TOP SPORTSMAN/TOP DRAGSTER

Aaron Glaser, the most recent PDRA Top Sportsman winner from Michigan last month, continued his momentum with a career-first three-second pass (3.987/181.57) to earn the number-one spot in Virginia, but it was number-six qualifier Bruce Thrift standing tall with the winner's hardware when the racing was over.

While Glaser lost in the opening round, Thrift successfully turned back challenges from Tim Lawrence, number-two starter Ronnie Davis, and John Lassiter before beating close friend Glenn Butcher for the win after Butcher redlighted by nine thousandths in the final.

In Top Dragster Derrik Sholar started from the 13th qualifying slot, then drove his 2008 Race Tech car past Alan O'Brien, a redlighting (-.001) Danny Payne and Craig Sullivan to set up the final against 14th-place qualifier Travis Harvey.

Both drivers dialed in 4.19 to set up a heads-up start, where the race was ultimately decided as Sholar left with an excellent .006 reaction leading to a 4.201 pass, while Harvey ran on the number with a 4.194, but his .022 at the tree translated to a nine-thousandths deficit at the finish line.

With the win in Pro Jr. Dragster, Preston Tanner of Renssalaer, Ind., finished one position better than his result in the Michigan PDRA race last month, while Willowbrook, Ill's. David Roloff won a double-breakout Top Jr. Dragster final.

The PDRA returns to action Aug. 14-16, when it visits Osage Casino Tulsa Raceway Park for the inaugural PDRA Under the Lights, a special-event nighttime race. Complimentary tickets will be available at many retail outlets near the track, or may be printed for free from http://www.pdra660.com/free-tickets/2014/tulsa/.

David Roloff (near lane) against Connor Glaser.  (Chris Haverly photo)