Mustafa Buhumaid, Pro Extreme winner.

PDRA at Dallas

Season begins with Texas Nationals

Words by Ian Tocher
Photos by Joe McHugh

It looked for a time like Mother Nature was going to be the only winner at the inaugural Professional Drag Racers Association Texas Nationals, but perseverance by PDRA officials and race teams overcame persistent rain showers that completely eliminated Friday's schedule and drastically shortened Saturday's action.

In the end, qualifying and a full day's worth of racing were completed on Sunday, Mar. 22, highlighted by Mustafa Buhumaid of the United Arab Emirates winning the first Pro Extreme race of his career.

Also picking up pro class wins in the PDRA season opener at the Texas Motorplex were polesitter Tommy Franklin in Pro Nitrous, Kevin Fiscus with the second Pro Boost victory of his career, and reigning Pro Extreme Motorcycle Champion Eric McKinney.

Sportsman class victories went to current Top Sportsman champ Dan Ferguson, local favorite J.R. Baxter in Top Dragster, and Kendal Little and Aaron Jordan in Pro Jr. Dragster and Top Jr. Dragster, respectively.

PRO EXTREME  

The second round of NAS Racing Pro Extreme qualifying was marred by the violent top-end crash of Gene Hector in his brand-new 2015 Corvette. The car was essentially destroyed in the fiery rollover crash, but Hector emerged unscathed from the wreck.

The official qualifying and eliminations sheets show Buhumaid as a resident of Spartanburg, SC, but that's just where his screw-blown '69 Camaro is housed and prepared between events. The Dubai-based driver makes the 10,000-mile, one-way trek on a routine basis to attend PDRA events and made this visit pay off with the NAS Racing Pro Extreme win over Brandon Snider in the final round of the PDRA Texas Nationals.

"This was not an easy win," Buhumaid's crew chief, Al Billes, stated. "I came here with no practice on this car and we struggled a little early trying to find the right tune-up, but it gradually came together and Mustafa did a great job driving. He made the difference in winning here."  

After going 3.64 at 211.20 to qualify sixth, Buhumaid beat 2014 class champion Bubba Stanton, veteran Texas racer Gaylen Smith and past class champ Todd Tutterow with a .051 holeshot in the semis before meeting Snider.