Race Crew Media

BUDDS CREEK, Md. (June 9, 2025) – After a rainy forecast led to the cancellation of the most recent event on the 2025 Red Line Oil PDRA Drag Racing Series tour last month, the all-eighth-mile drag racing series is rolling full steam ahead to Maryland International Raceway this weekend. The BigStuff Total Power Management North vs. South Shootout, June 12-14, marks the halfway point in the eight-race PDRA schedule. It's also the second-to-last race for drivers to earn points towards a spot in the Summit Racing Equipment PDRA ProStars all-star event at the end of the year.

"Maryland is one of the 'legacy' tracks on our tour," said Tyler Crossnoe, series director, PDRA. "MIR has played host to some incredible Pro Modified, Mountain Motor Pro Stock, and sportsman drag racing over its decades of existence. The fans in this area are passionate about our style of drag racing, and they show up whether it's hot and sunny or raining. Plus, a bunch of our racers live in Maryland, Virginia, and the surrounding states, so it's a popular stop for our teams too."

Maryland holds fond memories for Switzer Dynamics Pro Nitrous points leader Marcus Butner, as it was the site of his first career victory in the class in 2023. He's also the most recent winner on tour after winning the Travis Mills Foundation Mid-Atlantic Showdown presented by Red Line Shirt Club at Virginia Motorsports Park. He wheeled his Jay Cox-tuned, Musi-powered "Heartbreaker" '69 Camaro to a final-round victory over rookie Amber Denton, who's second in points. Denton, a two-time Pro 632 world champion, reached the final in just her second start in the class. She won last year's North vs. South Shootout in Pro 632. Denton's father, three-time Pro Nitrous world champion Tommy Franklin, sits third with a runner-up finish and a No. 1 qualifier award. He's the defending event champion.

Melanie Salemi, who won the season opener in Eddie Whelan's screw-blown Al-Lee Installations "Purple Reign" '68 Firebird, maintained her lead through Virginia and enters Maryland as the points leader in WS Construction Pro Boost presented by P2 Contracting and Ty-Drive. Her challengers include two-time and reigning world champion Jason Harris, who enters the weekend second in points with a runner-up finish at Virginia. Johnny Camp is third with a runner-up to Salemi at the season opener.

Liberty's Gears Pro Street presented by Menscer Motorsports newcomer Blake Denton accumulated a solid points lead in the first two races, earning a win and a runner-up. The 2023 Super Street world champion also qualified No. 1 at both races driving the nitrous-fed "Bonnie" '69 Camaro formerly driven by the late Lizzy Musi. Another young gun in the class, defending event winner Ethan Steding, is the latest winner on tour, putting him second in points as he returns to the track where he doubled up with his father, Pro Boost standout Kurt Steding, on Father's Day weekend last year. Two-time world champion Tim Essick, who calls Maryland International Raceway his home track, is third due to consistent semifinal finishes at both races.

North Carolina's Jeremy Huffman is the points leader in AED Competition Fuel Systems Extreme Pro Stock for the first time in his career following his first career win at the Mid-Atlantic Showdown in his 3V Performance-powered '10 Cobalt. Two past world champions are in pursuit. Two-time and reigning world champion Chris Powers sits second with a win at the season opener and No. 1 qualifier awards at both races. Alan Drinkwater, the 2023 world champion, is in third chasing his first win of the season to supplement runner-up and semifinal finishes. Extreme Pro Stock will race for $10,000 to win at Maryland thanks to a Power Purse double-up from Powers and his business, C.R. Powers HVAC, which is also the class presenting sponsor for the event.

Longtime PDRA Pro 632 presented by PTC Torque Converters standout Walter Lannigan is pursuing his first career world championship in the class. He's currently the points leader with a win and a semifinal finish in Chris Holdorf's Nelson-powered C&C Concrete Pumping '10 GTO. Jeff Melnick, the 2023 world champion, raced to the final round at Virginia, putting him second in the standings. Lexi Tanner, the runner-up to Lannigan at the season opener, is third. Pro 632 will also compete for an expanded payday through the Power Purse program, as Pro Comm E.L.S. LLC is bumping the payout up to $8,000 to win.

Austin Vincent took over the lead in PDRA Super Street presented by Brian's Heating & Cooling by just a few points when he earned his first career win in his Vincent Performance '88 Mustang at the last race on tour. His No. 1 qualifier awards at both races put him just ahead of fellow young gun Connor McGee, who won the season opener and reached the semis at Virginia. Another young wheelman, Matt Schalow, is third in points but suffered a major setback at the last race when he walked away from a crash in eliminations.

The North vs. South Shootout will also feature side-by-side competition in the PDRA's sportsman categories, where the points leaders are Ron Whitlock in MagnaFuel Elite Top Sportsman presented by PAR Racing Engines, Alan O'Brien in Laris Motorsports Insurance Elite Top Dragster presented by Greenbrier Excavating & Paving, Ken Langlois in MagnaFuel Top Sportsman, and Nick Meloni in Laris Motorsports Insurance Top Dragster presented by Derrick Wolfe Trucking. DMV area bracket racers will have the opportunity to compete in the event through Edelbrock Bracket Bash presented by COMP Cams.

Top Sportsman and Top Dragster will race for increased payouts this weekend. In memory of the seven members of the southern Maryland community who lost their lives on Flight 5342 in the January 29th plane crash over the Potomac River, CMR Crane and Rigging is supporting a Power Purse increase to $6,000 to win in the two classes.

Virginia's Makinze Alexander has maintained her the points lead in Paragon Pro Jr. Dragster presented by Philadelphia Racing Products with a win and a runner-up finish. The top three are stacked up in Classic Graphix Top Jr. Dragster presented by Philadelphia Racing Products, where Will O'Brien recently took over the points lead.

Racers competing in the North vs. South Shootout can test on Thursday, while sportsman qualifying kicks off Thursday at 5 p.m. 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. Saturday's on-track activities begin with Jr. Dragster final qualifying at 8:30 a.m., with pre-race ceremonies and the first round of pro eliminations at noon. The FuelTech Winner's Circle is scheduled for 9:30 p.m.

Tickets are on sale now for $20 for Thursday, $25 for Friday, and $30 for Saturday. Discounted junior and kids tickets are also available, while kids 5 and under get in free. Tickets can be purchased 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