PDRA Georgia Drags at Valdosta

Words and photos by Marvin T. Smith

The new Professional Drag Racing Association held their second event of their first season at South Georgia Motorsports Park. It was a real barnburner, with record-level performances, great car count, and a great crowd. Only a Saturday night shower put a damper on the event, which had to be completed to empty grandstands on Mother’s Day Sunday morning.

Jason Scruggs

In the headliner class, NAS Racing Pro Extreme, Jason Scruggs came out swinging as the first car in the first qualifying session. His 3.582 held up throughout the event as low elapsed time. Hot on Scruggs’s heals was Frankie Taylor (3.611), Bubba Stanton (3.627), Mick Snyder (3.63), and Eric Dillard, driving the “El General” turbocharged Camaro (3.64) with top speed of the meet 217.88. The bump spot for the 16-car field was a stout 3.865.

Scruggs ran another great 3.590 in the first round to defeat Neal Wantye, but lost to Brandon Snider in round two when he slipped to a 3.64 covered by Snider’s 3.62. Number-two qualifier Frankie Taylor lost in round one when he broke, opening up the field.

In the semifinals, Mick Snyder defeated Brandon Snyder 3.68 to 3.88, and Bubba Stanton defeated Joey Martin 3.707 to a slowing 5.28.

Bubba Stanton (near lane) and Mick Snyder in the final.

The final was a real barnburner. Mick Snyder made his burnout, but Bubba Stanton lost fire before he even made it to the water box. Snyder, in a great show of sportsmanship, waited patiently on the line. After what seemed like hours, Stanton finally fired up, made a very short burnout behind the line, and pulled up to race.  Snyder had problems and slowed to a 4.69 while Stanton took the win with his slowest run of eliminations, a 3.88 in the hot noon-time Georgia sun. Stanton is now undefeated in PDRA competition.