Four-time and reigning Switzer Dynamics Pro Nitrous world champion Jim Halsey is starting his championship defense season with a win as he raced to victory Sunday night at the Professional Drag Racers Association (PDRA) Summit Racing Equipment East Coast Nationals presented by FuelTech at GALOT Motorsports Park. Halsey defeated fellow multi-time world champion Tommy Franklin in the final round, claiming his third East Coast Nationals victory. 
 
The East Coast Nationals, the first race of the PDRA’s 10th season, was pushed into Sunday when rain and wind forced officials to postpone Saturday eliminations. 
 
Halsey was joined in the winner’s circle by additional pro class winners Melanie Salemi in WS Construction Pro Boost presented by P2 Contracting and Ty-Drive, Dwayne Rice in Liberty’s Gears Extreme Pro Stock presented by AED Competition, Jeff Melnick in M&M Transmission Pro 632, Brayden Davis in Drag 965 Pro Nitrous Motorcycle, and Tim Essick in Menscer Motorsports Pro Street presented by Afco. 

 
Winners in the sportsman classes are Henry Underwood in MagnaFuel Elite Top Sportsman presented by PAR Racing Engines, Steve Furr in Laris Motorsports Insurance Elite Top Dragster, Zach Houser in MagnaFuel Top Sportsman presented by Corbin’s RV, and Justin Fordyce in Laris Motorsports Insurance Top Dragster. Michael Morton picked up the win in Edelbrock Bracket Bash presented by COMP Cams, defeating Richard Payne in the final round. 
 
The PDRA East Coast Nationals also included the Jr. Dragster classes. In Coolshirt Systems Pro Jr. Dragster presented by PRP, past world champion and No. 1 qualifier Brayden Davis defeated Danika Miles in the final round just moments after winning in his Pro Nitrous Motorcycle debut. Davis used a .001 reaction time and a 7.962 to beat Miles’ 7.944, both on the 7.90 index. McKenzee Hogan was victorious in Classic Graphix Top Jr. Dragster presented by PRP, cutting a .037 reaction time and running 8.912 on an 8.90 dial-in to beat Wyatt Stanley and his 9.147 on a 9.10 dial-in. 

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