EXTREME PRO STOCK

Back with the PDRA for the third time in 2016 was the Extreme Pro Stock class, filled with racers who have plenty of experience racing at Maryland International Raceway. Just like in Outlaw 10.5, the Extreme Pro Stock final round was a battle between the two top qualifiers.

Mountain motor Pro Stock veteran John Montecalvo worked his way through eliminations from the number one spot, first running 4.158 on a single in the opening round, then stepping up to a 4.129 in the semifinals against Michigan race winner John Pluchino. Rockingham winner Richard Penland surpassed his qualifying performance in the first round with a 4.147 against Brian Gahm. He received the scheduled bye run into the final round.

The win light came on in Montecalvo’s lane before he even left the starting line, as Penland was .032 red. Montecalvo motored on to a 6.134 to claim his first win with the PDRA.

TOP SPORTSMAN/TOP DRAGSTER

Top Sportsman finalists Glenn Butcher (shown) and Tim Lawrence proved that having the fastest car doesn’t matter much when eliminations roll around. Lawrence, the thirteenth qualifier, left the starting line first in the final round, but broke out with a 4.153 on a 4.18 dial-in. Butcher, who qualified his 1969 Camaro in the sixteenth spot, ran a 4.178 on his 4.16 dial-in to score the event win.

A pair of near-perfect reaction times started off the Top Dragster final round as Travis Laster and Lauren Freer faced off. Laster left the line second by one thousandth of a second, but ran closer to his 4.00 dial with a 4.024. Freer ran 4.112 on a 4.06 dial in her runner-up effort.

Pro Junior Dragster winner Cory Gulitti used a starting line advantage to win over Jarrod Kissinger, both drivers running 7.91 on a 7.90 dial-in. Points leader Mia Schultz broke out on her 8.90 dial-in in the Top Junior Dragster final, but opponent Brayden Davis’ red light gave her the automatic win.

The PDRA will return to action August 11-13, with the 3rd annual PDRA Memphis Drags at Memphis International Raceway in Millington, Tenn.