{"id":102017,"date":"2025-08-23T05:44:16","date_gmt":"2025-08-23T05:44:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/racepages.com\/Videos\/drag-racing\/uncategorized\/franklin-p-tanner-b-denton-morton-liberty-and-mcgee-lead-rain-shortened-qualifying-at-pdra-thunder-valley-throwdown\/"},"modified":"2025-08-23T05:44:16","modified_gmt":"2025-08-23T05:44:16","slug":"franklin-p-tanner-b-denton-morton-liberty-and-mcgee-lead-rain-shortened-qualifying-at-pdra-thunder-valley-throwdown","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/racepages.com\/Videos\/drag-racing\/uncategorized\/franklin-p-tanner-b-denton-morton-liberty-and-mcgee-lead-rain-shortened-qualifying-at-pdra-thunder-valley-throwdown\/","title":{"rendered":"Franklin, P. Tanner, B. Denton, Morton, Liberty and McGee Lead Rain-Shortened Qualifying at PDRA Thunder Valley Throwdown"},"content":{"rendered":"

Three-time Switzer Dynamics Pro Nitrous world champion qualified No. 1 Friday night at the PDRA Thunder Valley Throwdown presented by Larry Jeffers Race Cars at Bristol Dragway, marking the third time in five races he\u2019s led the field into race day on the 2025 Red Line Oil PDRA Drag Racing Series tour. Franklin and the rest of the PDRA racers only had two qualifying sessions to get qualified, as rain showers prevented the third and final session from taking place.\u00a0<\/p>\n

No. 1 qualifier awards also went to Preston Tanner in WS Construction Pro Boost presented by P2 Contracting and Ty-Drive, Blake Denton in Liberty\u2019s Gears Pro Street presented by Menscer Motorsports, Elijah Morton in AED Competition Fuel Systems Extreme Pro Stock presented by Allen Competition Engines, Nicole Liberty in PDRA Pro 632 presented by PTC Torque Converters, and Connor McGee in PDRA Super Street presented by Brian\u2019s Heating & Cooling.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The PDRA\u2019s sportsman divisions also completed two qualifying sessions. The No. 1 qualifiers in the sportsman ranks were Glenn Butcher in MagnaFuel Elite Top Sportsman presented by PAR Racing Engines, Jody Stroud in Laris Motorsports Insurance Elite Top Dragster presented by Greenbrier Excavating & Paving, Ronnie Proctor in MagnaFuel Top Sportsman 32, and Russ Whitlock in Laris Motorsports Insurance Top Dragster 32 presented by Derrick Wolfe Trucking.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Prince George, Virginia\u2019s Chloe Geryes secured the No. 1 qualifier spot in Paragon Pro Jr. Dragster presented by Philadelphia Racing Products, using a 7.901-second run against the 7.90 index to lead a field of 40 young racers attempting to qualify for the 32-car field. Knox Schween, the most recent winner on tour in Classic Graphix Top Jr. Dragster presented by Philadelphia Racing Products, qualified No. 1 with a .001 reaction time.\u00a0<\/p>\n

PRO NITROUS<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Most of the Pro Nitrous class struggled to throw down serious numbers, but three-time world champion Tommy Franklin made the most of the conditions and recorded a 3.784 at 202.67 to qualify No. 1 for the third time this year. Franklin, who upgraded to a new Musi-powered \u201cJungle Rat 3.0\u201d \u201969 Camaro since winning Bristol last year, is coming off of a runner-up finish to daughter and points leader Amber Denton at the recent Northern Nationals. The father-daughter duo doubled up at Bristol last year, with Denton winning in Pro 632. Now they\u2019re pursuing another all-Tommy Franklin Motorsports final round on Saturday.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s tricky out here. That racetrack\u2019s been really hot, but we made a nice lap in Q1, so we\u2019ll be ready to go for first round,\u201d said Franklin, who thanked his team and partners like Pat Musi Racing Engines and Red Line Oil. \u201cIt\u2019s probably going to be hot most of the day [Saturday], so I think it\u2019ll be a lot like what we were out there in today. There\u2019s a younger girl [Denton] in front of me in points that I\u2019m trying to chase down, so I need a little bit of confidence for that right now. Our team\u2019s good. I\u2019m always confident in what we can do out there. I\u2019m ready to go.\u201d<\/p>\n

Erie, Pennsylvania\u2019s John Vergotz missed a career-first No. 1 spot by just five thousandths of a second, as he drove his Musi-powered Vergotz Racing \u201969 Camaro to a 3.789 at 199.82 to end up second. Defending world champion Fredy Scriba qualified third with a 3.823 at 201.52 in his Musi-powered \u201cSorcerer\u201d \u201969 Camaro.\u00a0<\/p>\n

