EXTREME PRO STOCK

PDRA Spring Nationals runner-up John Pluchino didn’t need to wait long to get a second chance at a 2016 win. The longtime mountain-motor Pro Stock racer qualified number one with a 4.10 at 174.83, giving him the first-round bye run. He got lucky when Richard Penland red-lit away a 4.12 compared to Pluchino’s 4.15 in the semifinals. The New York team stepped up to a 4.11 in the final against Brian Gahm’s 4.12.

“We’re really glad to be back with the PDRA. We always loved it here. The first race we lost in the final. We were determined this race to finish it up. We got lucky. Brian is a tough competitor. We beat him by one thou in the final. It was really good. It was a hot day. The track was sticky, it was tricky, but we made the right calls and we got the win,” Pluchino admitted.

Outlaw 10.5

Canadian Frank Pompilio swept the DiSomma Racing Engines Outlaw 10.5 competition as the class made its first of two appearances on the PDRA tour. Pompilio drove his steel-bodied, twin-turbocharged 1967 Mustang to a 4.12 at 195.74 to qualify number one. A stout 4.05 at 196.76 in the final round was more than enough to beat doorslammer transmission specialist Mark Micke.

“It was a great weekend. I’m just happy to be here. PDRA puts on a great event. We look forward to coming back at MIR [Maryland International Raceway, July 14-16]. The whole team worked hard and we got a little lucky with a few rounds, but the car performed every round and we put up a number. We’re really happy about that,” Pompilio said, thanking supporters Pro Line Racing and Malfire Mechanical.

PRO JUNIOR DRAGSTER/TOP JUNIOR DRAGSTER

It was a battle of the track owners’ children in the Talbert Pro Junior Dragster final round. Libby Ledford won when Samuel Peterson left fourteen-thousandths too soon. Peterson’s father, Jason, owns and manages US 131 Motorsports Park, while the Ledford family owns Mid Michigan Motorplex in Stanton.

The MegaCorp Top Junior Dragster winner was also decided via red light, as second-generation driver Maximus Butcher gave the win to Alex Kish.

The PDRA Bracket Bash title went to Bill Swain as he ran seven-thousandths of a second slower than his 4.78 dial-in. His opponent, Tim Antinora, encountered traction problems and couldn’t come close to Swain’s performance.

The PDRA will return to action July 14-16, for the PDRA North-South Shootout at Maryland International Raceway.