Super Bowl champion Fletcher Cox claimed his first career victory in Liberty’s Gears Pro Street on Thursday night, closing out the rain-delayed PDRA Thunder Valley Throwdown at GALOT Motorsports Park. The former Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle defeated reigning world champion Ethan Steding in the final round to secure his first PDRA 660 Man trophy.
The eliminations were originally scheduled at Bristol Dragway in late August but were postponed by rain and completed during ProFab DragWars, the seventh of eight events in the Red Line Oil PDRA Drag Racing Series. Cox was joined in the winner’s circle by Tommy Franklin (Pro Nitrous), Ty Tutterow (Pro Boost), Jordan Ensslin (Extreme Pro Stock), Jeff Melnick (Pro 632) and Connor McGee (Super Street).
Victories in the sportsman categories went to Tim Lawrence (Elite Top Sportsman), Larry Roberts (Elite Top Dragster), Nick Meloni (Top Sportsman) and Justin Kirk (Top Dragster). Ashton Halas and Knox Schween picked up Junior Dragster wins.
Cox, driving his nitrous-assisted “Training Day” ’69 Camaro, marched through eliminations with consistent 3.90-second passes. He closed the semifinal with a 3.908 at 186.61 mph before posting a 3.898 at 187.50 in the final. Steding slowed to a 4.498 at 122.44 after lifting early.
“Man, it’s almost like your first sack in the NFL, honestly,” Cox said. “You only get one of those first ones, and that was the same as tonight. I got the first win, and this is a double race. The focus is now to celebrate with the team tonight.”
Cox credited his crew and sponsors for the achievement. “I put together a freaking badass team and these guys worked their tails off and I can’t thank them enough,” he said.
Three-time world champion Tommy Franklin delivered his first win of the season in Switzer Dynamics Pro Nitrous, running a string of 3.62-second passes. His 3.626 at 207.08 defeated Tim Molnar’s 3.681 in the final, giving Franklin the points lead over his daughter, Amber Denton.
“Honestly, it is bittersweet,” Franklin said. “She’s having a heck of a season and it’s not over. We’ve got two races left and I know she’s going to be tough.”
In Pro Boost, Ty Tutterow raced past Melanie Salemi in a side-by-side 3.50s final. Tutterow’s 3.58 at 209.52 held off Salemi’s 3.588 at 206.92.
“We’ve got a really good group of guys assembled. We’re running good. The car’s doing good,” Tutterow said. “It’s going to take some really consistent runs to win again on Saturday.”
Florida’s Jordan Ensslin earned his first Extreme Pro Stock win, defeating Elijah Morton after beating 2023 champion Alan Drinkwater in the semifinals. Jeff Melnick extended his Pro 632 points lead with a holeshot victory over teammate Jeff Pittman, marking his third straight win.
In Super Street, Connor McGee continued his title push with his third win in four races, running 4.556 to beat Austin Vincent in the final.
Tim Lawrence captured the Elite Top Sportsman trophy when Dwayne Gallogly fouled in the final. Larry Roberts outpaced Josh Duggins to win Elite Top Dragster. Meloni and Kirk closed out Bristol’s Top Sportsman and Top Dragster titles, respectively.
Halas and Schween took home Junior Dragster honors, with Schween earning his third win of his rookie season.
