’s been a crazy year with two cars, first time doing it, but we’ve done a great job. The crew’s done a great job and I’m really thankful for that.”

 

Hoyle qualified fourth and started eliminations with a 4.121 at 171.62 to drive around Nicole Liberty’s 4.166. In round two, he was the only driver to dip into the 4.10s with a 4.167 at 170.08 to eliminate points runner-up Walter Lannigan, who lifted to a 5.297.

 

In the semifinals, Hoyle earned a holeshot victory over two-time world champion Jeff Melnick, posting a 4.157 at 170.64 to Melnick’s slightly quicker 4.156. The win secured his spot in the final and ultimately his first professional PDRA victory.

 

Salminen, the spring Virginia race winner in his Musi-powered ’03 Cavalier, opened eliminations with a holeshot 4.186 at 170.99 to beat rookie Jeff Pittman’s quicker 4.130 at 180.00. He then used a 4.220 at 170.32 to hold off Brian Clauss’s 4.283 at 168.35 before improving to a 4.217 at 170.62 on a semifinal bye to reach the final round against Hoyle.

 

8 – A CAREER BEST FOR PERRY – Carson Perry capped off his Super Street rookie season with a breakthrough performance, earning his first PDRA national event victory after defeating 2024 world champion Dan Whetstine in the final round. Driving his Barry Allen AMC-powered Greenbrier Excavating & Paving ’00 Camaro, Perry backed up his ProStars win and first career No. 1 qualifier award with another milestone victory.

 

In the final, Perry ran it out to a 4.595 at 156.57 after Whetstine went red by .029 seconds on a 4.780 at 154.00. The win completed a weekend sweep that included both the all-star and national event titles.

 

“Well, to win ProStars was special because we’ve kind of been struggling all year,” said Perry, who thanked his family, Alan and Kevin O’Brien, Barry Allen, and Patrick Barnhill. “To finally get it together was something, then to win both of them, you can’t ask for a better weekend. And I can’t ask for a better car. It makes my job easy when the car runs good, so it just all came together at one time. I know [Whetstine] went red, but we were gonna give him a good run.”

 

Perry’s path to victory began with a 4.531 at 157.37 to defeat rookie Brooks McMath’s 4.706 at 157.47 in the opening round. He followed with a 4.589 at 156.46 to drive around championship runner-up Austin Vincent’s 4.666. Both rounds showed the consistency that carried him to his career-best weekend.

 

Whetstine, driving his ProCharged “Red Velvet” ’91 Mustang, made one of the quickest passes of the first round with a 4.546 at 160.46 to advance when Dustin Mewborn couldn’t make the run. In the semifinals, Whetstine pedaled to a 4.836 at 153.91, but it was enough to move on when Billy Taylor slowed to a 6.315.

 

Perry’s double victory weekend underscored his rapid rise in the Super Street category and hinted at what could be a strong sophomore season in 2026.

 

9 – THE SPORTSMAN REPORT – Ron Whitlock claimed the Elite Top Sportsman title with a sharp reaction time and a 4.052 on a 4.03 dial-in in his ProCharged GXP, edging out South Chesterfield, Virginia’s Randy Perkinson in the final round. Perkinson, in his ProCharged ’67 Mustang, finished runner-up with a 3.886 on a 3.85 dial-in.

 

In Top Sportsman 48, Joe Roubicek’s hopes for a second world championship and a World Finals win ended by one-thousandth of a second when he red-lighted in the final round. Newly crowned Pro 632 world champion Jeff Melnick capitalized, running a 4.142 on a 4.14 dial-in in his ProCharged Exotic Fabrication ’02 Avenger to secure the victory.

 

Two-time world champion Steve Furr appeared poised for another Elite Top Dragster title after taking out points leader Alan O’Brien in the first round, but Linzie Coleman denied him in the final. Coleman left the line .007 ahead of Furr and posted a 3.775 on a 3.77 dial-in in his ProCharged ’17 American dragster to edge Furr’s 3.804 on a 3.79.

 

In Top Dragster 48, former Pro Jr. Dragster racer Will Creasman earned the victory over fellow North Carolinian James Albertson. Creasman gained a .015 advantage at the tree and held on for the win with a 4.267 on a 4.25 dial-in to Albertson’s 4.254 on a 4.22.

SATURDAY NOTEBOOK – CHAMPIONSHIP BATTLES; SOME DECIDED AND SOME DOWN TO THE WIRE

1 – REAGAN DOMINATES PRO STREET – Richard Reagan backed up his national E.T. record and took the No. 1 spot in Liberty’s Gears Pro Street presented by Menscer Motorsports with another strong performance at the PDRA World Finals. After running a 3.854 at 199.29 on Friday, Reagan delivered a 3.887 at 198.32 in Saturday’s heat with his screw-blown Reagan’s Excavating ’90 Mustang.

