THE DI
TOP 3
THE PDRA TOP 3 LIST IS THE LATEST ADDITION TO DRAG ILLUSTRATED’S COVERAGE OF THE
2018 PROFESSIONAL DRAG RACERS ASSOCIATION (PDRA) SEASON. THIS LIST DOES NOT
REFLECT THE CURRENT POINTS STANDINGS, THOUGH MOST OF THE DRIVERS WHO APPEAR
ON THIS LIST CAN ALSO BE FOUND NEAR THE TOP OF THE POINTS STANDINGS IN THEIR
RESPECTIVE CLASSES. AS DRIVERS BATTLE BACK AND FORTH FOR NO. 1 QUALIFYING SPOTS,
EVENT WINS AND NATIONAL RECORDS OVER THE COURSE OF THE 2018 SEASON, THIS LIST
WILL CHANGE TO REFLECT THOSE ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
PRO
EXTREME
TERRY LEGGETT
ADAM FLAMHOLC
3.
JASON SCRUGGS
1.
2.
After reaching the final
round in Bryant Industrial
Pro Extreme presented by
Pro Line at all three races so
far, winning two of those
(GALOT and Michigan), Terry
Leggett is the class of the
field in his Leggett Logging
& Trucking ’71 Mustang. He’s
also qualified on top at the
last two races. Sweden’s
Adam Flamholc, back in Pro
Extreme for the first time
since 2015, is finding his
groove after a win at Mary-
land and a runner-up finish
in Michigan. Jason Scruggs,
the 2015 world champion,
doesn’t show up at every
race, but he’s guaranteed to
appear at the top of the
qualifying order and late in
eliminations when the “Mis-
sissippi Missile” does roll
through the gates.
50 PDRA660.com
PRO
NITROUS
1.
JASON HARRIS
2.
LIZZY MUSI
3.
JIM HALSEY
Coming in at the top spot
on the first-ever Top 3 List,
Jason Harris has reminded
the rest of the Switzer Dy-
namics Pro Nitrous present-
ed by MoTeC field why he
won the 2014 world cham-
pionship. This season, he
drove the Musi-powered
“Party Time” ’69 Camaro to
a runner-up finish at the
season opener, then a
drought-breaking holeshot
win at Martin, Michigan.
While Lizzy Musi has yet to
reach the final round this
season, her deadly-consis-
tent three semifinal finishes
landed her the No. 2 spot on
the list. Earning the final
spot is Jim Halsey, who qual-
ified No. 2 and recorded a
career-best 3.675 at 205.39
in the Martin final round.
PRO
BOOST
CHUCK ULSCH
TOMMY D’APRILE
3.
MARC CARUSO
1.
2.
Finally. That was the first
thought racing through
Chuck Ulsch’s mind when
the former Outlaw 10.5 star
turned on the final win light
at Martin after appearing in
the first three Moroso Pro
Boost final rounds of the
season. Fighting Ulsch for
the top spot is former Pro
Extreme driver Tommy
D’Aprile, who has bookend-
ed his Maryland win with
two semifinal finishes and
all three No. 1 qualifying
spots so far. Marc Caruso is
within striking distance with
his consistent “Rodfather”
Camaro after a semifinal
finish and two second-
round exits.
1.
EXTREME
PRO STOCK PRO EXTREME
MOTORCYCLE
JOHN DEFLORIAN JR.
2.
ELIJAH MORTON
3.
JOHN PLUCHINO ERIC MCKINNEY
RONNIE SMITH
3.
BRUNSON GROTHUS
John DeFlorian Jr’s trophy
case included awards from
numerous sanctioning
bodies – IHRA, XDRL and
ADRL – but it was missing a
PDRA 660 Man before he
scored the Liberty’s Gears
Extreme Pro Stock event
title at Martin in his Amsoil
’15 Camaro. DeFlorian was
also the No. 1 qualifier at
Maryland and Martin, solidi-
fying his top spot. Elijah
Morton has followed up his
season-opening win at
GALOT with a runner-up
finish at Maryland and an
uncharacteristic first-round
exit at Martin. On the op-
posite end of the spectrum
is 2016 world champion
John Pluchino, who’s trend-
ing upward after a runner-
up finish at Martin.
1.
2.
Despite missing the season
opener to test in preparation
for the rest of the eight-race
schedule, Eric McKinney has
returned to the dominant
form that carried him to
three consecutive Drag 965
Pro Extreme Motorcycle
world championships. He
won at Maryland and Martin,
racing from the bump spot
in Michigan. Ronnie “Pro
Mod” Smith hasn’t parked
his bike in the winner’s circle
yet, but with one final-
round appearance and two
semifinal finishes, he’s the
points leader after Martin.
Multi-time event winner
Brunson Grothus is also
chasing his first victory of
2018, but strong perfor-
mances at GALOT and Mary-
land indicate that he’s well
on his way.