PRO BOOST<\/strong><\/p>\n

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After making a string of clean passes in Thursday testing, young gun Preston Tanner and tuner Jeff Pierce kept the screw-blown \u201cSweetheart\u201d \u201915 Corvette rolling in Friday qualifying. His 3.674 at 203.98 put him in the provisional No. 1 spot after the opening qualifying session, and while he didn\u2019t improve in the second session, none of the other 18 drivers passed him. It\u2019s Tanner\u2019s first time qualifying No. 1 since the 2022 season.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are really excited because we have been working the past couple of years to really get back up on this horse, and it feels nice to finally get one,\u201d said Tanner, who thanked his family-based crew and supporters like Wyo Motorsports, G-Force Race Cars, M&M Transmissions, Manhattan Collision Center, AJ Wendt & Son Trucking, Tanner Transport, PD Products, and Talbert Manufacturing. \u201cGoing into race day No. 1 in this kind of field really doesn\u2019t mean a whole bunch because every racer here is stout. What I plan to do \u2013 and what I started in Michigan \u2013 was I just gave each racer the same every single time and I just work on myself. I don\u2019t worry about who\u2019s in the other lane.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jason Harris, who is the defending event winner as well as the two-time and defending world champion, qualified No. 2 with a 3.679 at 205.98 in his ProCharged Southern Diamond Company \u201cParty Time\u201d \u201969 Camaro. Randy Weatherford, who won the recent Northern Nationals in his Hart\u2019s Charger-boosted WS Construction \u201921 Camaro, qualified third with a 3.709 at 208.23.\u00a0<\/p>\n

PRO STREET<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Blake Denton, who kicked off his sophomore season in Pro Street earlier this year by qualifying No. 1 at the first two races, added a third No. 1 qualifier award Friday night. He was one of just two drivers to cover the Bristol eighth mile in less than 4.10 seconds with his 4.036 at 191.73 in the nitrous-assisted, Musi-powered \u201cBonnie\u201d \u201969 Camaro that serves as a rolling tribute to the late Lizzy Musi. Denton will start race day with a marquee matchup against defending world champion Ethan Steding, who sits No. 2 behind Denton in the points standings.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cOver the break we had to put 110 pounds in the car and we went to work with Jeff [Pierce, tuner] and brainstormed where to put the weight because that\u2019s a lot of weight to disperse in the car and not get it upset,\u201d said Denton, who thanked Tommy and Judy Franklin, Pat and Liz Musi, wife Amber Denton, and the Tommy Franklin Motorsports team. \u201cThe car seems really happy. I know a lot of people struggled this weekend with the track, but the car is speaking for itself, and I think what Jeff\u2019s got going right now is great. I\u2019ve got a good car underneath me and I\u2019ve just gotta do my job. It looks like I have Ethan first round, so that\u2019s the championship in the making, hopefully.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chris Tuten, who damaged his turbocharged \u201987 Mustang in a crash at the Maryland race in June, returned on a high note by qualifying second with a 4.098 at 196.90. Newcomer Adrian Herrera qualified a career-best third on the strength of a 4.151 at 184.65 in his ProCharger-boosted E-Shoot Systems \u201967 Chevelle.\u00a0<\/p>\n

EXTREME PRO STOCK<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Mountain Motor Pro Stock stalwart Elijah Morton made a triumphant return to Extreme Pro Stock at Bristol, as he qualified No. 1 for the first time this season after sitting out the recent Northern Nationals. The Swansboro, North Carolina-based driver rolled to a 4.174 at 173.72 in his Allen-powered Morton Brothers Motorsports \u201919 Mustang in the first session and held the top spot through the second session. Morton\u2019s engine builder, Allen Competition Engines in Surgoinsville, Tenn., is the class presenting sponsor for the weekend.\u00a0<\/p>\n

For the fourth consecutive race, 2023 world champion and points leader Alan Drinkwater qualified second, posting a 4.179 at 173.41 in his Kaase-powered Flatout Gaskets \u201908 Mustang. Jeremy Huffman ran a 4.183 at 172.67 in his 3V Performance-powered \u201910 Cobalt to qualify third.\u00a0<\/p>\n

PRO 632<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Nicole Liberty earned her first career No. 1 qualifier award in Pro 632 when her 4.253 at 166.89 held up as the quickest pass of the day after two sessions. The Marine City, Michigan-based engineer made the pass in Friday\u2019s opening qualifying session driving her Khoury-powered Liberty\u2019s Gears \u201999 Firebird. It was the second personal highlight in a row for Liberty, as she recorded a career-best E.T. in front of her home state crowd at the Northern Nationals in Martin, Michigan, earlier this month.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Jeff Melnick, the 2023 world champion, qualified second with a 4.263 at 167.95 in Alan O\u2019Brien\u2019s Barry Allen-powered Greenbrier Excavating & Paving \u201920 Camaro. He\u2019s chasing his third consecutive event win on Saturday. Melnick\u2019s rookie teammate, Hickory, North Carolina\u2019s Jeff Pittman, qualified third in his Barry Allen-powered Hickory Enclosed Trailer Sales \u201968 Chevelle with a 4.275 at 168.28.\u00a0<\/p>\n