 

He maintained that pace when eliminations began, posting a 3.879 at 199.20 to defeat Joel Wensley Jr.’s 3.994 at 193.24. The pass was the second-quickest of the round and solidified Reagan as a frontrunner heading into Sunday competition.

 

Championship contenders Ethan Steding and Blake Denton also kept their title hopes alive by scoring first-round wins. Steding, the defending world champion and current points leader, ran 3.899 at 197.59 in his roots-blown P2 Contracting “College Fund” ’24 Camaro to advance past John Carinci’s 4.067.

 

Denton, driving his nitrous-assisted “Bonnie” ’69 Camaro, set low E.T. of the round with a 3.876 at 197.08 to eliminate Ron Green’s 3.959. Both drivers are expected to continue their head-to-head battle for the championship in Sunday eliminations.

 

Other round-one winners included Marty Merillat, who ran 3.941 to beat Dan Norris’ 4.348, and Nick Agostino, who turned in a 3.950 to top Jerry Morgano’s 3.975. Fletcher Cox posted a 3.911 to move past Andy Manson’s 3.931.

 

Bill Riddle’s 3.937 edged Mikey Sasina’s 3.951, while Scott Kincaid advanced with a 3.942 over Chris Tuten’s 4.007. Reagan’s pace-setting performance capped a round where eight drivers ran under four seconds in one of the quickest Pro Street fields of the season.

 

2 – THE PRO NITROUS STORM IS BREWING – Fredy Scriba backed up his record-setting 3.600-second pass from qualifying with a 3.633 at 207.62 in the opening round of Pro Nitrous eliminations, officially sealing the new class E.T. mark. The outgoing world champion earned a bye run as the No. 1 qualifier in his Musi-powered “Sorcerer” ’69 Camaro and will face former Elite Top Sportsman champion Buddy Perkinson in round two.

 

While Scriba focused on records, the championship fight between Tommy Franklin and Marcus Butner took center stage. Butner, in his Musi-powered “Heartbreaker” ’69 Camaro, set low E.T. of the round with a 3.603 at 209.98 to defeat Chris Rini’s 3.674.

 

Franklin, the points leader and three-time world champion, advanced with a 3.611 at 209.17 after Brian Shrader left early by .018 seconds. The two will square off Sunday in a high-stakes second-round matchup that could determine the 2025 Pro Nitrous title.

 

Amber Denton continued her solid weekend, posting a 3.615 to drive past Dane Wood’s 3.690. Billy Albert followed with a 3.654 over Matt Deitsch’s 3.694 in another strong side-by-side pairing.

 

Perkinson advanced to meet Scriba after running 3.641 to eliminate Tim Molnar’s 3.681, while Cam Clark used a 3.700 at 206.23 to beat Tim Paap’s off-pace 4.485. Each winner will return for Sunday’s eliminations with lane choice implications adding to the tension.

 

The Pro Nitrous field delivered one of the quickest overall first rounds of the season, featuring seven runs in the 3.60s. With Franklin and Butner set for a crucial second-round battle and Scriba already in record-setting form, the Pro Nitrous storm shows no signs of calming before championship Sunday.

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3 – TUTTEROW IN THE DRIVER’S SEAT – Ty Tutterow maintained his advantage in the WS Construction Pro Boost presented by P2 Contracting and Ty-Drive championship race after advancing from the opening round at the PDRA World Finals. Entering the weekend with a three-round lead over Melanie Salemi, both drivers kept their title hopes alive with strong qualifying efforts and first-round victories.

 

Tutterow, driving Justin Smith’s screw-blown Quik Fuel ’69 Camaro, posted a 3.567 at 210.97 to edge out Johnny Camp’s 3.574 at 208.26. The run came off a sharp .010 reaction time, giving the son of two-time world champion Todd “King Tut” Tutterow a narrow margin of victory.

 

Salemi answered with a 3.574 at 208.62 in Eddie Whelan’s screw-blown Al-Lee Installations “Purple Reign” ’68 Firebird to eliminate Scott Lang’s 3.601 at 205.82. The pair will meet in the second round, with Tutterow holding lane choice as the championship battle intensifies.

 

Elsewhere in the first round, Randy Weatherford set the pace with a 3.556 to defeat Chuck Ulsch’s 3.626 in one of the quickest side-by-side races of the session. Jason Harris also impressed with a 3.564 over Frank Falter IV’s 3.613.

 

Kurt Steding moved on with a 3.600 over Jay Cox, who slowed to a 3.971, while Steve King’s 3.586 advanced past Joel Wensley, who failed to record a time. Ed Burnley used a 3.612 to top Cameron Hensley’s 3.599 in another tight pairing.

 

John Doc closed out the round by running a 3.671 to take down Jason Lee, who went red by .079 seconds. With just two rounds separating Tutterow and Salemi in points, Sunday’s head-to-head meeting will go a long way toward determining who takes home the 2025 Pro Boost world title.

