Winners From The PDRA Northern Nationals

Racing in front of a packed house at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park, Johnny Camp charged to his first WS Construction Pro Boost presented by P2 Contracting and Ty-Drive event win in over two years Saturday evening at the PDRA Northern Nationals presented by Talbert Manufacturing. Held in conjunction with the track’s 23rd Northern Nationals presented by Gun Lake Casino, the fifth of eight races on the 2024 Red Line Oil PDRA Drag Racing Series tour saw a mix of first-time winners and world champions park their hot rods in the FuelTech Winner’s Circle.

Switzer Dynamics Pro Nitrous crowned a first-time winner in Michigan’s own Jackie Slone Jr., while Brian Weddle also picked up his first career win in Menscer Motorsports Pro Street presented by Afco Racing. Past Liberty’s Gears Extreme Pro Stock presented by AED Competition world champion Chris Powers picked up his first win in over a year, and reigning PDRA Pro 632 world champion Jeff Melnick earned a second consecutive Northern Nationals win.

Victories in the sportsman classes went to Glenn Butcher in MagnaFuel Elite Top Sportsman presented by PAR Racing Engines, Tony Elrod in Laris Motorsports Insurance Elite Top Dragster presented by Greenbrier Excavating & Paving, Mark Reese in MagnaFuel Top Sportsman presented by Corbin’s RV, and Lucas Salemi in Laris Motorsports Insurance Top Dragster presented by Younce RV. Past Top Dragster world champion Tisha Wilson picked up the win in Edelbrock Bracket Bash presented by COMP Cams after defeating Pro Jr. Dragster standout Zach Shirkey in the final round.

Ryan Harris (Coolshirt Systems Pro Jr. Dragster presented by Philadelphia Racing Products) and Allen Buczkowski (Classic Graphix Top Jr. Dragster presented by Philadelphia Racing Products) were victorious in the Jr. Dragster classes. Harris, the son of Elite Top Dragster standout Kyle Harris, cut a .016 reaction time and ran a 7.978 in the final round to get the win over Demi Cox’s 7.957, both on a 7.90 index. Buczkowski may not have been quick-reacting on the starting line, but final-round opponent Aspyn Kaupa reacted too quickly. Buczkowski posted an 8.972 on an 8.94 dial-in to get the win.

Photo by Tara Bowker

PRO BOOST 
Johnny Camp and his Brandon Stroud-led team battled through adversity all weekend, but their efforts were rewarded with Camp’s first Pro Boost win in just over two years. In the final round, Camp in his ProCharged “Hells Bells” ’69 Camaro left on reigning world champion…