Nostalgia Funny Cars, Stars of the PDRA Series All Race at US 131 Motorsports Park~

Top Fuel dragsters, nostalgic nitro Funny Cars, the “Homewrecker” triple engine jet truck, the Larsen Motorsports jet dragsters and, for the first time, the Pro Modified, Pro Stock, Pro 632, Pro Street and Nitrous Motorcycle stars of the PDRA all racing down the high traction concrete-and-asphalt dragway at Michigan’s fastest track.

It can only be the US 131 Northern Nationals, two days of motor racing mayhem featuring three-time NHRA Top Fuel champion Larry Dixon, Gary Pritchett and the Lagana brothers’ track record-holding Nitro Ninja, 18-time NHRA Top Fuel winner Spencer Massey in Pat Dakin’s dragster and Top Fuel’s newest sensation, third generation driver Krista Baldwin, granddaughter of the legendary Chris “The Golden Greek” Karamesines.

The first nitro event of a busy summer at US 131 Motorsports Park offers up a sensory smorgasbord of sights and sounds wedded to the unmistakable smells of nitromethane and burning rubber.  Zero to 100 miles-an-hour in less than a second; zero to 320 in 3.6 seconds.

PDRA qualifying, which begins at 2 pm Friday and continues throughout the day and evening, features two Pro Modified classes (Pro Nitrous and Pro Boost), Extreme Pro Stock, Pro 632, Pro Street (in which Howell’s Bill Riddle is the point leader), Top Sportsman and Top Dragster.  Friday night, the PDRA pros share the strip with a dozen front-motored Top Fuel dragsters, all of them attempting to qualify in sessions at 7 pm and 9 pm for an eight-car field.

Friday’s coup de grace will be delivered by the Larsen Motorsports jet dragsters which will be the last vehicles down the track on opening night.

The pace only intensifies Saturday with a “last chance” qualifying session followed by PDRA eliminations, nostalgia Top Fuel eliminations, nostalgia Funny Car racing featuring Florida’s Mark McElwee and his “Buzz’s Nitro Bomber” 1962 Chevy II and “Joliet John” Lawson and his “Runaway” 1970 Chevy Camaro, and, at 6 pm and 9 pm, 330 mph Top Fuel racing.  Jerry McCart’s one-of-a-kind triple engine jet-powered Ford F-650 pickup truck will also be making passes during the Nitro Show times 6pm and 9pm.

Adult discounted tickets are $25 Friday and $34 Saturday and include full pit access and free parking.  Kids 6-12 are $10 each day. Children under 6 are free with a ticketed adult.  There is a $5 discount on adult tickets purchased in advance at www.us131msp.com.  Tickets purchased at the gate are $30 Friday, and $40 on Saturday.

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MARTIN, Mich. – PDRA point standings after four of eight events in the series.  Hometowns are Michigan unless otherwise indicated.  Numbers in parenthesis indicate races won.

PRO NITROUS – 1. Jim Halsey (2), Harve de Grace, MD, 1968 Camaro, 1863; 2. Tommy Franklin (1), Fredericksburg, VA, 1969 Camaro, 1444; 3. Rickie Smith, King, NC, 2022 Mustang, 1335; 4. Marcus Butner (1), Tobaccoville, NC, 1969 Camaro, 1240; 5. Jay Cox, Smithfield, NC, 1969 Camaro, 1159.

PRO BOOST – 1. Ken Quartuccio (1), Wallingford, CT., 1969 Camaro, 1444; 2. Jason Harris (1), Pittsboro, NC, 1969 Camaro, 1357; 3. Travis Harvey (1), Burlington, NC, 1969 Camaro, 1352; 4. Kurt Steding, Pittsburgh, PA, 2022 Camaro, 1136; 5. Melanie Salemi (1), Buffalo, NY, 2019 Camaro, 1047.

EXTREME PRO STOCK – 1. Chris Powers (1), Carlisle, PA, 2021 Camaro, 1244; 2. Jeremy Huffman, Catawba, NC, 2010 Cobalt, 1133; 3. Elijah Morton, Jacksonville, NC, 2019 Mustang, 1057; 4. Dillon Voss, Live Oak, FL, 2006 Cavalier, 1032; 5. Alan Drinkwater (1), Maitland, FL, 2013 Mustang, 1011.  Also, 6. Dwayne Rice (1), Grove City, OH, 2022 Camaro, 926, and 9. Tony Gillig (1), Huntley, IL, 2010 Pontiac GXP, 781.

PRO 632 – 1. Jeff Melnick (2), Hubbard, OH, 2020 Camaro, 1749; 2. Doug Nicholl (1), Dearborn, 1969 Camaro, 1652; 3. Amber Franklin (1), Fredericksburg, VA, 1969 Camaro, 1461; 4. Lexi Tanner, Rensselaer, IN, 2015 Camaro, 1050; 5. Jason Ventura, Pompano Beach, FL, 1970 Camaro, 949.

PRO STREET – 1. Bill Riddle (1), Howell, 1989 Camaro, 1563; 2. Tim Essick (1), Port Tobacco, MD, 2018 Mustang, 1352; 3. Scott Kincaid (2), Thorn Hill, TN, 1969 Camaro, 1072; 4. Nick Agostino, Markham, Ontario, Canada, 1969 Camaro, 1054; 5. Bill Lutz, Canal Winchester, OH, 1968 Camaro, 1032.

ELITE TOP SPORTSMAN – 1. Donny Urban (2), Selma, NC, 1969 Camaro, 1856; 2. Chris Nyerges, Middlefield, OH, 2020 Corvette, 1248; 3. Bryan LaFlam, Gilbert, AZ, 1967 Mustang, 1146; 4. Henry Underwood (1), Quinton, VA, 1963 Corvette, 1029; 5. Dan Ferguson (1), Clover, SC, 1968 Camaro, 902.

ELITE TOP DRAGSTER – 1. Steve Furr (2), Harrisburg, NC, 1532; 2. Larry Roberts, Laurens, SC, 1334; 3. Pete Maduri (1), Niagara Falls, NY, 1256; 4. Kellan Farmer, Graham, NC, 932; 5. Russ Whitlock, Mocksville, NC ,926.  Also, 7. Kyle Harris (1), Burford, Ontario, Canada, 817.