 

4 – DRINKWATER SEALS THE DEAL – Alan Drinkwater locked up his second consecutive AED Competition Extreme Pro Stock presented by Sonny’s Racing Engines world championship as soon as he qualified his Kaase-powered Flatout Gaskets ’08 Mustang at the PDRA World Finals. The 2023 champion then reinforced his title credentials with the quickest pass of the opening round of eliminations.

 

Drinkwater ran a 4.046 at 179.11 to eliminate championship challenger Jeremy Huffman, who failed to record a time. The run earned Drinkwater lane choice for his semifinal matchup with veteran Elijah Morton.

 

Morton advanced after posting a 4.062 to defeat Dave Hughes, who slowed to a 10.271. The victory continued Morton’s late-season momentum in a class known for its parity.

 

Jordan Ensslin made a solo run of 4.051 to move into the semifinals, while Steven Boone’s 4.079 was enough to send Chris Powers home after he encountered problems and coasted to a 7.205.

5 – MELNICK GETS THE 632 RECORD – Jeff Melnick added another milestone to his Pro 632 career by chasing down the class E.T. record just weeks after clinching his second world championship in three seasons. The newly crowned champion entered the PDRA World Finals focused solely on performance after securing the title with a runner-up finish at DragWars in September.

 

Melnick led qualifying after dipping into the 4.00-second range during Friday’s second session in Alan O’Brien’s Barry Allen-powered Greenbrier Excavating & Paving ’20 Camaro. The run positioned him as the top contender for the record and set the tone for another strong weekend.

 

In the opening round of eliminations, Melnick delivered a 4.101 at 173.47 to advance past Gary Hood, who fouled on the starting line. The pass ranked among the quickest in class history and further underscored Melnick’s dominance in Pro 632 competition.

 

 

6 – 632 E1 RESULTS – First-round results: Jeff Melnick 4.101 def. Gary Hood 4.373 (-.002 red), Walter Lannigan 4.127 def. Jason Ventura 4.219, Carson Hoyle 4.121 def. Nicole Liberty 4.166, JC Beattie Jr. 4.127 def. Brian Clauss 4.147, Kyle Salminen 4.186 def. Jeff Pittman 4.130.

7 – PERRY CONTINUES TO SHINE – Carson Perry’s standout weekend in Super Street continued as he followed up his first career No. 1 qualifying effort with a dominant first-round win. Driving his nitrous-fed Greenbrier Excavating & Paving ’00 Camaro, Perry ran a 4.531 at 157.37 to advance at the PDRA World Finals.

 

Perry’s run was the quickest of the round and came against fellow rookie Brooks McMath, who clocked a 4.706 at 157.47 in the same ’76 Camaro that captured the 2023 world title with Blake Denton. The victory sends Perry into the semifinals, where he’ll meet Austin Vincent.

 

Vincent moved forward after his opponent, Frank Saffelle, left early by .115 seconds, ending his day with a red light. Perry’s consistent pace has positioned him as one of the class’s most promising newcomers heading into Sunday eliminations.

 

Meanwhile, newly crowned world champion Connor McGee fell victim to a holeshot in the opening round. Billy Taylor’s 4.89 at 153.58 held off McGee’s quicker 4.818 at 153.13, ending the champ’s bid for another event win.

8 – SUPER STREET ROUND ONE – First-round results: Carson Perry 4.531 def. Brooks McMath 4.706, Austin Vincent 7.037 def. Frank Saffelle 5.122 (-.115 red), Dan Whetstine 4.546 def. Dustin Mewborn (no time), Billy Taylor 4.890 def. Connor McGee 4.818.

9 – THE SPORTSMAN REPORT – World champions are yet to be decided in the PDRA’s sportsman classes – MagnaFuel Elite Top Sportsman presented by PAR Racing Engines, Laris Motorsports Insurance Elite Top Dragster presented by Greenbrier Excavating & Paving, MagnaFuel Top Sportsman, and Laris Motorsports Insurance Top Dragster presented by Derrick Wolfe Trucking – as well as Paragon Pro Jr. Dragster presented by Philadelphia Racing Products and Classic Graphix Top Jr. Dragster presented by Philadelphia Racing Products.

10 – SUNDAY’S SCHEDULE – Sunday eliminations will begin with Edelbrock Bracket Bash presented by COMP Cams at 10:30 a.m. followed by the Jr. Dragster and sportsman classes. Pro eliminations will continue at 1:30 p.m.

FRIDAY NOTEBOOK – RECORDS ARE FLYING ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE 2025 FINALE

1 – ALMOST A RECORD SETS THE PACE FOR PRO BOOST – It took a 3.556-second pass at 212.13 mph — just one thousandth off the class E.T. record — to lead the field in one of the quickest qualifying sessions in Pro Boost history. Danville, Virginia’s Randy Weatherford delivered the run in his Harts Charger-boosted WS Construction ’21 Camaro during the second session, improving on his earlier 3.600 at 211.33.

