EVENT PHOTO GALLERY 

The third annual Summit Racing Equipment PDRA ProStars race was forced to end prematurely on Saturday night at Virginia Motorsports Park due to a timing system malfunction during the Top Fuel final round. The malfunction prevented the completion of the remaining final rounds. As a result, the finalists in all PDRA classes split the winner-take-all payouts, and they will have the opportunity to compete for the event trophy at the next PDRA race set to take place from August 3-5.

Tyler Crossnoe, PDRA series director and vice president of Virginia Motorsports Park, expressed disappointment over the timing system failure.

"An unfortunate series of events caused a catastrophic timing system failure that could not be repaired in time to complete the final rounds," Crossnoe said. "We exhausted every available resource and potential solutions in an effort to repair the system so we could wrap up what was an incredible show for the fans all day long, as well as crown ProStars champions."

Despite the unexpected turn of events, Crossnoe expressed gratitude towards the fans and racers for their support and participation. He emphasized that all the finalists were compensated and will have the opportunity to compete for the trophies and bragging rights at the upcoming PDRA Northern Nationals presented by Talbert Manufacturing in Martin, Michigan, in two weeks.

The PDRA ProStars race was part of Virginia Motorsports Park's Night of Fire event, which featured not only drag racing but also country music concerts by Walker Montgomery and Chase Matthew. On-track, spectators witnessed various  events, including a four-car Top Fuel match race, an eight-car Top Alcohol Dragster Shootout presented by The Empowerment Alliance, two Nostalgia Funny Cars, two Jet Dragsters, a wheelstander, and the Super 64 Shootout.

In the Top Fuel competition, Larry Dixon Jr., a multi-time world champion, prevailed against Scott Palmer to claim victory. The event also saw the participation of Top Fuel newcomers Jacob McNeal and Artie Allen.

Rookie Sarah Allen, racing in her A/Fuel dragster based in Florida, advanced to the final round of the Top Alcohol Dragster Shootout. She faced off against No. 1 qualifier Dan Dietrich in his supercharged, methanol-burning dragster. The final round was scheduled to determine the recipient of a $10,000 prize and the PDRA "660 Man" trophy, marking the first time a non-PDRA-sanctioned class competed for the prestigious award.

Additionally, the competition witnessed intense battles in other classes. Tommy Franklin of Virginia, powering his Musi-fueled "Jungle Rat" '69 Camaro, faced off against Ed Burnley in his Musi-powered "Iron Man" '69 Camaro in the $15,000-to-win Switzer Dynamics Pro Nitrous category final.

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In the WS Construction Pro Boost final round, Preston Tanner, driving his screw-blown Strange Engineering Corvette, was scheduled to compete against Travis "The Carolina Kid" Harvey and his ProCharged GALOT Motorsports '69 Camaro for the $15,000 prize presented by P2 Contracting and Ty-Drive.

The Liberty's Gears Extreme Pro Stock category was set for a showdown Steven Boone in his Allen-powered Boone Motorsports '07 Cobalt and Dave Hughes in his Kaase-powered HRE '18 Camaro, both vying for the $10,000 prize.

The highly anticipated final round in the M&M Transmission Pro 632 class was expected to feature a rematch between reigning world champion Amber Franklin in her Musi-powered "OG Jungle Rat" '69 Camaro and two-time winner Jeff Melnick driving Alan O'Brien's Barry Allen-powered Greenbrier Paving & Excavating '20 Camaro for a chance to claim victory and a $7,500 payout.

Bill Lutz achieved lowest elapsed time of the event in the first round of the Menscer Motorsports Pro Street competition with his screw-blown '68 Camaro. He was set to face points leader Bill Riddle, driving his roots-blown Corrigan Race Fuels '89 Camaro, in the final round.

The Afco Super Street competition, which participated in the ProStars festivities for the first time, witnessed Blake Denton, the current points leader, progressing to the final round with his nitrous-fed '76 Camaro. He was scheduled to compete against Wes Ervin and his nitrous-assisted '88 S10 for victory.

The sportsman classes whittled down to Henry Underwood and Tim Lawrence competing in the MagnaFuel Elite Top Sportsman category presented by PAR Racing Engines. Alan O'Brien and Tom Martino faced off in the Laris Motorsports Insurance Elite Top Dragster class, while Mark Payne and Al Davidowski took on the MagnaFuel Top Sportsman category presented by Corbin's RV. Lastly, Dickie Smith and Nick Meloni competed in the Laris Motorsports Insurance Top Dragster category.

The Jr. Dragster class finalists were Chris Suppers and Brayden Davis in Coolshirt Systems Pro Jr. Dragster presented by PRP and Gavin Wood and Rowan Parlett in Classic Graphix Top Jr. Dragster presented by PRP. 

The chase for 2024 ProStars points will kick off at the next race on the PDRA’s 10th season tour, the Northern Nationals presented by Talbert Manufacturing, August 3-5, at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park in Martin, Michigan.