Special Section
SUPER STREET DAN WHETSTINE
ELITE TOP SPORTSMAN GLENN BUTCHER
● GLENN BUTCHER , who has competed in the PDRA since its inaugural season in 2014 , proved why he ’ s one of fast bracket racing ’ s best by winning the 2024 MagnaFuel Elite Top Sportsman presented by PAR Racing Engines world championship . The Ohio-based driver won two events in the eight-race season , making him one of the few title contenders going into the final race of the season . By just 10 points , he was crowned the champion on the final day of the season driving his nitrous-fed , Albertpowered ’ 69 Camaro .
“ It was a unique experience for me because we hadn ’ t always had an opportunity like this ,” Butcher said . “ Back in the IHRA days , we had some opportunities , but to come into one event where it ’ s all on the line was challenging and rewarding . I think we stepped up . We had some issues with the car , but the driver was there . I ’ ve been doing my best driving in years lately . I ’ ve just been really focused and really coming around . It ’ s overwhelming to say the least to think about what we did and what we accomplished .”
● VETERAN SMALL-TIRE RACER Dan Whetstine helped longtime friend Tim Essick win the 2021 and 2022 Pro Street world championships in the PDRA , and now the duo reversed the roles as Essick tuned Whetstine to the 2024 Afco Racing Super Street presented by Menscer Motorsports world championship . Whetstine won twice in four-final round appearances across the seven-race Super Street season . He also qualified No . 1 twice in his ProCharger-boosted “ Red Velvet ” ‘ 90 Mustang .
“ Tim Essick , my crew chief , my best friend , is always working hard on my program and always trying stuff ,” Whetstine said . “ We changed the whole top end of the motor in the middle of the year and had a few growing pains , but that really helped our program . Once the converter and engine package was happy together , we could really put together some solid passes in the heat . In Maryland , it all came together where we could actually go fast at nighttime , too . I always felt like we could run in the heat , but now that we have a really good top end , I feel like we can run up front with anybody , anytime .”
TOP SPORTSMAN MARK REESE
● THE MAGNAFUEL Top Sportsman presented by Corbin ’ s RV world championship typically comes down to the wire , but this season , newly crowned world champion Mark Reese simply had to qualify at the season finale to secure his title . Facing tough competition in his nitrous-assisted , PAR Racing Engines-powered ’ 08 Mustang with razor-thin margins of victory all season , Reese won two events in three final-round appearances to claim his first world championship in the series .
“ This is probably the biggest accomplishment I ’ ve ever done in my racing career ,” Reese said . “ I ’ ve won four championships at VMP before with index racing driving for Keith Cox . It just all came together towards the end of the season . Winning Michigan and Bristol and runner-up at Ohio gave me enough confidence thinking I could compete with these guys out here . These drivers are as tough as you can get out here in this class because most all of these guys have been bracket racing a long time .”
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