 

The former Pro Nitrous standout is one session away from earning his second No. 1 qualifier award of the season. Nine other drivers joined him in the 3.50-second range, underscoring the class’s depth at the PDRA World Finals.

 

“I guess there in August I was pretty hot,” Weatherford said, referring to his dominant showing at the PDRA Northern Nationals, where he debuted the new Harts Charger combination. “Hopefully this time I can go out here and just win this one right here. I’ve been testing this car, reworked some things out, got it back around. I think they’re going to have a hard time with me this weekend. If it’s warm, we can run right up there with them.”

 

Weatherford’s near-record pass continued his late-season surge after several strong performances in the back half of the year. His Camaro, tuned for maximum efficiency in the eighth mile, showed consistency and power in both qualifying rounds.

 

Steve King, winner of the World Series of Pro Mod and Yellowbullet Nationals, qualified second with a 3.565 in Gene Pilot’s screw-blown “Savage” ’19 Corvette. Two-time and reigning world champion Jason Harris followed closely in third with a 3.570 at 210.14 mph in his ProCharged Southern Diamond Company “Party Time” ’69 Camaro.

 

2 – IT’S SCRIBA AGAIN – Reigning Pro Nitrous world champion Fredy Scriba moved to the top of the qualifying sheet Friday with a pass that could rewrite the class record books. Scriba powered his Musi-equipped “Sorcerer” ’69 Camaro to a 3.600-second run at 208.62 mph, the first leg of a potential new E.T. national record.

 

The run came one night after Scriba claimed his second consecutive ProStars title, adding to his momentum entering the final race of the season. To make the record official, he’ll need to back it up with a 3.636 or quicker before the weekend concludes.

 

“I didn’t think it was going to go a 3.600 – maybe a .62 or .63,” Scriba said. “We’ll go back and look and see why it ran that fast so we can hopefully do it again. We weren’t even thinking about the record. We just wanted to run faster than everybody else. We ran decent today, so we knew we could put something in it to run harder tonight, and it did it, so we’re happy.”

 

Scriba’s lap capped a standout second qualifying session that saw several of Pro Nitrous’ biggest names trading low E.T.s. The Maryland racer, who won his first world championship at last year’s World Finals, appeared confident in both his tune-up and consistency heading into eliminations.

 

On the other side of the track, former Elite Top Sportsman contender turned Pro Nitrous rookie Tim Paap nearly matched the record himself. He clocked a 3.609 at 206.73 in his Musi-powered Paap Auto Body ’16 Corvette, missing the existing 3.608 benchmark by just one thousandth.

 

Three-time world champion and current points leader Tommy Franklin briefly held the top spot before Scriba’s final run. Franklin rebounded from a first-session shutdown to post a 3.612 at 208.75 in his Musi-powered “Jungle Rat 3.0” ’69 Camaro, securing the No. 3 position heading into the final round of qualifying.

 

The night closed with three cars within two thousandths of the existing record, setting up a potential historic battle for the official mark. As track conditions improve, Scriba’s 3.600 may only be the beginning of a record-threatening weekend in Pro Nitrous.

 

3 – REAGAN SETS PROVISIONAL RECORD – Richard Reagan put himself in the record books Friday night, posting the first leg of a new Pro Street E.T. national record to take the provisional No. 1 spot. Driving his screw-blown Reagan’s Excavating ’90 Mustang, Reagan clocked a 3.854-second run at 199.29 mph in the final pair of the second qualifying session.

 

The pass was one hundredth quicker than the existing mark set by Brian Weddle at last year’s World Finals. Reagan will need to back up the number with a 3.892 or quicker to officially claim the record before the event concludes.

 

“Man, we’ve got a hot rod,” Reagan said. “I’d like to thank Tim and Scott Kincaid. If it wasn’t for them, I couldn’t do it, letting an old fat boy from Tennessee have some fun. Thanks to my wife at home and my mom for supporting me. My daughter’s here, and I’m going to be a papa here in March, so I can’t wait for that. It’s just awesome.”

 

The performance capped off a strong week for Reagan, who finished runner-up in Thursday night’s ProStars all-star race. His consistency across both nights positioned him as one of the weekend’s top contenders in the record-tight Pro Street field.

 

The night also featured a side-by-side showdown between the two championship frontrunners, Ethan Steding and Blake Denton. Steding, the reigning world champion and current points leader, grabbed the No. 2 spot with a 3.884 at 199.97 mph in his roots-blown P2 Contracting “College Fund” ’24 Camaro.

 

Denton, running his nitrous-fed “Bonnie” Lizzy Musi tribute ’69 Camaro, was just one thousandth behind with a 3.885 at 197.16 in a near-identical matchup. Both drivers remained locked in the title fight, while Reagan’s record-level performance added another layer to an already competitive Pro Street qualifying session.

