THE PDRA TOP 3 LIST IS AN EVER-CHANGING LIST OF THE BIGGEST NEWSMAKERS AND POWER PLAYERS IN THE PDRA ’ S PROFESSIONAL CLASSES . THIS EDITION , REPRESENTING PERFORMANCES FROM THE SEASON-OPENING SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT EAST COAST NATION- ALS PRESENTED BY FUELTECH , MARCH 30-APRIL 1 , AT GALOT MOTOR- SPORTS PARK , 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 . DRIVERS EARN THEIR WAY ONTO THE LIST THROUGH WINS , STRONG QUALIFYING EFFORTS , AND OTHERWISE STANDOUT PERFORMANCES .
PHOTOGRAPHS BY TARA BOWKER
PRO NITROUS |
PRO BOOST |
EXTREME PRO STOCK |
PRO OUTLAW 632 |
PRO NITROUS MOTORCYCLE |
JIM HALSEY TOMMY FRANKLIN JAY COX |
MELANIE SALEMI JOHNNY CAMP TRAVIS HARVEY |
DWAYNE RICE DILLON VOSS CHRIS POWERS |
JEFF MELNICK AMBER FRANKLIN LEXI TANNER |
BRAYDEN DAVIS MESHAL AL-SABER ERIC MCKINNEY |
It may not have been a typically dominant Jim Halsey performance , but the fourtime and reigning Switzer Dynamics Pro Nitrous world champion proved yet again why he ’ s the champ . After qualifying No . 2 , Halsey was in the 3.60s throughout eliminations in his Fulton-powered “ Daddy Shark ” ’ 68 Camaro , including a 3.646 at 206.20 MPH in the final . He faced No . 5 qualifier Tommy Franklin , whose Musi-powered “ Jungle Rat ” ’ 69 Camaro was just a tick quicker in the previous two rounds , but slowed to a 6.841 . Low qualifier Jay Cox in his Musi-powered “ Pumpkin ” ’ 69 Camaro also stayed in the 3.60s before lifting to a 3.805 against Franklin in the semis .
Melanie Salemi wrapped up WS Construction Pro Boost presented by P2 Contracting and Ty-Drive qualifying as the No . 1 qualifier on top of the quickest field in series history . She then took Eddie Whelan ’ s newly screwblown Steady Eddie ’ s ’ 19 Camaro to the winner ’ s circle , defeating Johnny Camp in the final . Camp laid down a career-best 3.579 at 209.26 in his ProCharged “ Hells Bells ” ’ 69 Camaro , but left too soon with a . 004 red light . Travis Harvey , piloting the ProCharged GALOT Motorsports ’ 69 Camaro this season , started strong with a No . 2 qualifying effort and semifinal finish .
PRO STREET
If the season opener was a preview of what ’ s to come , Liberty ’ s Gears Extreme Pro Stock presented by AED Competition will be anything but predictable . The top eight qualifiers , including No . 1 qualifier Chris Powers in his Sonny ’ s Racing Engines ’ 21 Camaro , were out after the second round . No . 11 qualifier Dwayne Rice kept rolling in his DR Excavating ’ 22 Camaro , using a weekendbest 4.102 in the final round to score his first-ever PDRA 660 Man trophy . Meanwhile , No . 12 qualifier Dillon Voss in his consistent Voss-powered “ Bad Banana ” ’ 06 Cavalier slowed to a 4.202 from its high 4.00-second range for a runner-up finish .
Jeff Melnick went into the new season contending for his first win in M & M Transmission Pro 632 . He checked that box at the first race of the season , taking Alan O ’ Brien ’ s AMC-powered Greenbrier Excavating & Paving ’ 20 Camaro to the winner ’ s circle . He ran multiple sub-4.20s on race day , including a 4.159 in the final . His opponent was defending world champion and low qualifier Amber Franklin , who was quick all day in her Musi-powered “ OG Jungle Rat ” ’ 69 Camaro but had to lift in the final . Fellow phenom Lexi Tanner showed she ’ ll be a threat again this season , qualifying No . 3 on her way to the semis .
TIM ESSICK | BILL RIDDLE | TY KASPER
Reigning and four-time Drag 965 Pro Nitrous Motorcycle world champion Travis Davis isn ’ t defending his title this season . Instead , he ’ s giving his 17-year-old son , Brayden , the chance to make his mark on the class . The past Top Jr . Dragster world champion is making waves right out of the gate , leaving first in all three rounds on his way to the event win in his debut . In the final , Davis posted a 3.992 to beat Meshal Al-Saber ’ s 3.998 . Al-Saber , in from Kuwait , qualified No . 1 on Brad McCoy ’ s Q80 Racing Hayabusa . Multi-time world champion Eric McKinney had a solid weekend , qualifying No . 2 and making the semifinals .
A diverse group of contenders is making things interesting in Menscer Motorsports Pro Street presented by Afco , but two-time and defending world champion Tim Essick came out on top yet again at the season opener . Driving his home-built , ProCharged “ Brown Sugar ” ’ 18 Mustang , Essick qualified third before racing through three rounds to meet No . 1 qualifier Bill Riddle and his roots-blown Corrigan Race Fuels ’ 89 Camaro in the final . Riddle had to lift out of a wheelstand after cutting a . 006 light , while Essick posted a winning 3.949 . Two-time winner Ty Kasper qualified No . 2 in his twin-turbo Victus Sports Mustang and reached the semis .
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