Drag Racing Action Online

Story Phil Hutchison and Courtesy DragZine

Images Geoff Sculley

IHRA Outlaw Nitro Lands at Benson

The IHRA didn’t tip toe around when they announced their ambitious 2026 schedule. In 2025 the origination showed that they could compete with the “Big Boys” and get fans in the seats.

In addition to agreements with existing tracks, the IHRA went in full bore purchasing tracks in heavily ex NHRA locations and if Benson NC is any indication, things are looking up for the racers and fans.

At the Darana Motorsport track formerly known as GALOT, but racers still refer to that name, the turnout of Pro racers was great. Full fields in nearly all the classes with Mountain Motor Pro Stock heavy with 23 cars on the grounds. Over 40 Pro Mod cars in two classes. Fuel Altereds. Great show. And the weather cooperated along with the Ferris Wheel to keep the fans entertained.

Top Fuel

The eight-car field of Top Fuel was led by Jasmine Salinas, who laid down a blistering 3.004 at 285.59 mph. In the finals, it came down to the number one qualifier Salinas, and the number two qualifier, recently married Gary Pritchett from Elkton MD.  Pritchett had an ever-so-slight advantage off the starting line, but Salinas went into instant smoke shutting off. Pritchett kept his foot in it kicking the rods out at the finish line in the win. Expensive way to take the green light, but worth it for the Foley Lewis Top Fuel team.

Racer Kyle Satinstein held down the quick bump with the forementioned Salinas’ 3.004 leading the field. Pritchett was second with a 3.061. Satinstein lost to Salinas in R1 as Texas’ Chuck Loftin went down to Pritchett.

Lex Joon who now calls Indianapolis home lost to Lee Calaway and Missouri racer Scott Palmer got around Texas’ Spenser Massey.

Callaway lost to Pritchett and Salinas put Palmer on the trailer setting up the final.

Funny Car

In 2025 long time racer Del Worsham won the majority of the IHRA events in his Funny Car. Picking up where he left off last season, Worsham claimed the top qualifying spot with a 3.202 at 282.13 mph. Worsham would fall to eventual event winner Dale Creasy in round number two. Creasy went on to face Terry Haddock in the final round, but Haddock was unable to make the call. Creasy coasted down the track to secure the win.

Ten Fuel Floppers were on hand to qualify for the quick eight. Jody Austin and Dave Gallegos made two runs during qualifying but neither made the 3.924 bump.

Earlier Worsham beat Joey Haas then lost to Creasy. Haddock took out Jack Wyatt and John Smith to get to the final.

Top Alcohol Funny Car

At the recent NHRA event at Gainesville, Alcohol Funny Car only had a handful of cars but at Benson, ten Alcohol cars were fighting to get in the eight car field.

Ohio racer Phil Esz ran a 3.546 to grab #1 spot and Bill Naves held down the bump with a 4.906. Virginia racer Melinda King never got her car down the track on a competitive pass and was on the sidelines after qualifying

Esz’s 3.546 remained Low ET of the event. Esz beat Bill Naves and the Injected car of Mick Steele in earlier rounds In a crazy first round Mullins took out former NED champ Chip Beverett with Beverett 3.637 losing to Mullins’ 3.944. Beverett’s reaction time started with a 0.3 killing any chances of the Florida driver winning. Mullins then beat a red lighting DJ Cox putting him the finals against Esz.

Unfortunately, Esz experienced mechanical problems and was unable to get his car to fire for the final round, allowing Mullins to take home the win. Mullins went on to run 3.743 at 201.43 mph.

 

Top Alcohol Dragster

T/AD had thirteen cars vying for an eight car show so getting down the track during qualifying was so important. Indiana engine builder Jamie Noonan took the Samsel Racing A/FD to the top spot with a 3.472.