 

4 – ENSSLIN’S HOT STREAK CONTINUES – Jordan Ensslin’s late-season surge in Extreme Pro Stock kept rolling Friday night as he grabbed the provisional No. 1 qualifying position with a 4.030-second run at 178.66 mph. Driving his Allen-powered “Seabiscuit” ’09 Mustang, Ensslin continued a streak that has seen him stack victories and top qualifiers over the past month.

 

The Florida racer recently captured his first career Extreme Pro Stock win at the Thunder Valley Throwdown, followed by his first No. 1 qualifier at DragWars. He added another highlight Thursday night by winning the ProStars all-star race, setting the tone for his World Finals weekend.

 

“All I can say is I’m blessed,” Ensslin said. “The good Lord above keeps us safe and keeps us doing this. My crew, my family, everybody – I’m speechless. Yeah, we went No. 1. Did we go as fast as we wanted to? No. But the track was pretty tricky today, so I was trying to tip-toe and I knew I needed to get down the track. That 3.99 is just going to have to hold off for a little bit.”

 

Ensslin’s run kept him on top in a tight qualifying session that saw several drivers dip deep into the 4.00-second range. The performance also reinforced his growing reputation as one of the most consistent Pro Stock drivers on the PDRA circuit.

 

Alan Drinkwater, who locked up his second world championship in three years earlier in the day, qualified second with a 4.044 at 178.85 in his Kaase-powered Flatout Gaskets ’08 Mustang. His steady showing came after a dominant season that has kept him near the top of the class standings all year.

 

Veteran driver Elijah Morton rounded out the top three with a 4.049 at 179.90 in his Allen-powered Morton Brothers Motorsports ’19 Mustang. With several drivers closely grouped on the performance charts, Saturday’s final qualifying session promises to determine who carries the momentum into race day.

5 – MELNICK’S EXTRA CREDIT – Fresh off clinching his second world championship, Jeff Melnick and the Greenbrier Excavating & Paving team turned their focus toward chasing a new class E.T. national record. With Patrick Barnhill calling the shots and Barry Allen supplying the horsepower in the Greenbrier ’20 Camaro, Melnick came close with a 4.094-second run at 173.16 mph — the second-quickest in Pro 632 history.

 

The mark was just eight thousandths of a second off the record held by two-time world champion Amber Denton. It also solidified Melnick’s position as the provisional No. 1 qualifier heading into the final session of the weekend.

 

“We’re here to set the record,” said Melnick, who won his first world title in 2023. “We tried a bunch of stuff yesterday and none of it worked, but we learned we had a lot of power in what we found. I think they’re just trying to make baby steps towards that, and that was a pretty big baby step. The 4.09 felt great. We’re just happy it went down the track because yesterday we had trouble in ProStars. That’s the whole reason we’re here is to set the record. We already won the championship and we have enough trophies on the shelf. We’d rather set the record and lose than win the whole race.”

 

Melnick’s strong run came one night after the team’s struggles during ProStars competition, where traction issues hampered progress. Friday’s performance showed that their incremental approach paid off with a nearly flawless pass down the Virginia Motorsports Park eighth mile.

 

JC Beattie Jr. followed closely behind with a career-best 4.106 at 173.81 mph in his ATI Performance Products ’69 Camaro. The run also ranked among the fastest in class history, marking Beattie as a legitimate contender for the top spot.

 

Walter Lannigan, Thursday night’s ProStars winner, continued his consistent form by qualifying third with a 4.124 at 170.79 in David Cook’s Nelson-powered Copy&PrintWarehouse.com ’10 GTO. As qualifying continues, all three drivers remain within striking distance of a new Pro 632 record, adding another layer of drama to the championship weekend.

 

6 – PERRY’S MOMENTUM STILL ROLLING – Carson Perry kept his winning streak alive Friday night, earning his first career provisional No. 1 qualifier in Super Street. Coming off a breakthrough ProStars win a night earlier, the rookie posted a 4.513-second run at 157.41 mph in his nitrous-fed Greenbrier Excavating & Paving ’00 Camaro.

 

The pass was just a few thousandths quicker than reigning world champion Dan Whetstine, who ran 4.519 at 161.71 in his ProCharged “Red Velvet” ’91 Mustang. The two drivers are separated by one of the narrowest margins of the season heading into Saturday’s final session.

 

Points leader Connor McGee rounded out the top three with a 4.595 at 153.93 in his nitrous-assisted Brian’s Heating & Cooling ’90 Mustang. Perry’s steady progression over back-to-back nights continued to make him one of the standout stories of the World Finals weekend.

 
 

7 – LAFLAM CONTINUES TO BE TOP SPORTSMAN – Bryan LaFlam maintained his dominant form in Elite Top Sportsman qualifying Friday, backing up his ProStars victory with the provisional No. 1 spot at the World Finals. The points leader drove his supercharged BigStuff TPM ’67 Mustang to a 3.772-second run at 194.55 mph to lead the field after two sessions.

