Once is usually a coincidence. Could the second time be a part of a trend?

For the second time in as many events, the PDRA will partner with Nitro for its drag racing presentation. In Virginia Motorsports Park, Larry Dixon Jr. won the Virginia Motorsports Park Summit ProStars event, stopping blue-collar Top Fuel icon Scott Palmer.

Dixon will again participate in a nitro show which includes Spencer Massey, Krista Baldwin, and Gary Pritchett driving the Lagana Brothers dragster.

The doorslammers will also be represented as well.

The Professional Drag Racers Association (PDRA) returns to Michigan's U.S. 131 Motorsports Park in an exciting comeback since 2018. This time, the series will be a prominent part of the Northern Nationals, one of the track's most significant events of the season, scheduled to take place from August 3-5. Talbert Manufacturing will present the PDRA portion of the event, which boasts a stacked lineup of professional, sportsman, and Jr. Dragster categories. Spectators can also to see modern-day Top Fuel dragsters, nostalgia front-engine Top Fuel dragsters, Outlaw Nostalgia Nitro Funny Cars, jet dragsters, a jet truck, a wheelstander, and more.

Tyler Crossnoe, the series director of PDRA, expressed excitement about returning to U.S. 131 Motorsports Park, particularly for the Northern Nationals. 

"This race has built a reputation as one of the best shows in drag racing, and we're thrilled to have the opportunity to be a part of that. Our drivers and teams are ready to put on a show for the Michigan fans who haven't seen us in a few years and the fans who might be seeing PDRA live for the first time."

The Northern Nationals, presented by Talbert Manufacturing, marks the beginning of the second half of PDRA's 10th season. After the Martin event, teams will have just three races remaining to earn points toward the 2023 PDRA world championship.

 

"We've seen some incredible racing so far," Crossnoe noted, reflecting on the thrilling season thus far. "From the quickest fields in series history to side-by-side racing and unpredictable results, it's been a thrilling season already. It's going to be fun to see how the rest of the season unfolds."
In addition to the PDRA races, the event will include the final rounds of the third annual Summit Racing Equipment PDRA ProStars race during qualifying. Unfortunately, a timing system failure at Virginia Motorsports Park's Night of Fire on July 22 prevented the completion of the final rounds. However, the ProStars finals will take place at the Northern Nationals and feature top racers in various categories.

Among the ProStars sportsman finalists are Henry Underwood and Tim Lawrence in MagnaFuel Elite Top Sportsman presented by PAR Racing Engines, Alan O'Brien and Tom Martino in Laris Motorsports Insurance Elite Top Dragster, Mark Payne and Al Davidowski in MagnaFuel Top Sportsman presented by Corbin's RV, and Dickie Smith and Nick Meloni in Laris Motorsports Insurance Top Dragster.

In the Jr. Dragster categories, the ProStars finalists are 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.

Current points leaders are emerging in each category. Notably, four-time and defending Pro Nitrous world champion Jim Halsey holds a commanding lead in his Fulton-powered "Daddy Shark" '68 Camaro after securing two wins in the season's first four races. Following closely in second place is two-time world champion Tommy Franklin with one victory in his Musi-powered "Jungle Rat" '69 Camaro. Meanwhile, past world champion "Tricky" Rickie Smith is positioned third, eager to secure his first win of the season in his Musi-powered Parkway Ford Mustang. A recent first-time victor, Marcus Butner, is just outside the top three.

In the Pro Boost category, longtime outlaw racer Ken Quartuccio leads the points standings going into Martin after clinching his first-ever win in his ProCharged '69 Camaro at the last race. Quartuccio sits ahead of two-time Pro Nitrous world champion Jason Harris, who secured a win and a runner-up position in his ProCharged "Party Time" '69 Camaro. Travis "The Carolina Kid" Harvey, piloting the ProCharged GALOT Motorsports '69 Camaro, is in third place with one victory. Kurt Steding, seeking his first win of the season, is on the hunt to crack into the top 3 after reaching the last two final rounds.

The Extreme Pro Stock category sees past world champion Chris Powers back on top with one win in his Sonny's Racing Engines '21 Camaro. 
However, Powers faces stiff competition from four other drivers separated by less than one round. Jeremy Huffman, Elijah Morton, and Dillon Voss are all eager to secure their first win of the season, while Alan Drinkwater, ranked fifth, recently became a first-time winner at Norwalk in his Kaase-powered '08 Mustang.