The Professional Drag Racers Association (PDRA) is set to roll into Maryland International Raceway from June 15-17 for the fourth of eight points races on the 2023 schedule. Along with racing for championship points and event victories, drivers will also be earning points to lock in the final spots for the race-your-way-in ProStars field.

Tyler Crossnoe, Series Director for PDRA, noted the significance of this weekend's event, stating, “For the last three races of the 2022 season and the first three races of this season, our racers have been racking up ProStars points. That nearly year-long points chase will come to a close this weekend. While some spots have already been locked in, there are many more still up for grabs. Racers can earn points through participation and standout performances in qualifying and eliminations. These racers are already hyper-competitive, but this will just ramp up the competition level this weekend.”

Ex-pat New Zealander Morice McMillin claimed Top Fuel Funny Car honors at the Gulf Western Oil Winternationals at Willowbank Raceway June 8-11.

The premier event on the domestic calendar raced under the traditional eight-car elimination format and quarter-mile race distance, except for TFFC, which ran under the all-in three-round format. 

 In today’s world, such a decision would be unacceptable. For Shirley Muldowney, it was just another roadblock she faced en route to becoming an iconic drag racer who just happened to be a female. 

The first national event Muldowney ever attended as an aspiring drag racer was the 1965 NHRA Springnationals, then hosted by Thunder Valley Dragway, now renamed Bristol Dragway. It was also the first time she was told she couldn’t race because she was female. 

“That was the old regime back in 1965, and they wouldn’t accept me,” Muldowney said. “I wasn’t pre-entered, but there was room for more cars, I just wasn’t one of the ones they picked. Needless to say, I went home very unhappy.”

John Force’s crew might be lobbying for hazard pay. Or the next time the 16-time NHRA Funny Car champion decides he wants to ride in the rig from race to race, they might pool their paychecks and buy the boss a plane ticket.

Daughter Brittany already had a ticket to fly into Bristol’s Tri-Cities airport, and when Force did his searching for a ticket, the only option available was a $1,500 first-class seat. 

“I wasn’t going to pay that,” Force said. “I won’t fly first class unless it’s a free upgrade.”

Competition Plus’ Water-Cooler Topics From The NHRA's Thunder Valley Nationals in Bristol, Tenn.

1. The Three-Ring Circus Was A Hit - The Thunder Valley Nationals had to share its thunder with the New England Nationals, combining the rained-out Epping, N.H., event with the regularly scheduled one at Bristol, Tenn.

Kudos to the NHRA for pulling off the three-ring circus at Bristol Dragway, as the Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge/NHRA Challenges were added to the show. But Mother Nature deserves another huge “Boo!” for Sunday’s early rain delay during eliminations.

Under the Bristol Big Top (or is it “Rocky Top”?), here were some of the more entertaining acts:

Justin Ashley wins his third and fourth Top Fuel events this year, as well as the Mission Foods Challenge for the third time.

Winning a race is challenging enough, but winning three in the same weekend means you are on a whole 'nother level, as they say in eastern Tennessee.

In case anyone hasn't noticed, Justin Ashley is on a whole 'nother level. 

In one fell swoop, the Phillips Connect driver successfully defended his NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals title by beating tech teammate Antron Brown. He added a #2Fast2Tasty Shootout title and the rain-delayed New England Nationals crown for good measure.

It's hard to not be sentimental about a place where you have more professional wins than any other drag racer.
 
On Sunday afternoon, Ron Capps surpassed Tony Schumacher as the winningest driver at Bristol Dragway during the sanest day at the double-event NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals, the seventh stop on the 2023 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series. Despite a two-hour rain delay, Capps found his groove all day, stopping Alexis DeJoria in the final round to pick up his seventh win at the picturesque racing facility carved out of the mountains of east Tennessee. 

Reports of Erica Enders’ demise were greatly exaggerated.

After the first six races of the season, Enders had a 2-6 elimination round record and was 14th in the points standings.

Those aren’t normal numbers for the five-time and reigning Pro Stock world champion.

Gaige Herrera was unstoppable to start the 2023 NHRA season.

He won the first three races of the season from the No. 1 qualifying spot on his Suzuki and seemed on the verge of making it four in a row at the Thunder Valley Nationals in Bristol, Tenn.

But that 1.000 batting average went out the window Sunday. Herrera, in his first season riding for powerhouse Vance & Hines, saw the streak come to an end when he had a redlight start against veteran Steve Johnson in the finals.

Johnson wasn’t complaining. Johnson, who also is aboard a Suzuki, cruised to the finish line in 7.174 seconds at 158.63 mph.