SUPER STREET<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Defending event winner Connor McGee charged to his second straight No. 1 qualifier award in Super Street to follow up a dominant performance at the most recent race on tour. McGee ran a 4.716 at 155.70 in his Fulton-powered Brian\u2019s Heating & Cooling \u201990 Mustang to give him a slight edge over fellow young gun Austin Vincent, the only other driver to qualify No. 1 in the class this season. McGee is chasing his second consecutive win on tour as well as back-to-back Bristol victories.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Vincent, who earned his first career win earlier this season at Virginia, qualified second with a 4.719 at 157.01 in his nitrous-fed Vincent Performance \u201988 Mustang. Rookie Carson Perry, who sits one spot behind Vincent in the points standings in fourth, qualified third in the Greenbrier Excavating & Paving \u201900 Camaro with a 4.741 at 155.76.\u00a0<\/p>\n

TOP SPORTSMAN<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Glenn Butcher hasn\u2019t let off the throttle since winning the Elite Top Sportsman world championship last season. He qualified No. 1 at the first three races of the year, qualified third at the most recent event, and picked back up as the No. 1 qualifier at Bristol. He recorded a 3.789 at 199.02 in his nitrous-fed Butcher & Son Demolition \u201969 Camaro to hold off No. 2 qualifier Jamie Fowler, who ran a 3.822 at 195.31 in his nitrous-assisted Pee Dee Fleet \u201969 Camaro. Randy Perkinson rounded out the top three in his ProCharged \u201967 Mustang with a 3.867 at 188.99.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Ronnie Proctor added another accomplishment to his long list of Top Sportsman accolades by qualifying No. 1 in Top Sportsman 32, running a 4.229 at 168.18 in his nitrous-fed \u201909 Mustang.\u00a0<\/p>\n

TOP DRAGSTER<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Despite some tough opposition, Jody Stroud kept his No. 1 qualifying streak rolling to five in a row thanks to a 3.687 at 201.70 in his supercharged \u201cZombie\u201d \u201907 Spitzer dragster. KC Ingram laid down a 3.719 at 201.22 in his supercharged \u201920 Miller dragster to qualify No. 2 for the second straight race. Cynthiana, Kentucky\u2019s Ashley Johnson qualified third with a 3.734 at 195.00 in her supercharged \u201913 Spitzer dragster.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Russ Whitlock was thousandths of a second away from qualifying in the 16-car Elite field with his 3.892 at 186.33, but that performance instead put him on top in the Top Dragster 32 field.\u00a0<\/p>\n

All classes will go into eliminations on Saturday, starting with the Jr. Dragster classes at 8:30 a.m. Pre-race ceremonies and pro class eliminations will kick off at 11 a.m. The FuelTech Winner\u2019s Circle celebration is set for 6:30 p.m. For an updated complete schedule, visit\u00a0www.Facebook.com\/PDRARacing<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Saturday tickets are available for $30. Kids and Junior tickets are also available at discounted rates. Purchase tickets at\u00a0www.PDRA660.com<\/a>\u00a0or at the gate.\u00a0<\/p>\n

PDRA fans around the world can catch all the action live on the official event live stream through\u00a0www.FloRacing.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

This story was originally published on August 22, 2025. \"Drag<\/p>\n

The post Franklin, P. Tanner, B. Denton, Morton, Liberty and McGee Lead Rain-Shortened Qualifying at PDRA Thunder Valley Throwdown<\/a> first appeared on Drag Illustrated<\/a>.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Three-time Switzer Dynamics Pro Nitrous world champion qualified No. 1 Friday night at the PDRA Thunder Valley Throwdown presented by Larry Jeffers Race Cars at Bristol Dragway, marking the third time in five races he\u2019s led the field into race day on the 2025 Red Line Oil PDRA Drag Racing Series tour. Franklin and the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-102017","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/racepages.com\/Videos\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/102017","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/racepages.com\/Videos\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/racepages.com\/Videos\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racepages.com\/Videos\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racepages.com\/Videos\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=102017"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/racepages.com\/Videos\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/102017\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/racepages.com\/Videos\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=102017"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racepages.com\/Videos\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=102017"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racepages.com\/Videos\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=102017"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}