Marcus Butner clinched his first career world championship and third event win of the season in Switzer Dynamics Pro Nitrous, capping a dramatic finish to the Red Line Oil PDRA Drag Racing Series. The Pro Line Racing Brian Olson Memorial World Finals presented by ProCharger wrapped up Sunday at Virginia Motorsports Park.
Butner and final-round opponent Buddy Perkinson left the starting line with identical .009-second reaction times, but Butner’s 3.647-second run at 207.53 mph edged Perkinson’s 3.660 at 205.91. The victory marked Butner’s fourth career win and his first world title.
Jason Harris (Pro Boost), Ethan Steding (Pro Street), and Alan Drinkwater (Extreme Pro Stock) all picked up wins in the series season finale. Rookie drivers Carson Hoyle (Pro 632) and Carson Perry (Super Street) also earned their first career professional victories to close out the 2025 season.
The weekend’s action included tight championship battles, broken records, and multiple title clinches across pro, sportsman, and Jr. Dragster categories. Butner’s Pro Nitrous triumph provided one of the most dramatic finishes of the season.
After winning the penultimate event at GALOT Motorsports Park, Butner entered Virginia within striking distance of three-time champion Tommy Franklin. With tuner Jay Cox calling the shots, the “Heartbreaker” Camaro carried Butner through a strong weekend that included a critical second-round win over Franklin.
“We trusted all to God this weekend,” Butner said. “It took every single person, every single minute of the year to get to where we are.”
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Butner’s 3.603 at 209.98 mph in round one broke the late Lizzy Musi’s Pro Nitrous speed record from 2018. He then edged Franklin with a 3.671 to 3.681 before defeating Cam Clark and Perkinson to seal the championship. Perkinson, appearing in his first Pro Nitrous final, advanced after wins over Tim Molnar, Fredy Scriba, and Billy Albert.
Two-time defending Pro Boost champion Jason Harris closed out his season with his third consecutive World Finals victory in his ProCharger-boosted “Party Time” Camaro. Newly crowned world champion Ty Tutterow went red by .041 seconds in the final, giving Harris the win with a 3.586 at 209.20 mph.
“It seems like I’ve got the World Finals down pat,” Harris said. “We were borrowing stuff from Randy Weatherford and Scott Lang just trying our best.”
Harris reached the final after defeating Frank Falter IV, teammate John Doc, and Kurt Steding. Tutterow, who locked up the title earlier in the day, reached the last round by taking out Johnny Camp, Melanie Salemi, and Randy Weatherford.
Ethan Steding capped his second straight Pro Street championship with a victory over No. 1 qualifier Richard Reagan. Steding’s “College Fund” Camaro left first and stayed in front with a 3.925 at 196.79 mph to Reagan’s 3.920.
“This is real rewarding,” Steding said. “I think I was about 400 points out at one point, but we fought hard and kept taking it.”
Steding advanced through eliminations with wins over John Carinci, Bill Riddle, and title contender Blake Denton. Reagan, who set a new class E.T. national record in qualifying, reached the final with victories over Joel Wensley Jr., Marty Merillat, and Fletcher Cox.
Two-time Extreme Pro Stock champion Alan Drinkwater capped off his 2025 title run with a final-round win over Jordan Ensslin. Driving his Kaase-powered Flatout Gaskets Mustang, Drinkwater posted a 4.077 at 177.98 mph to Ensslin’s 4.079.
“This kind of puts a seal of approval on everything,” Drinkwater said. “All weekend I’ve been super comfortable in the car.”
Drinkwater advanced with a bye in the opening round and a 4.080 over Elijah Morton in the semifinals. Ensslin, who won the ProStars event earlier in the weekend, reached the final by defeating 2018 champion Steven Boone.
Rookie driver Carson Hoyle scored his first professional-class victory, defeating Kyle Salminen in Pro 632 with a 4.147 at 170.43 mph. The former Jr. Dragster standout said the season-long learning curve made the win even more meaningful.
“We’ve made great progression all season,” Hoyle said. “To cap it off like this and go into next year with a win, it’s amazing.”
Hoyle’s march to the final included wins over Nicole Liberty, Walter Lannigan, and Jeff Melnick. Salminen advanced to the final with victories over Jeff Pittman, Brian Clauss, and a semifinal bye.
Super Street rookie Carson Perry completed a storybook weekend, backing up his ProStars all-star victory with his first career national event win. Perry’s AMC-powered Greenbrier Excavating & Paving Camaro ran a 4.595 at 156.57 after Dan Whetstine went red at the start.
“Well, to win ProStars was special because we’ve kind of been struggling all year,” Perry said. “To finally get it together and win both, you can’t ask for a better weekend.”
Perry reached the final with wins over Brooks McMath and Austin Vincent, while Whetstine advanced past Dustin Mewborn and Billy Taylor before the red-light start in the final.
In sportsman competition, Ron Whitlock (Elite Top Sportsman), Linzie Coleman (Elite Top Dragster), Jeff Melnick (Top Sportsman), and Will Creasman (Top Dragster) earned event wins. Season championships went to Bryan LaFlam (Elite Top Sportsman), Alan O’Brien (Elite Top Dragster), Jeff Talvacchio (Top Sportsman), and Clayton Roberts (Top Dragster).
In Jr. Dragster competition, Makenzie Alexander and Kylie Varnier picked up World Finals wins, while Alexander and Knox Schween clinched season titles.
The Red Line Oil PDRA Drag Racing Series will honor its 2025 world champions at the PDRA Championship Awards Banquet on Dec. 12 during the PRI Show weekend in Indianapolis.
