The PDRA’s only two-wheeled category, Drag 965 Pro Extreme Motorcycle, had the DragWars weekend off, giving defending world champion Chris Garner-Jones and title challenger Brunson Grothus even more time to think about their upcoming championship fight.
With runner-up finishes at all four races, Garner-Jones and his nitrous-fed T.T. Jones Racing Hayabusa lead Grothus by one round and one point. Grothus, who rode Robert Varela’s turbocharged Dallas Flat Glass Distributors Hayabusa to victories at Norwalk and Bristol, can make up the one point by qualifying just one spot better than Garner-Jones. Sophomore rider Brayden Davis sat out the season opener, preventing him from having a serious shot at another PDRA championship for the Davis family.
The Brian Olson Memorial World Finals at Virginia Motorsports Park will begin with Thursday testing from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Qualifying will kick off Friday at 8:30 a.m. starting with the Jr. Dragster and sportsman classes, with the pro classes set to hit the track for qualifying sessions at noon and 5:30 p.m. Saturday’s on-track activities will begin with Jr. Dragster and sportsman final qualifying at 8:30 a.m., followed by pro final qualifying at 12:15 p.m. and sportsman and Jr. Dragster first round of eliminations to follow. Pre-race ceremonies and pro eliminations will begin at 6 p.m. The World Finals will conclude on Sunday, stating with the continuation of Jr. Dragster and sportsman eliminations. The pros will be back on track at noon to continue eliminations starting with the second round.