Halsey, Steding, Pluchino PDRA North vs. South Shootout Wins

Jim Halsey scored his second win of the season in Switzer Dynamics Pro Nitrous Saturday night at the Professional Drag Racers Association (PDRA) North vs. South Shootout presented by Line-X and Iron Man Quick Connect Push Bar at Maryland International Raceway. The defending world champion and Maryland native defeated another homestate racer, Fredy Scriba, in a 3.69-second final round to build a solid points lead going into the second half of the eight-race PDRA season.

Along with Halsey, pro class victories went to Kurt Steding in WS Construction Pro Boost presented by P2 Contracting and Ty-Drive, Johnny Pluchino in Liberty’s Gears Extreme Pro Stock presented by AED Competition, Lexi Tanner in $hameless Racing Pro 632, Travis Davis in Drag 965 Pro Nitrous Motorcycle, and Ty Kasper in Menscer Motorsports Pro Street presented by AFCO.

Wes Ervin became the first winner in PDRA’s new small-tire class, AFCO Super Street presented by Menscer Motorsports, after becoming the first No. 1 qualifier on Friday.

In the sportsman classes, the winners were Henry Underwood in MagnaFuel Elite Top Sportsman presented by US Rail, Steve Furr in Lucas Oil Elite Top Dragster presented by Laris Motorsports Insurance, Robbie Crenshaw in MagnaFuel Top Sportsman 32 presented by Vortech Superchargers, and Dickie Smith in Lucas Oil Top Dragster 32 presented by Laris Motorsports Insurance. Donnie Yeatman picked up the win in Edelbrock Bracket Bash presented by COMP Cams in his ’88 Beretta, cutting a .002 light and running 6.603 on a 6.60 dial-in to beat Brandon Bachmeier, who went red in his ’03 S&W dragster.

Wes Ervin

The North vs. South Shootout also included the Jr. Dragster classes, where Nyck Shirkey (Coolshirt Systems Pro Jr. Dragster presented by PRP) and Gavin Wood (Classic Graphix Top Jr. Dragster presented by PRP) were victorious. Shirkey, from Ridgely, Maryland, bounced back from a DNQ at the last race, using a starting line advantage and a 7.915 to beat Chris Suppers’ 7.917, both on a 7.90 index. Wood earned his second win of the season on the starting line when final-round opponent Ayden Tilghman went red, while Wood posted a 9.09 on a 9.03 dial-in for the win.

Pro Nitrous

Going into the Pro Nitrous final round, it was clear the North vs. South Shootout event trophy would stay in Maryland. With defending world champion Jim Halsey representing Havre de Grace and Fredy Scriba representing Millersville, the two drivers threw down one of the…