The Oral History of the PDRA
TF : There ’ s a lot that would say , “ We don ’ t have room for Jrs ., we don ’ t need Jrs ., this is entertainment .” As we alluded to in the beginning of this conversation , everything that we do is to try to preserve a sport that I grew up enjoying and loving . We ’ ve got to see this come full circle . Parents have invested into their kids to come out and race a Jr . Dragster at a high level , because I do agree that the PDRA Jrs . are at another level . But we ’ re watching those kids now grow up and get into big cars . It doesn ’ t matter if that ’ s Top Sportsman , Top Dragster , Pro 632 , Pro Stock , Pro Boost – we ’ ve watched all of that happen . That ’ s when it ’ s full circle for you .
What we said we set out to do in the beginning , we couldn ’ t write that script . We knew what we wanted , but PDRA has created itself as something so special that people stay in it and do it . We all know it ’ s not because it ’ s cheap . They ’ re spending a lot of good money to buy race cars and keep their kids racing . And these kids are finding their own money to keep racing . We watch that happen . To me , that ’ s what it ’ s all about . Preserving the sport and making the racers of tomorrow .
JF : It ’ s not something where you go hand everybody a trophy . Everybody has to qualify and they have to earn their spot . We ’ re making better drag racers out of them . We ’ re making better people .
In 2023 , the PDRA celebrated its 10th season of competition . Over the course of eight points-earning events and the ProStars race , more than 600 racers earned points towards a world championship in the seven heads-up categories , four sportsman classes , and two Jr . Dragster groups . That ’ s not including the hundreds of local bracket racers who competed in Bracket Bash .
The series has grown into something the original partners couldn ’ t have predicted 10 years ago .
BH : I ’ m most proud of the competition . It ’ s the most competitive . I ’ m not saying that because we ’ re running in PDRA . I ’ m 70 years old . I ’ ve been racing 45 years . I ’ ve been in IHRA , NHRA , ADRL , EOPM , Big Dog , and now PDRA . I ’ ve named them all . There ’ s nothing more competitive than PDRA racing because of the quality cars , quality people , and the quality of the people running the organization . I ’ m not running it anymore so I ’ m not talking about myself .
The Franklin family , I want to say something about them because truthfully , with the kind of financial situation that happened after they took it over by themselves , most people would ’ ve went by the wayside and just culled the whole deal . Nobody knows except the people inside what it really costs and what they lost for years to get it back to where it ’ s breaking even or making money . Most people aren ’ t willing to last
Pro Extreme was a fan-favorite class , but spun out of control .
Kevin Rivenbark , with son Coolidge , is one of the winningest drivers in PDRA history .
TF : We keep rules on them to where it ’ s not a playground as much . We want them to race on a professional level . They have rules and guidelines that they have to stay within . Unfortunately , our life is all about that . We all have to stay between the lines on the road . They get to race at a high level and act like professionals and they are professionals .
BH : It ’ s been very exciting watching those original Jr . Dragster racers move up into big cars . The Tanners are a good example . Then you look at Brayden Davis , and I can name more . It ’ s unbelievable . Like right now , Travis Harvey ’ s son is running and I ’ m sure he ’ ll jump in a big car at some point . My grandkids have Jr . Dragsters , but I think they ’ re race burnt out . They ’ ve been racing since the day they were born . Every Jr . Dragster kid is not going to get into a big car , but if they do , it makes them a better driver , a better person , and it makes them understand safety and communication with all the people . I think that ’ s important .
HITTING THE 10-YEAR MILESTONE that long , but they are , and it looks like they ’ re here for a long time . I ’ m very proud of that .
I think Tyler ’ s took over and done a good job . Overall , it ’ s been good . If you haven ’ t run PDRA , you need to . You ’ re not going to get rich doing it , but I promise you you ’ ll have a good time .
JS : I do still keep up with it . I have a lot of friends that race there , and I keep up with all drag racing , especially Pro Modified drag racing since I love it . That being said , I ’ m just proud . Proud I could help get it started . I ’ m proud of what Tommy and his family have been able to do . It ’ s a lot more to it than people realize . People that don ’ t really think about it take it for granted what Tommy does . I think Tommy would be the first to tell you he doesn ’ t want a pat on the back , but for him and his family , the sacrifice they ’ ve made to keep it going the last few years and being involved for 10 years and give all these racers a place to race … like I said , I don ’ t think he wants a pat on the back , but I think he ’ s proud of it and I ’ m proud of him and proud of what it is too . Proud of what we started back in the day . I think it ’ s going to be good for the future . It ’ s a good place to race .
From day one , I don ’ t think anybody in their right mind would say that PDRA has not had the toughest competition or at least right up there with anybody in the world . They ’ ve always had the best cars , the fastest cars , and if you go to a PDRA event , you better have your A game if you ’ re going to win because it ’ s tough . The caliber of cars
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