Courtesy Drag Illustrated  Nate Van Wagnen

Images Geoff Sculley and courtesy Tara Bowker

Reigning PDRA Pro Boost world champion Jason Harris returned to the FuelTech Winner’s Circle for the first time this season at the inaugural PDRA Thunder Valley Throwdown Saturday night at Bristol Dragway. In a side-by-side WS Construction Pro Boost presented by P2 Contracting and Ty-Drive final round against Johnny Camp, Harris laid down a 3.643-second pass at 205.94 MPH to defeat Camp and his 3.663 at 203.68 at the sixth of eight races on the 2024 Red Line Oil PDRA Drag Racing Series tour.

For the second time this season, three-time and reigning Switzer Dynamics Pro Nitrous world champion Tommy Franklin doubled up with his daughter, Amber Franklin, who won in PDRA Pro 632. Harris and the Franklins were joined by professional class winners Daryl Stewart in Liberty’s Gears Extreme Pro Stock presented by AED Competition, Brunson Grothus in Drag 965 Pro Extreme Motorcycle, Ethan Steding in Menscer Motorsports Pro Street presented by Afco Racing, and Connor McGee in Afco Racing Super Street presented by Menscer Motorsports.

In the sportsman categories, Dewayne Silance (MagnaFuel Elite Top Sportsman presented by PAR Racing Engines), Michael White (Laris Motorsports Insurance Elite Top Dragster presented by Greenbrier Excavating & Paving), Mark Reese (MagnaFuel Top Sportsman presented by Corbin’s RV), and Nick Meloni (Laris Motorsports Insurance Top Dragster presented by Younce RV) also walked away with Bristol trophies. Jake Hodge raced to victory in Edelbrock Bracket Bash presented by COMP Cams, driving Tyler Crossnoe’s ’23 Race Tech dragster to the final-round win over Kyle Eggers in his ’92 Beretta.

PRO BOOST

Reigning Pro Boost world champion Jason Harris went into the Thunder Valley Throwdown with a win at the non-points Summit Racing Equipment PDRA ProStars all-star event and two runner-up finishes, but he needed a points-earning win to get back into the championship conversation. He accomplished that goal by racing to another final round, where he met the most recent event winner, Johnny Camp. With tuner Brandon Stroud calling the shots on both cars, Harris left the line first by just four thousandths and charged to a 3.643 at 205.94 in his ProCharged Party Time Racing/Southern Diamond Company ’69 Camaro to stay ahead of Camp and his 3.663 at 203.68. 

“This one feels good. It’s historic. It’s Bristol,” said Harris, who thanked his team and family, PDRA, Hoosier Racing Tires, Pro Line Racing, ProCharger, and LAT Racing Oil. “I came here as a kid, 10 or 12 years old, and my dad won two national events here. I came here in ’12 in Pro Nitrous when we ran in another series, but this means a lot. We’ve tried really hard. We’ve been in three finals in the last three races. We’ve had some unlucky luck. We had some bad luck this weekend. Johnny had some bad luck, but right now, I’m driving good and the car’s running good. What else can you ask for? A win at Bristol is big.”

Harris started eliminations with a rematch of his Friday night grudge race with Steve King, and the two-time Pro Nitrous world champion won again with his 3.689 at 204.60 to King’s 4.832. A consistent 3.682 at 204.88 in the second round put Harris ahead of Marcus “The Axeman” Birt and his 4.682. He nearly matched low E.T. of the event with his 3.639 at 205.38 in the semifinals, but it was quick enough to take out Bubba Greene and his 3.689 in his Scotty Cannon-tuned ’19 Corvette. 

Behind the wheel of his ProCharged “Hells Bells” ’69 Camaro, Camp drove around a slowing Derek Ward in the first round with a 3.709 at 200.44 to Ward’s 5.865. He left first in the second round over Scott Lang, improving to a 3.689 at 202.88 to beat Lang’s 3.725. The Canonsburg, Pennsylvania-based driver then picked up a holeshot win over fellow Keystone State racer and points leader Kurt Steding in a 3.674-to-3.643 semifinal match.

PRO NITROUS

The latest chapter of the Tommy Franklin vs. Jim Halsey Pro Nitrous championship battle saw Franklin, the three-time and defending world champion, get a final-round win over Halsey. Franklin used a quicker reaction time and a 3.694 at 205.29 in his Jeff Pierce-tuned, Musi-powered “Jungle Rat” ’69 Camaro to get one round closer to Halsey, the points leader going into the weekend. Halsey recorded a 3.696 at 203.40 in the runner-up effort. It was Franklin’s second win in three final-round appearances this season, and like the last win, he got to share the winner’s circle with his daughter, Pro 632 winner Amber Franklin.

