The Oral History of the PDRA

“ Our goal is to give outlaw doorslammer racers , as well as all the fans , track operators , and sponsors who have supported this kind of racing over the years , an organization they can be proud of ,” said Jason Scruggs , a longtime Pro Extreme driver , when the series was announced . “ The PDRA is racer owned and racer operated , and while we understand that there will be a building process , we ’ re looking forward to a strong series in 2014 .”

Over the 10 seasons that followed that announcement , the PDRA grew into a stable and competitive home for racers competing in several professional categories , a handful of sportsman eliminators , and two Jr . Dragster classes . Beyond a place for racers to enjoy their hobby at a high level , the series has become a crucial part of the drag racing economy , providing an outlet for the chassis builders , engine builders , manufacturers , tuners , and other professionals who provide products and services to the hundreds of racers who follow the eight-race series .

As the PDRA wraps up its 10th anniversary season , Drag IllustrateD gathered several individuals who ’ ve played a role in the series for an in-depth look at the PDRA as told by the people who were a part of it .

Tommy Franklin and his wife , Judy , were brought in as the nitrous representatives in the original group of PDRA owners . While building a successful electrical contracting business , Tommy worked his way up through the drag racing ranks from his home tracks in Virginia to IHRA Pro Stock , Extreme Outlaw

Pro Mod ( EOPM ), and ADRL Pro Nitrous before joining the PDRA ownership group . The Franklins are now the sole owners of the series , where Tommy is a three-time Pro Nitrous world champion . Tommy and Judy ’ s daughters , Amber and Ashley , have also competed in the series since they were old enough .

One of the other original owners , Jason Scruggs , raced in the now-defunct PDRA Pro Extreme division until the middle of the 2017 season , when he stepped away to spend more time with his family and their massive farming operation in Mississippi . Scruggs and his father and crew chief , Mitchell , now compete in NHRA Pro Mod , though he might make the occasional PDRA Pro Boost appearance in 2024 .

When the series was first announced , former Piedmont Dragway owner Bob Harris was named the race director . Rick Moore , who worked with Harris on the track ’ s popular Big Dog Shootout series , was also involved with race operations in the planning stages . Harris ’ son , Jason , won the inaugural PDRA Pro Nitrous world championship after a dominant season . He also went on to win another Pro Nitrous title in 2018 , as well as the 2023 Pro Boost title .

Harris stepped down from his official role at the end of the 2018 season . His successor , Tyler Crossnoe , spent the season getting to know the organization as the track prep specialist . Crossnoe has held the series director role since the start of the 2019 season . During that time , he ’ s also served as the VP of Virginia Motorsports Park , which the Franklin family acquired in October of 2017 .

Since the beginning , the PDRA has prioritized the involvement of the Jr . Dragster classes in the series . Numerous Jr . Dragster drivers who competed in the earliest days of the series have since moved up to “ big cars ,” whether that means a Bracket Bash car or a 3.50-second Pro Boost car . Preston Tanner is a shining example of that . He won the 2015 Pro Jr . Dragster world championship , sharing the stage with his younger sister , Lexi , who won the Top Jr . Dragster title . The

Tommy FRANKLIN

Indiana-based siblings are now race winners and championship contenders in their respective professional classes : Pro Boost for Preston and Pro 632 for Lexi .

Memphis hosted multiple PDRA events in the early years . The roots of the GALOT Motorsports dynasty .

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