Drag Illustrated Issue 181, March / April 2023 | Page 52

Special Section
IN 2014 , A GROUP OF PASSIONATE PRO MODIFIED RACERS AND TEAM OWNERS BANDED TOGETHER TO FORM THE PROFESSIONAL DRAG RACERS ASSOCIATION . WITH A “ FOR RACERS , BY RACERS ” MOTTO , THE SERIES INTENDED TO PICK UP WHERE OTHER SERIES LEFT OFF , CREATING A STABLE HOME FOR EIGHTH-MILE DOORSLAMMER RACERS BUT ALSO CLASSES LIKE PRO EXTREME MOTORCYCLE , TOP DRAGSTER , AND JR . DRAGSTERS . ¶ THE PDRA HAS SINCE GROWN AND EVOLVED UNDER THE OWNERSHIP OF TOMMY AND JUDY FRANKLIN AND THE DIRECTION OF SERIES DIRECTOR TYLER CROSSNOE . THIS YEAR MARKS THE 10TH SEASON OF PDRA CHAMPIONSHIP DRAG RACING , AND THE SERIES WILL CROWN WORLD CHAMPIONS IN 13 DIFFERENT CATEGORIES AFTER COMPETITION AT EIGHT POINTS RACES . THE SEASON ALSO INCLUDES THE THIRD ANNUAL SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT PDRA PROSTARS , A RACE-YOUR-WAY-IN SPECIALTY RACE HELD IN
conjunction with Virginia Motorsports Park ’ s Night of Fire .
Between a decade of buildup and a concerted effort over the offseason , the PDRA is on track to have its biggest season yet . New drivers and teams are making plans to compete within the series across its dozen-plus classes . Through
partnerships with FloRacing and React104 as well as an aggressive advertising campaign , the series will be exposed to more fans than ever before . New marketing partners have also signed on to support their customers and reach new ones .
With the 2023 PDRA season set to begin March 30 through April 1 at
the East Coast Nationals at GALOT Motorsports Park , Crossnoe sat down with Drag Illustrated for an interview to discuss some of the changes that racers and fans can expect to see this year .
How will the Structural Concrete Nitrous Wars program – rewarding the engine builders and racers in
Pro Nitrous – look different this year ? Why change it ?
Nitrous Wars is going to look different this year in multiple ways . First , Pro Boost and Extreme Pro Stock will now be involved with their own engine builder programs . Secondly , we ’ re going to make this more of a team challenge with the top four
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