“Everybody knows that’s the best thing you can ever do – come out here and race with your kids and win with your kids,” said Franklin, who thanked partners like Jerry Bickel Race Cars, Menscer Motorsports, Pat Musi Racing Engines, and Red Line Oil. “[Amber] is going to be tough. She’s a heck of a driver. We made some changes on her car for this race. She adapted really well. It doesn’t surprise me. She just does an awesome job, but hat’s off to our crew. We worked hard a lot this weekend. We were a little bit behind it seemed like every pass and we made some hefty changes there in the final and it showed up and the car showed out.”

The Franklins were joined all weekend by engine builder Pat Musi and his wife, Liz, who lost their daughter, former Pro Nitrous standout Lizzy Musi, to breast cancer earlier this year.

“I dedicate this to Pat and Liz and losing Lizzy,” Franklin said. “They’re great friends – might as well be family – and to work with them, it just means a lot.”

Franklin qualified third and kicked off race day with a win over Pro Modified icon Tommy Mauney, posting a 3.772 at 202.03 to Mauney’s 3.867. Second-round opponent Cam Clark went red, while Franklin charged to a 3.758 at 202.55 to move on to the semis. Franklin and semifinal opponent Fredy Scriba were both quick off the starting line, but Franklin pulled ahead with a 3.744 at 203.16, while Scriba lifted to a 4.956.

Halsey’s run to the final round in his Brandon Switzer-tuned, Fulton-powered ’68 Camaro started with a 3.741 at 204.60 in the first round on a bye run. He drove around a holeshot advantage by Buddy Perkinson in the second round, running a 3.722 at 204.17 to Perkinson’s 3.807. The four-time world champion posted the first 3.60-second pass of the day, a 3.693 at 203.58, to get around Chris Rini and his 3.744 in the semifinals.

EXTREME PRO STOCK

Past Pro 632 winner Daryl Stewart earned his first career Extreme Pro Stock win at Norwalk earlier this year, then he sat out the next two events. He returned to the PDRA tour in Bristol and picked up where he left off, adding a second consecutive win behind the wheel of his Clayton Murphy-tuned, Kaase-powered Chassis Engineering ’12 Camaro. He moved first in the final round against first-time finalist Jordan Ensslin, then set low E.T. of the event, a 4.125 at 174.96, to deny Ensslin and his 4.189 at 169.64. 

“We came here kind of thinking we were lost a little bit,” Stewart admitted. “We tried to test on Thursday, but we were kind of a mess on Thursday, kind of a mess yesterday, and we were kind of a mess all the way to this point, but we kept digging and digging. Pat [Norcia] from Ram Clutches was on the phone helping us all the way. Joe [Oplawski] from Hyperaktive was right there plugging in. Then Kaase was giving us power. We put our best lick down in the final, which is the way you want to win, so that was the best of all. Once again, all the stars lined up. My son was the only one who wasn’t at Norwalk for our first win, so he came to this one, and deep down, I wanted to win for him.”

Stewart qualified No. 5 before pairing up with Texan Rick Cowger in the first round. His 4.20 at 173.45 was the second-quickest pass of the round, while Cowger slowed to an 8.758. In the heat of the second round, he posted a 4.282 at 155.85 to defeat Jeremy Huffman and his 4.368. On a semifinal bye run, the Floridian coasted to a 5.15 at 99.15. 

Ensslin qualified seventh in his Allen-powered Dark Horse Coffee Company/Golden Gate Casino Las Vegas ’08 Mustang and survived a first-round pedalfest against Mountain Motor Pro Stock veteran Elijah Morton, with Ensslin’s 4.943 at 157.45 beating Morton’s 5.102. He left on No. 1 qualifier Tommy Lee in the second round and drove to a 4.232 at 171.45, while Lee coasted to a 9.401. The young gun turned heads in the semis when he used a holeshot advantage and a 4.178 at 172.21 to knock down points leader and 2021 world champion Chris Powers and his 4.139 at 174.23. 

PRO 632

Pro 632 points leader Amber Franklin came out victorious in a final-round battle between the two most recent world champions in the class. Reigning world champion Jeff Melnick qualified No. 1 and ran well in the first two rounds, but Franklin stepped up with the quickest pass of the event to earn her second win of the season in four final-round appearances. She drove her Musi-powered “OG Jungle Rat” ’69 Camaro to a 4.192 at 170.49 to hold off Melnick and his 4.238 at 169.06. 

