Gary Pritchett didn’t need a reminder what Saturday night meant. The moment carried weight long before the win light confirmed his first IHRA Top Fuel victory at the IHRA Outlaw Nitro Series season opener at Durana Motorsports Park in Dunn, N.C.
Pritchett, godson of the late Carol “Bunny” Burkett, delivered a performance that connected generations of IHRA history. Burkett became the sanctioning body’s first female professional world champion in 1986, a milestone that continues to resonate across nitro racing.
He made sure her presence was felt in the winner’s circle.
“And we did it with TF 296 on the car,” Pritchett said.
Members of the Burkett family stood alongside Pritchett as he secured the breakthrough win in Doug Foley’s Alloy Employer Services, United Garage Door Company, and Authority Garage Supply-sponsored Top Fuel dragster. The result blended tribute with validation for a driver who entered the season facing both opportunity and expectation.
“We got Mo Burkett here with us,” Pritchett said. “We got Julie Burkett, the whole family.”
Earlier this year, Foley stepped away from driving duties and named Pritchett as the team’s new Top Fuel pilot. The decision signaled a shift toward long-term competitiveness and entrusted a rookie with the responsibility of carrying the program forward.
Pritchett entered eliminations as the No. 2 qualifier, reflecting the dragster’s potential throughout qualifying. His opening-round 3.069-second pass stood as race day low elapsed time and established early momentum.
He advanced through the ladder with victories over Chuck Loftin and Lee Calloway. Each round reinforced the importance of consistency in a field where experience remains a defining advantage.
“I just knew that we needed to go A to B every run and just be consistent on the tree,” Pritchett said.
The final round against No. 1 qualifier Jasmine Salinas unfolded with sudden drama. Salinas’ dragster lost traction at the hit, allowing Pritchett to complete a controlled 3.08-second pass to secure the victory.
“I figured Jasmine and Adam and that team were going to throw down in the final,” Pritchett said. “Unfortunately they smoked the tires.”
The win established Pritchett as a new factor in the revitalized IHRA Top Fuel category. It also underscored the depth of competition emerging as the series rebuilds its identity.
“It’s a very competitive field out here,” Pritchett said. “A lot of good drivers.”
Eighth-mile nitro racing presented a distinct learning curve for the rookie driver. Pritchett described the format as demanding rapid execution from both driver and crew.
“Oh, eighth mile is a whole different experience,” Pritchett said. “It’s a shorter distance and you got to get there quicker.”
The physical toll became evident during deceleration. Pritchett said the abrupt shift from acceleration to parachute deployment created forces that tested both conditioning and concentration.
“Yeah, it’ll knock the wind out of you,” Pritchett said. “You’re going from a three and a half G to a negative 3G.”
Mechanical setbacks during the weekend added another layer of difficulty. Pritchett noted damage to key components, underscoring the unforgiving nature of Top Fuel competition.
“It broke our wheelie bar and broke our skid blocks from under the car,” Pritchett said.
For Pritchett, the win was about more than turning on a win light. It was about proving he belonged in a car that represented both opportunity and expectation.
Saturday night’s result didn’t rewrite his career. It simply confirmed that the next chapter had begun.
In Top Fuel, moments like that are rare. Pritchett made sure this one counted.