 

Jamie Fowler followed closely in second with a 3.784 at 199.73 in his nitrous-fed Pee Dee Fleet ’69 Camaro. Bruce Thrift secured third with a 3.806 at 192.60 in his nitrous-assisted “Color Me Gone” ’08 GTO.

 

Dan Hill narrowly missed the 16-car Elite Top Sportsman field with a 4.080 at 176.01 in his Connecticut-based ’69 Camaro. That performance, however, was enough to place him at the top of the Top Sportsman 48 field heading into Saturday’s final qualifying round.

8 – O’BRIEN SETS THE STAGE FOR CHAMPIONSHIP RUN – Alan O’Brien strengthened his hold on the Elite Top Dragster championship chase by taking the provisional No. 1 spot Friday at the World Finals. The points leader ran a 3.729-second pass at 199.73 mph in his quad-turbocharged, AMC-powered Greenbrier Excavating & Paving ’23 Race Tech dragster.

 

O’Brien’s run set the tone for a fast field as he aims to close out the season with both a title and a top qualifying effort. His performance also highlighted the versatility of his unique quad-turbo power combination.

 

The father-son duo of Kyle and Ryan Harris followed in second and third. Kyle, the reigning world champion, ran a 3.735 at 199.02 in his supercharged DFS Projects ’32 Bantam Altered, while Ryan posted a 3.738 at 195.76 in his supercharged DFS Projects ’18 Horton dragster.

 

In Top Dragster 48, North Carolina’s Angie Travis claimed the provisional No. 1 position with a 3.843 at 191.43 in her Hickory Enclosed Trailer Sales dragster. Both classes will wrap up qualifying Saturday before heading into eliminations to decide their respective season champions.

 
 

9 – SATURDAY’S PROGRAM – Jr. Dragster and sportsman qualifying will continue Saturday at 8:30 a.m. Pro classes will wrap up qualifying at 12:45 p.m. The first Night of Fire thrill show is set for 6 p.m., followed by the first round of eliminations in the pro classes. A final thrill show session will run at 9 p.m. Eliminations will continue Sunday.

THURSDAY NOTEBOOK – SCRIBA, SALEMI WIN BIG AT PDRA PROSTARS

1 – SCRIBA GRABS ANOTHER –  One year after clinching his first career Pro Nitrous world championship, Fredy Scriba captured his second straight ProStars victory Friday at Virginia Motorsports Park. Driving his Musi-powered “Sorcerer” ’69 Camaro, Scriba defeated reigning Pro 632 champion Amber Denton in the final round.

 

Denton left first but shut off early, while Scriba powered to his quickest run of the season at 3.622 seconds and 207.24 mph. Denton slowed to a 4.283 at 130.89 mph.

 

“Sometimes it’s the car, sometimes it’s the driver,” Scriba said. “I was a little tardy on the tree, but we made up for it down track. I’m just happy the car is making consistent runs right now. It’s a good start for the weekend. We’ll see how the rest of it goes. It’s pretty neat – two events in one weekend. It’s good to get a lot of laps the first day. It’s really helpful.”

 

Scriba advanced through eliminations with consistent performances. He used a holeshot to knock out recent DragWars winner and title contender Marcus Butner, who ran quicker at 3.629 but lost to Scriba’s 3.645 at 206.83 mph.

 

In the semifinals, Scriba was quicker than John Vergotz at both ends of the track. He recorded a 3.630 at 207.34 to beat Vergotz’s 3.712 at 200.41.

 

Denton, who led the standings earlier in her rookie Pro Nitrous campaign, reached the final with a string of steady passes in her Musi-powered “OG Jungle Rat” ’69 Camaro. She opened eliminations with a 3.648 at 206.73 over Brian Shrader’s 3.870 at 156.64.

 

She then faced her father, points leader and three-time world champion Tommy Franklin, in the semifinals. Denton left first and held on with a 3.635 at 206.86, defeating Franklin’s quicker 3.615 at 208.59.

 

The matchup marked a milestone for Denton’s debut season as she transitioned from Pro 632 into the higher-horsepower Pro Nitrous category. Scriba’s win added another highlight to his back-to-back championship runs.

 

2 – SALEMI’S MOMENTUM BUILDER – Pro Boost championship contender Melanie Salemi delivered a string of record-quick runs to claim the ProStars title in Eddie Whelan’s screw-blown Al-Lee Installations “Purple Reign” ’68 Firebird. All three of her passes in eliminations were faster than the current class E.T. national record of 3.555 seconds.

 

Salemi closed with a 3.547 at 210.87 mph in the final round to defeat Jason Lee, who left early on a red-light but still posted a 3.566 at 211.20. The victory served as a boost for Salemi as she chases the season points lead heading into the World Finals.