“These wins are so hard to earn,” said Franklin, who dedicated the win to the late Lizzy Musi. “The competition is second to none out here, so getting them means everything, and to do it as a family, it’s what we love to do. We dedicated our last wins at ProStars to Lizzy, but this is extra special and definitely for her. To have Pat and Liz Musi here means a lot. We all miss Lizzy so much. All the glory goes to God, and we had Lizzy riding with us this weekend.”

Franklin qualified fourth, then used a first-round single to set low E.T. of the round, a 4.245 at 169.64. She was second-quickest of the second round, where she posted a 4.231 at 169.81 to hold off season opener winner Andy House and his 4.298. She picked up lane choice for the final when she ran a 4.207 at 170.58 to defeat Walter Lannigan Jr. and his 4.244 in the semis. 

Melnick in Alan O’Brien’s Barry Allen-powered Greenbrier Excavating & Paving ’20 Camaro was the second-quickest driver in the first round with his 4.251 at 168.70 to move past Hank Hughes, who coasted across the finish line. Melnick and Jason Ventura left the line together in the second round, but Melnick pulled ahead to win with a 4.224 at 169.19 over Ventura’s 4.389. The Ohio-based driver, who also competed in Top Sportsman 48, took the tree and backed off the starting line on a semifinal bye run. 

PRO EXTREME MOTORCYCLE

Two of the strongest riders in Pro Extreme Motorcycle met up in the final round for the second time in four races. No. 1 qualifier Brunson Grothus continued his class-leading performance with a win over two-time and reigning world champion Chris Garner-Jones. Grothus left first by just a thousandth of a second, then he rode Robert Varela’s turbocharged Dallas Flat Glass Distributors Hayabusa to a weekend-best 4.02 at 185.54 to finish ahead of Garner-Jones and his 4.069 at 172.96. It was Grothus’ second win of the season.

“We definitely sealed the deal,” said Grothus, who thanked Varela and the Grothus Dragbikes team and support system, including his father, his brother, his wife, Dan Wagner, and Tom Klemme. “The bike was absolutely perfect and I’m just lucky I got to ride it. You just needed things to fall into place today. I was here 13 years ago and doubled up. Came back 13 years later and won. I don’t know what it is about this place, but it’s pretty special to me.”

As the No. 1 qualifier, Grothus earned a first-round bye run, which he used to take the tree and back off the starting line. In the semifinals, he left first and ran a 4.033 at 184.22 to take out young gun Brayden Davis, who posted a strong 4.066.

Garner-Jones qualified No. 2 on his nitrous-fed T.T. Jones Racing Hayabusa and ran a 4.12 at 174.57 to get past Tyron Lemons and his 4.569. Semifinal opponent Ashley Owens matched his .048 reaction time, but Garner-Jones stepped up to a 4.068 at 174.01 to beat Owens’ 4.117.

PRO STREET

Pro Street points leader Ethan Steding continued his standout rookie season with his third win of the year. Facing fellow rookie Dan Norris in the final round for the second time, Steding fired off the quickest pass of the event to notch his third win in decisive fashion. He left on Norris and posted a 3.956 at 191.84 in his Todd and Ty Tutterow-tuned, roots-blown P2 Contracting “College Fund” ’24 Camaro, while Norris had problems and had to lift to an 8.03 at 50.77. The victory extended Steding’s points lead as he pursues a Pro Street world championship to join his 2021 Pro Jr. Dragster title.

“We struggled last race – we didn’t even get to make the run in the first round due to a transmission problem,” said the 17-year-old driver. “I’m getting back in my rhythm. I really have to thank my mom, my dad, the whole Wyo Motorsports team – Brad, Ty, KB, Todd, Redfield, Dennis. I can’t think those guys enough. We have a bad team and a bad hot rod and we’re just pulling away. We’re back in the rhythm and hoping for a championship this year. I just have to keep my head up and Todd and Ty will do their job as tuners and I’ve got to do my job as a driver. I have 100% faith in those guys that they can get it done.”

In the first round, Steding ran a 4.124 at 179.44 to defeat Tommy Youmans, who returned to the seat of his turbocharged ’70 GTO but struggled in the opening round. Steding fired off a 4.066 at 189.07 in the second round to get the win over Chris Tuten and his 4.154. Another improved 4.041 at 190.27 over Chris Cadotto’s 5.515 sent Steding to the final round. 

