Photos by Chris Simmons, Steve Embling
The season opener of the IHRA Outlaw Nitro Series didn’t lack for storylines. Whether it was a seasoned veteran finding his groove or a first-time winner in Top Fuel, the track formerly known as Galot Motorsports Park delivered a weekend rich in defining moments.
Dale Creasy Jr. provided the most inspirational narrative by capturing the Funny Car title. Joining him in the winner’s circle were Gary Pritchett (Top Fuel), Peter Norton (Pro Modified) and Johnny Pluchino (Mountain Motor Pro Stock).
For Creasy, the victory represented the culmination of years spent rebuilding both confidence and performance. His return to the top of the standings marked his first points lead in nearly two decades.
“Well, ’06 and ’07, we did pretty good,” Creasy said. “We led the points at the end of the season when it counted, but it’s been a struggle last year or two.”
The veteran credited perseverance following a serious crash in Dallas that forced him to reevaluate his future. He acknowledged the mental toll associated with regaining competitive rhythm.
“After the crash in Dallas, been struggling, questioned what I was doing and just kept pushing,” Creasy said. “By the end of last year, we started getting it back.”
Creasy entered eliminations as the No. 5 qualifier and gained momentum through each round. His semifinal victory over Del Worsham became one of the defining moments of the weekend.
“If you want to be the best, you have to beat the best,” Creasy said. “And right now he’s the best one out here.”
The victory ultimately came when Terry Haddock could not return for the final round. The result marked Creasy’s tenth career IHRA Funny Car win and elevated him to fifth on the sanctioning body’s all-time list.
For Creasy, the opening win carried significance beyond statistics. It reaffirmed the enduring value of perseverance in a sport where success is rarely linear.
“I mean, winning the race is just the coolest thing in the world,” Creasy said.
Gary Pritchett’s first IHRA Top Fuel victory delivered another major storyline of the opener. The rookie driver’s performance combined personal tribute with competitive validation.
Pritchett, godson of the late Carol “Bunny” Burkett, honored the legacy of the IHRA’s first female professional world champion. The emotional connection was evident throughout the winner’s circle celebration.
“And we did it with TF 296 on the car,” Pritchett said.
The win also validated team owner Doug Foley’s decision to step aside and entrust Pritchett with driving duties. Pritchett entered eliminations as the No. 2 qualifier and posted race day low elapsed time with a 3.069-second pass.
“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 ended abruptly when Salinas lost traction at the hit. Pritchett capitalized with a controlled 3.08-second run to secure the victory.
“It’s a very competitive field out here,” Pritchett said. “A lot of good drivers.”
Peter Norton carried offseason momentum into IHRA competition by capturing the Pro Modified title. The victory followed his Drag Illustrated Winter Series championship and reinforced his status as an early title contender.
Norton entered eliminations as the No. 6 qualifier and advanced with wins over Craig Sullivan, Randy Weatherford and John “Doc.” He defeated No. 1 qualifier Jason Harris in the final.
“We just have the best team,” Norton said. “Everybody works well together.”
Harris reached the final with victories over Kye Kelley and Jay Cox. The result highlighted the depth of competition within the Pro Modified category.
“I don’t know what to say,” Norton said. “It’s awesome.”
Johnny Pluchino delivered an early statement in Mountain Motor Pro Stock by securing the division title. The victory came in a 23-car field regarded as one of the most competitive in recent IHRA history.
Pluchino entered eliminations as the No. 2 qualifier and defeated Jordan Ensslin by a .016-second margin in the final. The narrow victory underscored the precision required to succeed in the expanding class.
“It feels excellent,” Pluchino said. “We put some work in this off season.”
Ensslin advanced to the championship round by defeating John Montecalvo, Elijah Morton and Jeremy Huffman. Pluchino reached the final with victories over Dwayne Rice, Jason Grima and Jerry Tucker.
“We knew how tough it was going to be,” Pluchino said. “You get out of it what you put in.”
Other professional winners included Cam Hensley (Outlaw Pro Mod), Cody Austin (Fuel Altered), Ryan Peery (Top Fuel Harley), Rich McPhillips (Top Alcohol Dragster), Bruce Mullins (Top Alcohol Funny Car) and Tony Scott (Factory Pro Stock). NHRA Pro Stock national event winner Cory Reed captured the IHRA Bratz division title.
The IHRA Outlaw Nitro Series resumes in two weeks at the former Virginia Motorsports Park outside Richmond, Va.