 

“Evan and Jon [Salemi] have been working tirelessly to get our program to be where it is right now,” Salemi said. “We’ve had a lot of struggles, but then we’ve also had a lot of great times at the racetrack this year. I’m going to probably say it’s been my best season so far, but like I said, there’s been trials and tribulations along the way.”

 

“To get this win tonight, obviously it’s not a full four-round race, but there were tough competitors and I don’t think anybody was ready for us to come out this evening and lay down the 3.54,” Salemi added. “I actually wasn’t even ready for it because I just focus on driving. It’s just really awesome being able to race with our family and our best friends and know that everybody has the same goal in mind and everybody puts in 100% of their effort into everything that they do.”

 

Salemi, who sits second in the standings just under three rounds behind Ty Tutterow, opened eliminations with a 3.543 at 211.73 to defeat Kurt Steding’s 3.583 at 210.24. She backed it up in the semifinals with a 3.550 at 212.39 against Joel Wensley Sr., who slowed to a 4.217.

 

Lee reached the final as an alternate entry. He advanced past two-time and reigning world champion Jason Harris in the opening round when Harris went red on a 3.604 at 209.56, while Lee posted a 3.597 at 209.07 in Eric Gustafson’s screw-blown Coast Packing Co. ’20 Camaro.

 

In the semifinals, Lee faced Steve King, who rolled the beams at the start. That gave Lee a free pass to the final, where his red-light ended his run against Salemi.

 

3 – ENSSLIN AIN’T FINISHED YET – Less than a month after collecting his first Extreme Pro Stock victory, Jordan Ensslin added another trophy by defeating 2023 world champion and current points leader Alan Drinkwater in the ProStars final. Driving his Allen-powered “Seabiscuit” ’09 Mustang, Ensslin posted a career-best 4.014 at 179.40 mph to Drinkwater’s 4.024 at 179.78.

 

“Winning ProStars is pretty special and important,” Ensslin said. “It’s a specialty race. The money is good, of course, but just being able to go rounds with our family and friends helping us, it means a lot because we put a lot of heart and soul and dedication into this whole program and to see it come to fruition is pretty astounding.”

 

Ensslin produced his best numbers of the season in each round leading up to the final. He opened with a 4.030 at 178.33 to eliminate two-time and reigning world champion Chris Powers, who shut off to a 9.924.

 

The Florida driver then used a semifinal bye run to reset his personal best again, recording a 4.017 at 179.02 to advance to the final. The momentum carried through to his quickest and fastest pass against Drinkwater.

 

Drinkwater, racing his Kaase-powered Flatout Gaskets ’08 Mustang, opened with a 4.046 at 179.02 to defeat Elijah Morton’s 4.076 at 175.68. The defending world champion moved past Jeremy Huffman in the semifinals with a 4.042 at 179.56 to Huffman’s troubled 4.082 at 164.65.

 

The win marked another step forward for Ensslin, who just weeks earlier captured his first career Extreme Pro Stock win at the Thunder Valley Throwdown. His back-to-back performances placed him firmly among the class contenders as the season heads toward its conclusion.

 

4 – TWO IN A ROW FOR GREEN – For the second straight year, Ron Green claimed the ProStars Pro Street victory, this time driving his screw-blown “Gamechanger” ’00 Firebird. Entering the race-your-way-in event as an alternate, Green left first in the final and held on with a 3.872 at 202.58 mph over Richard Reagan’s 3.852 at 199.67.

 

Reagan’s pass would have set a new class E.T. record if the ProStars were record-eligible. Green, from Chesterfield, Virginia, made the most of his alternate spot to secure back-to-back wins.

 

Green opened eliminations with a 3.896 at 203.92 to defeat Reagan’s teammate, Scott Kincaid, who posted a 3.925. In the semifinals, Green beat championship contender Blake Denton, running 3.879 at 203.22 to Denton’s 3.914 at 188.33.

 

Reagan reached the final with a strong effort in his screw-blown ’91 Mustang. He took out Joel Wensley Jr. in the first round with a 3.902 at 186.95, then advanced past points leader and reigning champion Ethan Steding with a 3.875 at 199.17 when Steding slowed to a 4.389.

 

5 – LANNIGAN IN SEVENTH HEAVEN – Walter Lannigan extended his round-win streak to seven by adding a ProStars victory in David Cook’s Nelson-powered Copy&PrintWarehouse.com ’10 GTO. In the final, Lannigan ran a 4.172 at 169.25 after opponent Kyle Salminen fouled with a .009 red light on a quicker 4.158 at 176.70.

 

Lannigan started with a come-from-behind win over Gary Hood, using a 4.129 at 170.67 to drive around Hood’s early advantage and 4.412 at 160.40. He then knocked out two-time world champion Jeff Melnick in the semifinals with a 4.131 at 170.17 while Melnick slowed to an 8.797.

 

Salminen opened eliminations with a 4.166 at 166.58 when opponent Nicole Liberty was unable to run. In the semifinals, he advanced past Jason Ventura, who left first but lost despite a 4.198 as Salminen drove around with a 4.15 at 164.99 in his Musi-powered ’03 Cavalier.

