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Meet the PDRA Champions
PITTSBORO, N.C. (November 11,
2015): The dust has settled on the
PDRA World Finals and rising from
the sophomore year’s finale is a
new regime of Champions. Nine
drivers have proven they are the
best in their individual classes
and now emerge as the reigning
World Champions of the PDRA. These
racers are as varied and unique as
the cars they drive. They will
lead the PDRA into its third
season, setting the competition
bar in 2016. |
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The youngest star among these elite drivers is Alexis ‘Lexi’ Tanner. The day
after she turned 13, she became the first female competitor to win a PDRA
Championship, as she settled the Huddleston Performance Top Junior Dragster
points battle with a decisive win at the World Finals. Adding further notoriety
to the family, Lexi’s older brother Preston won the Huddleston Performance Pro
Junior Dragster Championship, making them among the first, if not the first
sibling duo to ever win national-level drag race championships in the same year.
As a high school sophomore Preston has already amassed numerous junior
championships, but it’s safe to say that winning this alongside his sister is
one of the highlights of his budding career.
Mia Schultz finished second behind Alexis in TJD points. Last year’s champion
David Roloff finished third. Caleb Russell and Arellyn Garner round out the top
five. In PJD it was Tia Tutterow, daughter of famed Pro Extreme driver Todd
Tutterow, in second. Then Alexcis Schultz, Isaac Evans and Nicholas Cannon in
third through fifth.
Although the Dart Top Dragster points battle remained tight throughout the year,
it was Justin Melton who stood atop the leaderboard once all was said and done.
He scored the TD Championship in a borrowed car as driver for Danny Payne, who
was unable to compete this year due to a knee injury. Putting Melton in the car
was obviously a good move, and provided the best possible outcome Payne could
hope in a year where he was forced to sit on the sidelines. Following Melton in
points was Derrick Sholar, Craig Sullivan, Kyle Dvorak and Barry Brown.
Magna Fuel Top Sportsman saw a return to the spotlight for multi-time champ,
Ronnie Davis. Although the 2014 reigning champion, Dan Ferguson, had a
mathematical chance at back-to-back championships going into the World Finals,
Davis put to rest any chance Ferguson had with a decisive win at the final
event. The golf cart dealer from Georgia has now won championships in three
distinct national series. Ferguson did end up second in points behind Davis,
with Aaron Glaser, Cheyenne Stanley, and Bruce Thrift rounding out the top five.
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In the first year of its existence with the PDRA, Toefco Powershield Coatings
Pro Open Outlaw provided a unique experience for fans at five select events this
season. POO Champion Jody Stroud had phenomenal season with two wins and two
runner up finishes. One would think that would be enough to walk away easily
with the championship. However, Phil Esz kept things interesting with three wins
this season and finished exactly one round worth of points behind Stroud. Eddie
Lykins, Robert Frigon, and Mark McElwee finished third, fourth and fifth
respectively.
The 2015 Champion in Drag 965 Pro Extreme Motorcycle was no surprise this year
as Eric McKinney successfully defended his 2014 PXM Championship. He dominated
early, winning the first three events this season. Then followed those wins with
two runner up finishes. Although McKinney ran into a slump late in the season,
his early success was enough to keep him on top. With three final round
appearances this year, Chris Garner-Jones finished second in points followed by
Terry Schweigert in third, McKinney’s teammate Ashley Owens in fourth, and Chuck
Wilburn finishing off the top five.
The difference between finishing first and second in Precision Turbo Pro Boost
is a scant 14 points. The heartache in this battle belongs to GALOT Motorsports
driver Kevin Rivenbark while Kevin Fiscus is triumphant in the PB title.
Although Rivenbark was the points leader heading into the World Finals and
qualified number one at the event, an early exit in round one for Rivenbark and
a round one win for Fiscus was all that was required for Fiscus to capture the
2015 Championship. Anthony DiSomma finished third in Pro Boost, with Ric Fleck
and Jeremy Ray following in fourth and fifth.
At the beginning of season, no one would have guessed the 2015 Switzer Dynamics
Pro Nitrous Champion, not even the winner himself. Pro Mod legend Rickie Smith
had been focusing his efforts on NHRA Pro Mod, winning back-to-back
Championships in 2013-14. His plan was to only run the PDRA events close to his
King, North Carolina home this year. However, he enjoyed the events and was
successful enough that he decided to pursue the entire series. It paid off and
Smith held off PDRA part-owner Tommy Franklin for the PN Championship. Steve
Jackson, Jay Cox, and 2014 Champ Jason Harris followed Smith and Franklin in PN
points.
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Heading into the World Finals, famed driver and part owner of the PDRA Jason
Scruggs had a sizeable lead in NAS Racing Pro Extreme over Badir Ahli. Although
Badir Ahli gave a valiant effort, winning the event, he still lost the war as
Scruggs secured enough points at the event to clinch the championship. With five
wins to his credit this year, it’s been a dream season for Scruggs, who will fly
the number one on his recognizable red Camaro in 2016. Badir Ahli held on to
second. Todd Tutterow finished third in his return to Pro Extreme competition,
followed by Brandon Snider and Terry Leggett in fourth and fifth.
These newly crowned champions will be honored at the PDRA banquet, held December
12 in Indianapolis, Indiana. They will begin defending their titles when the
short off season ends with the PDRA season opener at Tulsa Raceway Park, March
11-12. For a complete list of 2015 points visit www.pdra660.com.
ABOUT THE PDRA
Based in Pittsboro, North Carolina, the Professional Drag Racers Association is
the top sanctioning body in the United States for the sport of eighth-mile drag
racing. The PDRA’s professional categories include Pro Extreme, Pro Nitrous, Pro
Boost, and Pro Extreme Motorcycle along with Top Sportsman, Top Dragster, Pro
Jr. Dragster, and Top Jr. Dragster. The 2015 PDRA schedule consists of nine
national events. For more on the world’s premier eighth mile drag racing
organization visit www.pdra660.com. Follow the PDRA: Facebook, Twitter,
Instagram, Youtube.
Photos: Gary Rowe / RaceWorks.com / PDRA660.com |
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