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BRISTOL, Tenn. (Aug. 18, 2025) – Just a couple weeks after a memorable stop in Michigan, the Red Line Oil PDRA Drag Racing Series is returning to the Southeast this week for the sixth of eight races on the 2025 schedule, the Thunder Valley Throwdown presented by Larry Jeffers Race Cars. Set for Aug. 21-23 at the historic Thunder Valley Dragway in Bristol, Tenn., the Thunder Valley Throwdown will serve as a critical point in the season for drivers fighting for 2025 PDRA world championships.
"There is no room for errors at this point in the year," said Tyler Crossnoe, series director, PDRA. "We came off a midseason break at the Northern Nationals in Michigan and we're rolling right into Bristol. Our final two races of 2025 aren't that far off either. We've seen some clear leaders emerge in some classes, but most of our classes are wide open and will see championship battles come down to the wire. Four of last year's Bristol winners went on to win championships, so this is a big race for anyone who wants to make a move as we get into championship discussions."
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Switzer Dynamics Pro Nitrous rookie Amber Denton padded her points lead when she earned her first career win in the class two weeks ago at the PDRA Northern Nationals at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park in Martin, Michigan. Driving her Musi-powered "OG Jungle Rat" '69 Camaro, she defeated her father, three-time world champion Tommy Franklin, in the final round. Franklin is now two rounds behind his daughter, while Billy Albert is just over one round behind Franklin as he pursues his first win.
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Another second-generation driver, Ty Tutterow, took over the WS Construction Pro Boost presented by P2 Contracting and Ty-Drive at Martin by adding a runner-up finish to his Maryland win in Justin Smith's screw-blown Quik Fuel '69 Camaro. Two-time and reigning world champion Jason Harris is less than one round behind Tutterow, and he enters Bristol as the defending event champion. Johnny Camp, who's consistently won rounds at every race, is mere qualifying points behind Harris.
Two young guns are on top of the points standings in Liberty's Gears Pro Street presented by Menscer Motorsports, with Blake Denton holding a solid lead over defending world champion Ethan Steding. Denton has driven the nitrous-fed "Bonnie" Lizzy Musi tribute '69 Camaro to the final round at all four races, winning two of them. Steding defeated Denton at the last race to collect his second win of his championship defense season. Bill Riddle, the 2023 world champion, rounds out the top three. Pro Street is competing for a boosted $10,000 payday at Bristol thanks to a Power Purse bonus from Thorn Hill, Tennessee's Clinch Mountain Transport.
Alan Drinkwater, the 2023 AED Competition Fuel Systems Extreme Pro Stock world champion, rolled to a second consecutive win at Martin in his Kaase-powered Flatout Gaskets '08 Mustang, extending his points lead. North Carolina's Jeremy Huffman is just a couple rounds behind Drinkwater as he pursues his second win of the season. Two-time and reigning world champion Chris Powers is also in the mix in third place after winning the season opener. Extreme Pro Stock's presenting sponsor at Bristol is Tennessee's own Allen Competition Racing Engines.
Past PDRA Pro 632 presented by PTC Torque Converters world champion Jeff Melnick kept his points lead going strong with another win at Martin. It was his third consecutive year winning the Michigan race, as well as his second straight win on the PDRA tour in Alan O'Brien's Barry Allen-powered Greenbrier Paving & Excavating '20 Camaro. His opponent in both finals was Lexi Tanner, who holds the No. 2 spot in points with three runner-up finishes and two No. 1 qualifier awards. Walter Lannigan's win at the season opener is keeping him in the top three.
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The Northern Nationals was an off weekend for PDRA Super Street presented by Brian's Heating & Cooling, which is back in action at Bristol. Connor McGee, who dominated the Thunder Valley Throwdown last year, similarly swept the North vs. South Shootout in Maryland in his Fulton-powered '90 Mustang to lead the points. Matt Schalow moved up to second by racing to a runner-up finish at Maryland. Austin Vincent, who earned his first career win at Virginia, is third.
Championship battles are also developing in the PDRA's sportsman classes, where the points leaders are Bryan LaFlam in MagnaFuel Elite Top Sportsman presented by PAR Racing Engines, Kyle Harris in Laris Motorsports Insurance Elite Top Dragster presented by Greenbrier Excavating & Paving, Jeff Talvacchio in MagnaFuel Top Sportsman, and Nick Meloni in Laris Motorsports Insurance Top Dragster presented by Derrick Wolfe Trucking. Edelbrock Bracket Bash presented by COMP Cams will give bracket racers from Tennessee and beyond a place to race on the PDRA's national stage.
Despite a mid-season push by Alyssa Rabon, Makenzie Alexander has held on to the lead in Paragon Pro Jr. Dragster presented by Philadelphia Racing Products. Jayden Hogan is the points leader in Classic Graphix Top Jr. Dragster presented by Philadelphia Racing Products, but Knox Schween isn't far behind.
The Thunder Valley Throwdown will kick off Thursday starting with pre-race testing until 5 p.m., when Top Sportsman and Top Dragster will start qualifying. Jr. Dragster qualifying will begin Friday at 8:30 a.m., while pro qualifying sessions are set for noon, 4:15 p.m., and 8 p.m. Jr. Dragster qualifying will wrap up Saturday at 8:30 a.m., with pro eliminations set to fire up at noon. The FuelTech Winner's Circle celebration is scheduled for 9:30 p.m.
Tickets are available for $20 for Thursday, $25 for Friday, and $30 for Saturday. Kids and Junior tickets are also available. Purchase tickets at www.PDRA660.com or at the gate.
PDRA fans around the world can catch all the action live on the official event live stream through www.FloRacing.com.
Photos by Tara Bowker
