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Defining A
Champion
PITTSBORO, N.C. (September 24, 2016): For drag racers,
fall is arguably the most exciting time of year. After the
‘dog days’ of summer, fall brings with it cooler
temperatures and more opportunities to improve times,
break records, and, most importantly, define what it means
to be a champion.
With two races left in the PDRA’s 2016 season, what it
means to be a champion is being carefully carved in stone
by the best eighth-mile racers in the world. After
fighting a hard fight for seven months, the champion will
increase his or her intensity. When pressure is at its
highest, the champion will rise to meet it. When faced
with the toughest problem yet, the champion will innovate
and overcome. Champions aren’t created through drag
racing; they define themselves through it. They’ve had
what it takes all along. They’ve been championing through
their long hours, their sweat and toil, their unrelenting
spirit, their ingenuity. But the time is drawing close
when a select handful will receive the glory they’re due.
The Professional Drag Racers Association takes their
racers seriously and celebrates their champions
accordingly. These men and women have set their sights and
worked tirelessly to achieve their goals. Soon one racer
will emerge from the rest in each category to be crowned
the 2016 PDRA World Champions.
In the series quickest and fastest category, NAS Racing
Pro Extreme, Alabama’s Brandon Snider and Mississippi’s
Jason Scruggs have put enough distance between themselves
and the rest of the field to be the only two left in
contention for the championship. Snider sits in first by
251 points, making it a three round differential for
reigning champion Scruggs to make up. Frankie “Mad Man”
Taylor, everyone’s favorite good-guy Tommy D’Aprile, and
former Wise Guys champion Mike Recchia round out the top
five.
The fire-breathing guys and girls in Switzer Dynamics Pro
Nitrous presented by MoTeC have been at each other all
year within the Flatout Gaskets Nitrous Wars. Smack talk
has reigned supreme between drivers and their engine
builders, but all that will be settled in due time. Former
Minor League Baseball player Jay Cox has led the points
for the last few events and maintains a slight lead over
businessman Tommy Franklin. Past Top Dragster Champion
Travis Harvey also still has a chance at walking away with
the PN championship, just over four rounds out of the
lead. “Stevie Fast” Jackson and the lone female competitor
Lizzy Musi aren’t in championship contention anymore, but
can certainly spoil the action for the top three.
GALOT Motorsports Pro Boost has been the one class to have
a dominating team this season and it’s come from none
other than the GALOT Motorsports camp. Teammates Kevin
Rivenbark and John Strickland sit one and two in points,
respectively, having successfully dominated competition
throughout the season, winning every event. Running a
distant third, fourth, and fifth is Ric Fleck, Melanie
Salemi, and Tylor Miller.
Drag965 Pro Extreme Motorcycle could have been dubbed Eric
McKinney PXM due to his control of the class over the last
two season. This year is different, however. McKinney sits
second, just over 100 points behind Chris Garner-Jones.
Chuck Wilburn also still has a shot at the championship,
currently sitting third and followed by Terry Schweigert
and Meshal Alsabar.
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Dan Ferguson has largely been
the man to beat in Ronnie Davis Top Sportsman presented by MagnaFuel since
the inception of the PDRA. He maintained the longest points leading streak
of any driver in the series, leading all of 2014 to win the championship,
then resuming his lead in 2015 before eventually beaten out by friend and
mentor Ronnie Davis, who tragically passed away this year. Ferguson has
resumed his championship form and is now perched to win his second
championship in three years, and to do so in memory of Davis. Cheyenne
Stanley has a very outside chance of taking over the top spot in these
next two events. Engine builder Billy Albert, Chris Gulitti, and Buddy
Perkinson round out the top five.
Lucas Oil Top Dragster is proving its reputation as an extremely tough
class. The top five in points all maintain a mathematical chance at
winning the championship. Justin Kirk leads the points, hot off a win at
Dragstock XIII, where he doubled up with his father and Extreme Pro Stock
legend, Doug Kirk. David Brown is less than 200 points behind Kirk. Paul
Daigrepont, Bob Henry, and Kathy Fisher follow behind in third through
fifth. Just 680 points separate those top five drivers.
Kendall Little has an impressive lead in Talbert Pro Junior Dragster, 571
points ahead of Courtney Howard. Still, both Howard and Amber Franklin
have the opportunity to capitalize should Little make any mistakes at
Bradenton or Virginia. Mia Schultz sits in fourth and Cory Gulitti sits in
fifth.
Mia Schultz pulls double duty, also competing In MegaCorp Top Junior
Dragster where she currently leads points over Arellyn Garner-Jones. The
battle for the MegaCorp Top Junior Dragster will remain between those two
as the season draws to a close. Jayden Lawler, Coolidge Rivenbark, and
Holt Strickland currently hold spots third through fifth.
PDRA Extreme Pro Stock competed in a five race mini series this season.
With four races in the books, everything is on the line for the World
Finals. North Carolina native Richard Penland is sitting in prime position
right now, 203 points ahead of New Yorker John Pluchino. Brian Gahm sits
third, followed by John Montecalvo and Doug Kirk.
For these final two events, the Mel Bush Motorsports Sunshine State
Shootout (Sept. 29-Oct. 1) and the World Finals (Oct. 20-22), every pass
down the track could lead to valuable points for these top contenders.
There’s no doubt that each is a champion in his or her own right, but only
one in each class will earn the title of World Champion and the privilege
of wearing #1 for 2017. Watch testing, qualifying and final eliminations
all live via MotorManiaTV.com, leading up to the moment when 2016
champions will be crowned. Purchase tickets and learn more about the
events at www.pdra660.com, where a complete list of points standings can
also be found.
Photos: Gary Rowe / 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 2016
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.
PRESS CONTACT: Lisa Collier
Professional Drag Racers Association
lisa@pdra660.com
704.692.4636
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