 

Norris in his roots-blown ’22 Mustang set the pace in the challenging opening round with his 4.099 at 185.28, getting the win over Ron Green, who slowed to a 6.267. In a major points-earning move, he took out recent first-time winner Brian Weddle and his 4.487 with a 4.074 at 180.72 in the second round. The Michigan-based driver then held off home track hero Scott Kincaid in the semifinals, running a 4.07 at 191.19 next to Kincaid’s 4.116. 

SUPER STREET

Second-generation small-tire racer Connor McGee has made his presence known in Super Street this season, and that continued at Bristol, where McGee qualified No. 1 for the first time and went on to earn his second win of the year. McGee drove his nitrous-assisted, Fulton-powered ’90 Mustang to low E.T. of the event, a 4.629 at 154.40, in the final round to knock out points leader Dan Whetstine, who ran a 4.743 at 157.89. 

“This is a testament to how hard my dad and I work,” said McGee, who thanked Driven Racing, Fulton Racing Engines, and the family business, Brian’s Heating & Cooling. “We don’t have the biggest team. It’s just me, my dad, and my brother and we run the Super Street car and the Jr. Dragster. It can be a lot of work and late hours in the shop. It just feels good to keep seeing it pay off. That first win wasn’t a fluke. I’m here.”

McGee’s race day started with a tense moment when opponent Brad McBride rode a wheelstand into the centerline and crashed his one-of-a-kind ’63 Volkswagen. McBride walked away uninjured. As the No. 1 qualifier, the 19-year-old ended up with a second-round bye run, where he lifted to a 6.091 at 82.37. He was back in top form for the semifinals against last year’s championship runner-up, Derek Mota. McGee left first and fired off a 4.641 at 159.83 ahead of Mota’s 4.936. 

Whetstine in his ProCharged “Red Velvet” ’90 Mustang qualified third and made it through a tricky first round with a 4.902 at 154.67 over David Knight and his 5.484. He was the second-quickest in the next round against Gage Llamas, winning with a 4.746 at 155.10 to Llamas’ 4.82. He joined McGee in the 4.60s in the semifinals with a 4.67 at 157.36 to take out No. 2 qualifier Tommy Thrasher’s 6.043. 

TOP SPORTSMAN

Two veterans of fast Top Sportsman racing, Dewayne Silance and John Benoit, met up in the Elite Top Sportsman final round. The race was over on the starting line, though, as Benoit left too soon in his Buck-powered ’17 Camaro, while Silance posted a 3.887 on a 3.89 dial-in in his Fulton-powered ’68 Camaro to get the win in his second final round of the season. 

Points leader Mark Reese extended his lead with a second consecutive win in Top Sportsman 48. Driving his ’08 Mustang, Reese left first and ran a 4.311 on a 4.29 dial-in to defeat Dwayne Gallogly and his 4.197 on a 4.18 dial-in in the final round. 

TOP DRAGSTER

Longtime Elite Top Dragster standouts Michael White and past world champion Matt Cooke weren’t the quickest in qualifying, but they used consistency to reach the final round. There, White in his ProCharged ’15 Maddox dragster cut a .006 light and ran a 3.827 on a 3.81 dial-in, while Cooke broke out with a 3.842 on a 3.85 dial-in, handing the win to White. 

Eighty Top Dragster competitors showed up to Bristol, and after the 16 quickest drivers split off into the Elite field, the next 48 quickest drivers made up the Top Dragster 48 field. New Hampshire’s Nick Meloni and Virginia’s TJ Harper were the two drivers left standing in the final round. The two had nearly identical reaction times, then Meloni turned on the win light with his 4.321 on a 4.32 dial-in in his TT Motorsports ’16 Dan Page dragster. Harper wasn’t far off with his 4.357 on a 4.34 dial-in.  

JR  DRAGSTER

The PDRA’s rising stars in the Jr. Dragster classes also took part in the Thunder Valley Throwdown, with Carson Hoyle and Kylie Varnier earning wins in Coolshirt Systems Pro Jr. Dragster presented by Philadelphia Racing Products and Classic Graphix Top Jr. Dragster presented by Philadelphia Racing Products, respectively. In an all-North Carolina final round, Hoyle ran a 7.936 in his ’23 Mike Bos dragster to get closer to the 7.90 index than Kameron Helms, who left first but ran a 7.969 in his ’13 Mike Bos entry.

Top Jr. Dragster championship contenders Varnier and Braydon Crayton squared off in the final round, with Varnier’s better reaction time and 9.113 on a 9.10 dial-in defeating Crayton’s 8.955 on an 8.95 dial-in.