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PDRA
Introduces Elite 16, Makes Adjustments to Entry Fees
PITTSBORO, N.C. (Jan. 10, 2017): At the PRI Show in early
December, the Professional Drag Racers Association (PDRA)
announced that the highly popular Top Sportsman category
will undergo a slight makeover for 2017. The class, which
has brought as many as 88 entries to qualify for 16 spots,
will now offer the chance for 32 or 48 cars to qualify for
every event. All TS entries will qualify together, as
normal. Once qualifying has been completed, the top 16
qualifiers will be drafted into a semi-pro class. This
‘Elite 16’ category, besides coming with greater prestige,
will also pay more to win. The remainder of the field will
run as a 16 car qualified field unless there are 42 or
more total TS entries. If 42 or more total TS cars make a
qualifying pass, Top Sportsman will run as a 32 car field
in addition to the Elite 16. The top 16 qualifiers will be
referred to as MagnaFuel Elite 16, while the bottom 16 or
32 will retain the class’ name of MagnaFuel Top Sportsman.
“We know that there are a lot of Top Sportsman cars that
would like to run with us that cannot qualify with the
Elite 16,” explained Bob Harris. “We also don’t want to
take anything away from the guys that can and do want to
run fast. So we decided to make it two classes. That way
there’s something for everybody. We love the support this
class has received, as well as the reputation it has
regained with the PDRA. We don't want to detract from its
popularity to local competitors who run with us or from
the elite status Top Sportsman has among fast doorslammer
bracket racing.”
The entry fee for Top Sportsman (and Top Dragster) will be
$150 car and driver this season. MagnaFuel Elite 16 offers
$4000 to win, $1000 to runner up, $500 for semis, $300 for
quarters and $200 for first round losers. MagnaFuel Top
Sportsman will be $3500 to win, $1000 to runner up, $400
for semis, $250 for quarters and $150 for first round
losers. Low ETs will be announced at a later date.
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Elite 16 and Top Sportsman
have their own unique championship points. Points will be accumulated in
the category in which the car and driver qualify. All sportsman racers are
allowed to claim seven of the eight events on the 2017 PDRA tour. “We
understand that at some point a racer who is vying for the Top Sportsman
championship may qualify for the Elite 16,” Harris clarified. “Racers are
not allowed to drop down from their qualifying position so points will be
accumulated in the category they qualify for. However, they can choose to
claim any seven of the eight events on the tour. So if a Top Sportsman
racer qualifies for Elite 16 or any of our sportsman racers - Top Dragster
and Juniors included - have to miss an event, it won’t hurt their overall
points.”
Other changes are on the horizon for 2017, as well. The PDRA Bracket Bash
will be back this year and now offers a buy back opportunity for first
round losers. It will cost $75 to buy back with buy backs going directly
into second round. Top Sportsman and Top Dragster entries who fail to
qualify may enter the Bracket Bash at no additional cost. TS and TD
entries who lose first round may buy into the second round of the Bracket
Bash at the $75 buy back fee. The Bracket Bash pays $3000 to win, $750 to
runner up, $300 for semis and $150 for quarters. Bracket Bash entry is
$100. Also knew for the Bracket Bash this year, dial-ins must be 6.99 or
quicker, instead of the 4.99 or quicker requirement of 2016.
“The reason we’re offering the Bracket Bash and the opportunity for Top
Sportsman and Top Dragster guys and girls to run it is to make sure
everybody gets a chance to race during the weekend and get their money’s
worth out of their trip,” Harris noted.
Top and Pro Junior Dragster will see a slight change for 2017, as well.
Entry fee will change from $200 for car and driver and two crew, to $75
for car and driver. Additional crew can be purchased at $50 each, or $75
for starting line access. “We have several Junior Dragster teams that come
with just one crew,” said Harris. “We did not want to punish them for not
bringing at least two crew members, so we adjusted the entry to reflect
each crew member. This should give many of our junior entries a break.
“We’re working hard to continue making this the premier professional
eighth-mile racing organization in the country,” Harris continued “We are
100 percent by the racers, for the racers. The PDRA is a family and the
changes we make moving forward are to benefit our family as a whole. We
hope everyone will take advantages of the opportunities available to race
with the PDRA in 2017. We look forward to seeing everyone at the season
opener, which is just two months away.”
See a complete list of championship points payout
here.
ABOUT THE PDRA
Based in Pittsboro, North Carolina, the Professional Drag Racers
Association is the top sanctioning body in the United States for the sport
of eighth-mile drag racing. The PDRA’s professional categories include Pro
Extreme, Pro Nitrous, Pro Boost, Extreme Pro Stock and Pro Extreme
Motorcycle along with several sportsman and various exhibition categories.
The 2017 PDRA schedule consists of eight national events. For more on the
world’s premier eighth-mile drag racing organization visit
www.pdra660.com.
Follow the PDRA:
Facebook,
Instagram,
YouTube.
Photo: Gary Rowe / PDRA660.com
PRESS CONTACT: Lisa Collier
Professional Drag Racers Association
lisa@pdra660.com
704.692.4636
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