Drag Illustrated Issue 189, July / August 2024 | Page 60

PDRA CLASS OF 2024

PDRA ’ S HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES TAKE THE STAGE
BY NATE VAN WAGNEN | PHOTOGRAPHS BY TARA BOWKER
ANYONE WHO ’ S followed the PDRA over the course of its 10-year history can sense that the all-eighth-mile organization takes pride in the young people that participate within its ranks . The series offers two Jr . Dragster divisions , Coolshirt Systems Pro Jr . Dragster and Classic Graphix Top Jr . Dragster , both presented by Philadelphia Racing Products , which provide a training ground for the future stars of the PDRA .
A handful of the participants and graduates of the PDRA Jr . Dragster program also graduated from high school this spring . In what has become a series tradition , those graduates were recognized during a special pre-race ceremony at the Smokies Garage American Doorslammer Challenge presented by Callies Performance at Summit Motorsports Park in late May . Meet the PDRA Class of 2024 .
❱ BRAYDEN DAVIS
Davis , the reigning Pro Jr . Dragster world champion , graduated from Coffee High School in Douglas , Georgia . The third-generation racer also won a Top Jr . Dragster world championship in 2017 , doubling up with his father , multi-time Drag 965 Pro Extreme Motorcycle world champ Travis Davis . The younger Davis made his Pro Extreme Motorcycle debut last season , promptly winning in his debut and at Maryland . He also won in Pro Jr . Dragster at both races , making him the first person in series history to double up in professional and Jr . Dragster classes . Davis plans to focus on a career as a welder and machinist , ideally in the racing industry , while also eying some big moves in his racing career .
❱ BROOKS MCMATH
McMath is a home-schooling graduate who currently competes in Laris Motorsports Insurance Top Dragster presented by Younce RV . Before moving up to Top Dragster , McMath won his very last race in Pro Jr . Dragster , the 2023 Brian Olson Memorial World Finals at Virginia Motorsports Park . His opponent was fellow grad Brayden Davis . Outside of PDRA competition , McMath also won the $ 5,000 Super Pro Shootout at the 2023 Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod . He plans to work with his father , Patrick , at the family ’ s environmental service business in Chesapeake , Virginia . On track , he ’ s working to improve as a racer with plans to continue racing in Top Dragster .
❱ SANTANA MCMILLIAN
McMillian , who currently races in Edelbrock Bracket Bash presented by COMP Cams , graduated from Kempsville High School in Virginia Beach , Virginia . McMillian ran the full Pro Jr . Dragster season in 2023 before aging out into a “ big car ,” a bracket dragster . His great grandfather was a fire chief , and now McMillian is in the fire program to join the fire department . He envisions a lifelong career in the fire department .
❱ MACY UNDERWOOD
Underwood , the daughter of 2022 MagnaFuel Elite Top Sportsman presented by PAR Racing Engines world champion Henry Underwood , graduated from New Kent High School in New Kent , Virginia . She previously competed in Pro Jr . Dragster , but recently aged out and plans to get into a big car soon . While her father is taking some time off from racing due to a cancer battle , Macy previously served as one of his key crew members . Underwood enjoys spending time with her friends at the races . She ’ s attending community college for the next two years with plans to transfer to nursing school or dentistry school down the road .
❱ BUDD TRAMMELL II
Trammell is a graduate of Aynor High School in Aynor , South Carolina . He ’ s finishing out his time in Pro Jr . Dragster , where ’ s he come close to winning a few times . He enjoys competing but also having fun with his family and friends . “ Once you get into the back and forth and the battle of it , it ’ s fun ,” says Trammell , who thanked parents Budd and Celeste . Away from racing , Trammell plans to begin his undergraduate studies before moving on to law school .
60 PDRA660 . com