Following a hot start a few weeks ago, the 2025 Red Line Oil PDRA Drag Racing Series season will continue this weekend at the Travis Mills Foundation Mid-Atlantic Showdown presented by Red Line Shirt Club, May 1-3, at Virginia Motorsports Park. The first of two races on the schedule at the PDRA’s home track, the Mid-Atlantic Showdown will feature competition in all seven of the series heads-up categories, as well as several sportsman and Jr. Dragster classes.
“There’s nothing like coming ‘home’ to Virginia Motorsports Park,” said Tyler Crossnoe, PDRA series director and VMP vice president. “This is our home base, as well as the home track for a lot of our racers. Having raced here since the beginning of the PDRA in 2014, we’ve also built up quite a fanbase at this track. The local fans know when their favorite PDRA racers are coming to town. After kicking off the season at GALOT, we’re ready to build on what we started with another big race this weekend at VMP.”
In Switzer Dynamics Pro Nitrous, a new championship contender has emerged, as rookie Tim Paap qualified No. 1 and won the season opener in his Pro Nitrous debut. But he won’t be behind the wheel this weekend due to a schedule conflict. Instead, he’s tapped Pro Modified star and former Pro Nitrous wheelman Stevie “Fast” Jackson to wheel his Musi-powered Paap Auto Body/KTR Corvette at the Mid-Atlantic Showdown. Jackson will do battle with former rivals like three-time world champion Tommy Franklin, as well as rookies like two-time Pro 632 world champion Amber Denton and past Elite Top Sportsman world champion Tim Molnar.
Perennial WS Construction Pro Boost presented by P2 Contracting and Ty-Drive contender Melanie Salemi is on top after a dominant performance at the East Coast Nationals, where she qualified No. 1 and won in the screw-blown Al-Lee Installations “Purple Reign” ’68 Firebird. Another consistent standout, Johnny Camp, trails Salemi after meeting her in the final round. Reigning World Series of Pro Mod champion Steve King and past NMCA Pro Mod champion Ty Tutterow are also near the top of the points standings following semifinal finishes at the season opener.
The Mid-Atlantic Showdown marks the debut of the new Fab4 Shootout in Pro Nitrous and Pro Boost. Taking place during Friday’s second round of qualifying, the Fab4 Shootout presented by the Travis Mills Foundation will take the top four qualifiers after the first session, pairing No. 1 vs. 4 and No. 2 vs 3. The winners will square off for $2,000 to win and $500 to runner-up in the final qualifying session. These runs will count towards qualifying and will be run under normal eliminations rules and format.
Fredericksburg, Virginia’s own Blake Denton rolls into his home race as the points leader in Liberty’s Gears Pro Street presented by Menscer Motorsports thanks to a breakout performance at the season opener. In just his second Pro Street appearance, the 2023 Super Street world champion qualified No. 1 and won in the Lizzy Musi tribute “Bonnie” ’69 Camaro, giving the nitrous-assisted combo its first win. South Carolina’s Chris Tuten is on the verge of his first win in the class after a runner-up finish to Denton. Richard Reagan, winner of the Brian Olson Memorial World Finals at VMP last fall, joined two-time world champion Tim Essick in the semifinals at the season opener.
Two-time and reigning AED Competition Fuel Systems Extreme Pro Stock world champion Chris Powers is the points leader once again, as he swept the East Coast Nationals in his Sonny’s Racing Engines ’21 Camaro with a No. 1 qualifier award and event win. Alan Drinkwater, the 2023 world champion, is second in points after falling to Powers in the final round. North Carolinians Jeremy Huffman and Elijah Morton made it to the semis. Boone Motorsports is the Extreme Pro Stock presenting sponsor for the Mid-Atlantic Showdown.
Longtime PDRA Pro 632 presented by PTC Torque Converters standout Walter Lannigan put his name at the top of the points standings when he won the season opener in the Nelson-powered Freedom Grow ’10 GTO. His final-round opponent was Lexi Tanner, who earned her first No. 1 qualifier award, and like Lannigan, is chasing her first world championship. Pro Nitrous star Chris Rini reached the semis at the East Coast Nationals along with past Pro 632 world champion Jeff Melnick.
PDRA Super Street presented by Brian’s Heating & Cooling young gun Connor McGee kicked off his season with a win in his Fulton-powered ’90 Mustang at the East Coast Nationals, putting him in the points lead. Virginia Beach’s Matt Schalow met McGee in a battle of the young guns in the final round, while another young gun, Austin Vincent qualified No. 1 and reached the semifinals.
The Mid-Atlantic Showdown is the season opener for Drag 965 Pro Extreme Motorcycle, which will compete at five of the PDRA’s eight national events this season. Brunson Grothus is the reigning world champion.
The points leaders in the PDRA’s sportsman categories going into Virginia are Jeremy Creasman in MagnaFuel Elite Top Sportsman presented by PAR Racing Engines, Steve Furr in Laris Motorsports Insurance Elite Top Dragster presented by Greenbrier Excavating & Paving, Ken Langlois in MagnaFuel Top Sportsman, and Chad Traylor in Laris Motorsports Insurance Top Dragster presented by Derrick Wolfe Trucking. Edelbrock Bracket Bash presented by COMP Cams is also on the event lineup, giving local bracket racers a place to compete on the PDRA’s national stage.
Virginia native Makinzie Alexander is the points leader in Paragon Pro Jr. Dragster presented by Philadelphia Racing Products, while Knox Schween leads the way in Classic Graphix Top Jr. Dragster presented by Philadelphia Racing Products.
Before racing begins at the Mid-Atlantic Showdown, PDRA will hold a Pre-Race Party on Wednesday, April 30 from 6-10 p.m. at the Buffalo Wild Wings located at 1156 Temple Ave. in Colonial Heights, Virginia. A number of drivers will be on hand to meet fans, including two-time Pro Street world champion Tim Essick and reigning Top Sportsman world champion Mark Reese.
Racers will get the opportunity to test on Thursday, while sportsman qualifying kicks off Thursday at 5 p.m. Jr. Dragster qualifying will begin Friday at 8:30 a.m., while pro qualifying sessions are set for noon, 4:15 p.m., and 8 p.m. Saturday’s on-track activities begin with Jr. Dragster final qualifying at 8:30 a.m., with pre-race ceremonies and the first round of pro eliminations at noon. The FuelTech Winner’s Circle is scheduled for 9:45 p.m.
Tickets are on sale now for $20 for Thursday, $25 for Friday, and $30 for Saturday. Discounted junior and kids tickets are also available, while kids 5 and under get in free. Tickets can be purchased at www.PDRA660.com or at the gate.
PDRA fans around the world can catch all the action live on the official event live stream through www.FloRacing.com.
