The weather and the competition are heating up as the Red Line Oil PDRA Drag Racing Series rolls into Maryland International Raceway this weekend, June 13-15, for the fourth of eight races on the 2024 schedule. The North vs. South Shootout presented by Performance Polish will feature competition in all seven professional classes, four sportsman divisions, and two Jr. Dragster categories as racers battle for prize money, trophies, and points towards world championships.
“We’ve seen some incredible racing at the first three races of the season, and I know our racers aren’t going to let up any time soon,” said Tyler Crossnoe, series director, PDRA. “In fact, the North vs. South Shootout at Maryland is typically where things really get interesting. We’ve seen championship contenders start to establish their leads by this point, but this is usually the first race where we’ll see hot conditions. That really mixes things up and can lead to all kinds of upsets. We’ve seen first-time winners crowned at Maryland in the past, and with the way this season is going, I wouldn’t be surprised to see even more new winners emerge this weekend.”
Two-time and reigning Drag 965 Pro Extreme Motorcycle world champion Chris Garner-Jones is the points leader with a win and runner-up finish aboard his T.T. Jones Racing Hayabusa. The two-time North vs. South Shootout winner leads Brunson Grothus, who won the most recent event on tour. Grothus rode Robert Varela’s turbocharged Excel ’19 Hayabusa to his first win in several years. Multi-time world champion Eric McKinney, winner of the season opener, is third on his McKinney Motorsports Hayabusa.
The North vs. South Shootout is also the final chance racers will have to earn points towards a coveted spot in the fourth annual Summit Racing Equipment PDRA ProStars race. Held in conjunction with Virginia Motorsports Park’s Night of Fire on July 13th, ProStars is a special event where racers can race their way in using a points system that rewards consistent attendance and on-track performance. Points were earned at the last four races of the 2023 season and the first four races of this season. Qualified racers don’t have to pay an entry fee and get to race for more than $60,000 in prize money.
“It’s hard to believe it’s already almost time for ProStars,” Crossnoe said. “Racers have been competing for almost a year now to earn their way into this event. The drivers who are on the bubble or are on the outside looking in will be trying to make big moves this weekend as they attempt to lock in those final ProStars spots.”
The North vs. South Shootout’s presenting sponsor, Performance Polish, is a racer-owned brand of high-performance automotive detailing products. Performance Polish offers a full line of detailing products for automotive interiors and exteriors. The line includes All Purpose Cleaner, Elite Glass Cleaner, Full Throttle Wash & Wax, Heavy Hitter Degreaser, Interior Detailer, Speed Detailer, and Tire Finish.
“We’re proud to welcome Vinny Guido and Performance Polish into the PDRA family,” said Will Smith, marketing director, PDRA. “Vinny is a racer himself, so he knows what racers are looking for when it comes to high-performance polishes and detailing products. PDRA racers are known to have some of the nicest race cars and equipment in the industry, and they need high-quality products like those offered by Performance Polish to keep everything looking clean. Performance Polish is a perfect addition to the PDRA community, and we appreciate their support of the North vs. South Shootout.”
The North vs. South Shootout presented by Performance Polish at Maryland International Raceway will start with Thursday testing from 10 a.m. to around 6 p.m. Sportsman qualifying will begin Thursday at 6:30 p.m. Friday qualifying will begin at 9 a.m. starting with Jr. Dragster and sportsman sessions, with professional qualifying sessions set for 12 p.m., 4 p.m., and 7 p.m. On Saturday, Jr. Dragster final qualifying will kick off at 9 a.m. before going into sportsman and Jr. Dragster eliminations. Pre-race ceremonies and professional eliminations are scheduled for 2 p.m.
Tickets are available for $20 on Thursday, $25 on Friday, and $30 on Saturday. Kids 5 and under get in free, while discounted Junior tickets are also available.
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