Rini, Tanner, Pluchino Lead Winners At PDRA Northern Nationals

Just four weeks after Chris Rini scored his long-awaited first victory in Switzer Dynamics Pro Nitrous, the Professional Drag Racers Association (PDRA) veteran raced his way to the winner’s circle yet again Saturday night at the Summit Racing Equipment Northern Nationals presented by Penske Racing Shocks. Racing at Maple Grove Raceway, Rini squared off against three-time world champion Jim Halsey in the final round, running a 3.73-second pass at 202 MPH to get the win.

Along with Rini, the pro class winners were Preston Tanner 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, Daryl Stewart in $hameless Racing Pro 632, and Tim Essick in Menscer Motorsports Pro Street presented by AFCO. Essick’s crew chief, Dan Whetstine, earned his first victory in the PDRA’s new small-tire class, AFCO Super Street presented by Menscer Motorsports.

Sportsman event wins went to Joe Roubicek in MagnaFuel Elite Top Sportsman presented by US Rail, Phil Mollicella in Lucas Oil Elite Top Dragster presented by Laris Motorsports Insurance, Al Davidowski in MagnaFuel Top Sportsman presented by Vortech Superchargers, and Fred Denight in Lucas Oil Top Dragster presented by Laris Motorsports Insurance. Pennsylvania’s own Jason Amey won in Edelbrock Bracket Bash presented by COMP Cams, using a 5.133 on a 5.13 dial-in to beat defending event winner Joe Ithier and his 5.202 on a 5.20 dial-in.

In the PDRA’s Jr. Dragster classes, the event winners were Ethan Steding in Coolshirt Systems Pro Jr. Dragster presented by PRP and Hannah Sheppard in Classic Graphix Top Jr. Dragster presented by PRP. Steding, the son of Pro Boost standout Kurt Steding, cut a .003 light in his P2 Contracting ’20 Mike Bos dragster and ran a 7.96 to beat Katelyn Page’s 7.933, both on a 7.90 index. Sheppard qualified No. 1 and raced her ’22 Halfscale entry to the final round, where she posted an 8.926 on an 8.90 dial-in to win over Brynleigh Allen’s 9.071 on a 9.03 dial-in.

Pro Nitrous

Chris Rini had to wait several years to hoist his first PDRA “660 Man” trophy in Pro Nitrous at the Summer Shootout in July. He had to wait just four weeks to pick up his second one at the Northern Nationals, where he used a 3.73 at 202.00 in Bryant Marriner’s Buck-powered ATI Performance Products ’69 Camaro to defeat Jim Halsey and his off-pace 3.825 at 202.48 in the final round.

“I feel really…