Each year in the Red Line Oil PDRA Drag Racing Series, new drivers join the series and experienced drivers step up to new classes. This year, though, an uncommonly large – and talented – group of rookie drivers made things interesting in the PDRA’s six heads-up categories. This is a roundup of the most notable rookies that made an impact throughout the 2025 season.
Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared in the PDRA Section of DI #197, the 30 Under 30 Issue, in November/December 2025.
Amber Denton – Pro Nitrous
Amber Denton made the jump up to Switzer Dynamics Pro Nitrous after securing her second Pro 632 presented by PTC Torque Converters world championship last season. The daughter of three-time Pro Nitrous world champion Tommy Franklin, Denton reached the final round in just her second Pro Nitrous appearance and followed that with an unforgettable first career win at the Northern Nationals. There, she beat her dad in a side-by-side, all-motor final round behind the wheel of her Musi-powered “OG Jungle Rat” ’69 Camaro. Denton even led the points for much of the season, but early exits at the end of the year set her back to third in the final standings.
Tim Molnar – Pro Nitrous
Numerous seasons driving a big-inch nitrous car in MagnaFuel Elite Top Sportsman presented by PAR Racing Engines prepared 2021 world champion Tim Molnar for his 2025 move up to Pro Nitrous. He threw out the dial-in board and started the season in a Rickie Smith-tuned ’23 Camaro, which he drove to quarterfinal finishes at the first two races. After debuting a new-to-him, Albert-powered GEM Attachments ’69 Camaro later in the season, Molnar added a runner-up finish at the Thunder Valley Throwdown, which was completed at GALOT. Molnar finished the season ranked No. 6 in the championship points standings.
Tim Paap – Pro Nitrous
Like Molnar, Paap made the jump to Pro Nitrous from Elite Top Sportsman, where he was the championship runner-up in 2024. With a star-studded team led by multi-time NHRA Top Sportsman world champion Jeffrey Barker and two-time Elite Top Sportsman world champion Donny “Hollywood” Urban, Paap made a statement in his Pro Nitrous debut as he swept the East Coast Nationals at GALOT. He qualified No. 1 and won in his Musi-powered Paap Auto Body ’16 Corvette. He then sat out the next race to attend his son’s wedding, but rather than leave his car at home, he sent it to the Mid-Atlantic Showdown to race with past Pro Nitrous star turned two-time NHRA Pro Mod world champion Stevie “Fast” Jackson as the fill-in driver. Paap later added another No. 1 qualifier award and a semifinal finish at the Northern Nationals before finishing the year ranked eighth.
John Doc – Pro Boost
After making waves in a variety of classes and formats throughout the Southeast, self-proclaimed “drag vlogger” John Doc made a big step into the Pro Modified ranks, specifically WS Construction Pro Boost presented by P2 Contracting and Ty-Drive. Teamed up with four-time PDRA world champion Jason Harris, Doc made his debut at the season-opening East Coast Nationals at GALOT Motorsports Park in a ProCharged Southern Diamond Company ’67 Mustang. He missed out on the cutthroat 16-car field, as 28 cars attempted to qualify, but he bounced back with semifinal finishes in his next two appearances. Later in the season, he swapped the Mustang for a ’69 Camaro, which finished the season equipped with a new Harts Charger. Doc finished the season in the No. 8 spot.
Jay Cox – Pro Boost
It seems wrong to include Pro Nitrous veteran Jay Cox on a list of rookies, but he made a big switch since his last appearance in the series as a driver. Cox, who won the 2023 Brian Olson Memorial World Finals before stepping away from driving on a full-time basis, converted his fan-favorite Butner Construction “Pumpkin” ’69 Camaro from its traditional big-inch nitrous powerplant to a twin-turbocharged Pro Line engine to compete on a limited basis in big-money Pro Mod races and Pro Boost. He made his Pro Boost debut at the season opener at his home track, GALOT Motorsports Park, and while his five-race campaign only saw first-round exits and a couple DNQs, he certainly turned heads with some wild wheelstands.
Frank Falter IV – Pro Boost
Young gun Frank Falter IV spent the last couple seasons getting up to speed in one of the quickest cars in Laris Motorsports Insurance Elite Top Dragster presented by Greenbrier Excavating & Paving, the supercharged “Candy Man” entry. Falter decided he wanted to go quicker and he wanted to do it between doors, so he moved into Pro Boost midway through the season. While he didn’t qualify in his debut at his home race, the North vs. South Shootout at Maryland International Raceway, Falter made it to the first round at the final three races of the season in his screw-blown “Candy Man” ’69 Camaro.
Fletcher Cox – Pro Street
Retiring from a Hall of Fame career with the Philadelphia Eagles last season freed up Fletcher Cox to pursue a lifelong goal of going drag racing on a high level. After several seasons as a car owner in multiple classes, he got behind the wheel of his nitrous-fed “Training Day” ’69 Camaro and made his Pro Street debut at the second race of the season. With Phil Shuler tuning, Cox reached the semifinals. He then picked up his first of three No. 1 qualifier awards at the Maryland race before earning his first career win at the Thunder Valley Throwdown. Cox ended up third in the final points standings with a win and three semifinal finishes. He also made the quickest run in class history, a 3.829, in Northern Nationals qualifying.
Editor’s Note: Cox was named the Pro Rookie of the Year at the PDRA Championship Awards Banquet in Indianapolis on Dec. 12.
Mikey Sasina – Pro Street
Colorado-based sportsman racer Mikey Sasina found a new home in the PDRA’s Pro Street division, where he brought out a Stevie Jackson and Killin’ Time Racing-prepared, ProCharged ’03 Mustang. He didn’t qualify at the season opener and lost in the opening round at the next two, but he picked up round wins at two of the last three races of the season, ending up just outside the top 10 in points.
Carson Hoyle – Pro 632
Carson Hoyle became the latest PDRA Jr. Dragster program graduate to excel immediately upon moving into a “big car” class, as he made his Pro 632 debut at the second race of the season. His stepdad, Pro Nitrous standout Chris Rini, shook down his Musi-powered ATI Performance ’69 Camaro at the season opener before handing over the proverbial keys to Hoyle. The young gun reached the quarterfinals in his first three appearances and went to the semis at the next two before closing out the year with his first career win at the World Finals to finish third in points. Throughout the season, he cut multiple double-oh reaction times and a perfect light.
Carson Perry – Super Street
North Carolina’s Carson Perry has been around the PDRA since the beginning of the series, but this was his first full season as a driver in Super Street presented by Brian’s Heating & Cooling. Representing Greenbrier Excavating & Paving in a Barry Allen small-block AMC-powered ’00 Camaro, Perry joined a strong group of young guns: eventual world champion Connor McGee, Austin Vincent, and Matt Schalow. He reached the final round at the Mid-Atlantic Showdown, made it the semis at Maryland, then dominated the World Finals weekend, winning the Summit PDRA ProStars, qualifying No. 1, and winning the event. Perry ended up third in the points standings.
This story was originally published on December 17, 2025. 
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