 

6 – PERRY GETS HIS FIRST – Carson Perry earned his first Super Street victory by defeating Matt Schalow in a final that guaranteed a first-time winner. Schalow was quicker off the line, but Perry powered to a career-best 4.503 at 157.58 mph in his Greenbrier Excavating & Paving ’00 Camaro as Schalow slowed to a 5.078 at 104.58.

 

Perry began his run to the trophy with a first-round win over defending event winner and reigning world champion Dan Whetstine. Both drivers left together, but Perry pulled ahead with a 4.507 at 157.69 to Whetstine’s 4.576 at 160.08.

 

In the semifinals, Perry advanced with a bye run. He clicked off early, coasting to a 4.911 at 113.38 to set up his final-round appearance.

 

Schalow reached the final in his Knieriem-powered ’69 Camaro after taking a free pass in the first round. He rolled to a 9.230 at 67.89 to move on.

 

In the semifinals, Schalow matched points leader Connor McGee’s .048 reaction time. He held on for the win with a 4.622 at 155.76, while McGee followed closely with a 4.631 at 150.95.

 

Perry’s victory capped off a career night that saw him post his quickest numbers of the season. The rookie joined the list of new winners in the Super Street category.

 

7 – SHAZAAM! IT’S LAFLAM- Elite Top Sportsman points leader Bryan LaFlam opened his World Finals weekend with a ProStars victory in a non-points race. Driving his supercharged BigStuff TPM ’67 Mustang, LaFlam defeated fellow title contender Tim Lawrence in the final round.

 

LaFlam left the line first and won with a 3.734 on a 3.71 dial-in. Lawrence, in his nitrous-fed Bell Trucking ’13 Camaro, followed with a 3.91 on a 3.89 dial-in.

 

The win added to LaFlam’s season résumé, which already includes one national event victory. His performance also gave him a boost of momentum entering the championship-deciding World Finals.

 

In the Top Sportsman 32final, Dinwiddie native Mark Reese claimed the trophy in a double-red-light outcome. His opponent, Ronnie Proctor, rolled through the beams and coasted to the finish.

 

Reese left .006 seconds too soon but still advanced with a 4.212 on a 4.18 dial-in in his ’08 Mustang. The result kept the Top Sportsman ProStars hardware in town.

8 – HARRIS WINS TOP DRAGSTER – Kyle Harris, the defending Elite Top Dragster world champion and current points leader, scored a ProStars victory over two-time champion Steve Furr in a tight final-round matchup. Harris, driving his supercharged DFS Projects ’32 Bantam Altered, cut a .002 reaction time to Furr’s .004 and ran a 3.74 on a 3.73 dial-in for the win.

 

Furr, in his ProCharged ’13 American dragster, broke out by .001 with a 3.739 on a 3.74 dial-in. The margin ended his bid to reclaim ProStars honors against the reigning champion.

 

The matchup featured the two most recent world champions in the category. Harris added another victory to his resume while reinforcing his hold on the points lead.

 

In the Top Dragster 32 ranks, Virginia driver Troy Williams narrowly missed a home track win. Williams went red by .006 in his ’15 Miller dragster before clocking a 4.476 on a 4.46 dial-in.

 

That mistake allowed Pennsylvania’s Dave Petrofske to advance for the victory. He coasted to the finish in his ’21 Precision dragster with a 10.400 on a 4.18 dial-in.

 

9 – NEXT-GEN REPRESENTED – The Jr. Dragster ranks were on full display at ProStars as Sofie Cooper and Knox Schween claimed class victories. Cooper won in Paragon Pro Jr. Dragster presented by Philadelphia Racing Products, while Schween took the Classic Graphix Top Jr. Dragster presented by Philadelphia Racing Products final.

 

Cooper, who closed the 2024 season with a World Finals win, added another Virginia accolade to her resume. She left first in the final and posted a 7.902 on the 7.90 index to defeat points leader Alyssa Rabon, who broke out with a 7.899.

 

The victory gave Cooper another milestone as she continued to establish herself in the Jr. Dragster ranks. Rabon, despite the loss, maintained her position as the class points leader entering the final stretch of the season.

 

In Top Jr. Dragster, Schween reinforced his hold on the standings with a sharp reaction time and consistent pass. He cut a .001 light and ran 8.916 on his 8.90 dial-in to edge Braydon Crayton’s 8.951 on an 8.95 dial-in.

 

Schween enters the World Finals as the points leader with three wins already in hand. His performance at ProStars showed he remains the driver to beat in the category.

 

10 – THE REST OF THE PLAN – The Red Line Oil PDRA Drag Racing Series will roll into Brian Olson Memorial World Finals qualifying on Friday morning starting with Jr. Dragster and sportsman classes at 8:30 a.m. Pro sessions are set for noon and 5:45 p.m.

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