By Nate Van Wagnen | Drag Illustrated
Derek Ward’s fast-paced start to the 2024 Pro Modified season continued Friday night when he lowered the Professional Drag Racers Association (PDRA) Pro Boost elapsed time national record to qualify No. 1 at the Summit Racing Equipment East Coast Nationals presented by FuelTech at GALOT Motorsports Park. Racing at the Red Line Oil PDRA Drag Racing Series season opener, Ward recorded a 3.555-second pass at 211.76 MPH in the final qualifying session to set the record and claim his first No. 1 qualifier award in WS Construction Pro Boost presented by P2 Contracting and Ty-Drive.
Four-time Switzer Dynamics Pro Nitrous world champion Jim Halsey also went quicker than his own E.T. national record with a 3.608 at 208.84 to qualify No. 1. He’ll need to run within 1% of that performance to back up the record during eliminations.
No. 1 qualifiers in the PDRA’s additional pro classes are JR Carr in Liberty’s Gears Extreme Pro Stock presented by AED Competition, Amber Franklin in PDRA Pro 632, Chris Garner-Jones in Drag 965 Pro Extreme Motorcycle, Ron Green in Menscer Motorsports Pro Street presented by Afco Racing, and Derek Mota in Afco Racing Super Street presented by Menscer Motorsports.
After three qualifying sessions in the sportsman classes, the No. 1 qualifiers are Tim Molnar in MagnaFuel Elite Top Sportsman presented by PAR Racing Engines, KC Ingram in Laris Motorsports Insurance Elite Top Dragster presented by Greenbrier Excavating & Paving, Thomas Brown in MagnaFuel Top Sportsman presented by Corbin’s RV, and Danielle Gonzalez in Laris Motorsports Insurance Top Dragster presented by Younce RV.
The PDRA’s Jr. Dragster classes completed two qualifying sessions, with a final third session set for Saturday morning. Angier, North Carolina’s Lane Morgan is the provisional No. 1 qualifier in Coolshirt Systems Pro Jr. Dragster presented by Philadelphia Racing Products with a 7.901, leading five other drivers that recorded 7.90s. In Classic Graphix Top Jr. Dragster presented by Philadelphia Racing Products, which qualifies off of reaction time, Jason Geryes is the provisional No. 1 qualifier with a .007 reaction time.
Nate Van Wagnen | Drag Illustrated