East Region NHRA Champ Jackie Fricke was #2 with a 3.484 and the blown car of Oregon racer Joey Severance was third with a 3.494. Canadian racer Daniel Flewelling was eighth in the quick field with a 3.604. Not making the show were Megan Smith and recent Gators Super Comp winner Kelly Kundratic.

Noonan, the NHRA Gatornationals winner beat Flewelling and Rachel Curl on his way to the finals as Pennsylvania racer Rich McPhillips in the family A/FD took out the always tough Joey Severence with Low ET of the race with a 3.459 and Jackie Fricke in the semis with a consistent 3.477.

In the finals, the pair left the line side by side, but McPhillips powered down the track to turn on the win light with a 3.493 at 229.78 mph, edging Noonan’s 3.545 at 229.04 mph effort.

Fuel Altereds

Hill, near lane, had nothing but problems in the finals as Austin sped to the Benson win

The nitro-breathing Fueled Altereds class saw Ryan Hill take the number one qualifying spot with a 3.624 at 183.00 mph. Hill faced number two qualifier Cody Austin in the finals.

Austin left the line with a huge advantage. Shortly after the launch, Hill encountered severe tire shake and had to pedal the car multiple times in an attempt to recover. Unfortunately for Hill, Austin was on a clean pass and drove straight to the finish line and the winner’s circle. Austin ran 3.721 at 219.36 mph to Hill’s 5.023 at 104.33 mph.

Outlaw Pro Mod

Hensley, near lane, used a hole shot for the win over Weatherford

Jason Scruggs was the quickest qualifier in the field of fourteen Outlaw Pro Mods. In the final round, Cam Hensley faced Randy Weatherford. Hensley left Weatherford sitting on the starting line and secured the holeshot victory, running 3.600 at 204.66 mph to Weatherford’s quicker but losing 3.569 at 210.90 mph.

Pro Mod

Norton, far lane, used a holeshot in the finals against Harris

In one of the biggest fields of the event, the field of 26 Pro Mods was led by Jason Harris with a strong 3.543 at 211.59 mph qualifying effort.

The final round saw Harris face class newcomer Peter Norton. The two drivers, both coming off recent wins at the Drag Illustrated Winter Series, continued their momentum at the IHRA Outlaw Nitro Series. Harris was caught sleeping at the starting line, allowing Norton to grab the holeshot win and earn his first IHRA victory. Norton ran 3.567 at 210.31 mph to Harris’ quicker but losing 3.545 at 211.86 mph.

Mountain Motor Pro Stock

With the NHRA and the PDRA no longer featuring MMPS, the IHRA has picked the baton and the racers showed up. Nearly two dozen of the big cubic inch cars were at Benson.

Former PDRA champ Alan Drinkwater’s Mustang led the field with a 4.026 at 179.23 mph. Another former champ, Johnny Pluchino was right behind Drinkwater with a 4.032. The field’s bump with a flying 4.100. With so many cars fighting for a spot in the field racers like Dave Huges, Dillon Voss and Kurt Neighbor were sitting in the stands on raceday as their best wasn’t good enough.

The finals featured Johnny Pluchino and young gun Jordan Ensslin. Both cars left the line side by side, with Pluchino holding a slight advantage. The two machines stayed door-to-door the entire way down the track, but it was Pluchino’s Mustang that reached the stripe first. Pluchino ran 4.041 at 178.17 mph to Ensslin’s 4.051 at 176.86 mph.

Small Tire Bratz

The no-time class final featured Cory Reed against Bill Lutz. Reed, driving the Mustang owned by Manny Buginga, parked the car in the winner’s circle for his first IHRA class win.

Other Winners at Benson

Snowmobile Anthony Mini

Super Rod Keith Mayers

Top Dragster Joe DiPasquale, Far lane

Top Sportsman Jay Kirk, Far Lane

Nitro Harley Ryan Peery

Pro Stock Tony Scott, Far Lane

Super Stock Jaymes Rawlings

Stock Dan Fletcher

Hot Rod Jeremy Bargo

Quick Rod Mitchell Harkey