Milan’s Slone an Upset Winner in PDRA Pro Nitrous; Anderson Wins Nostalgia TF~
Michigan’s Jackie Slone Jr. upset Jim Halsey to win the Pro Nitrous title in the PDRA portion of the 23rd Northern Nationals presented by Gun Lake Casino, Shawn Reed toppled two-time defending Top Fuel champion Larry Dixon and Texan Michael Anderson won nostalgia Top Fuel in racing at US 131 Motorsports Park.
Slone used uncanny starting line times of .009, .026, .006 and .003 to win the Pro Nitrous feature at the wheel of his Genuine Parts 1969 Camaro, taking down PDRA regulars Chris Rini of Hickory, NC, Marcus Butner of Tobaccoville, NC, Fredy Scriba of Millersville, MD, and, finally, Halsey, the four-time PDRA series champion from Havre de Grace, MD.
The 40-year-old Pro Modified veteran from Milan won the first three rounds with a slower track time thanks to his starting line prowess. He got a virtual free ride in the final when Halsey lost traction and slowed to 5.266 seconds at only 93 miles per hour.
Among the other PDRA event winners were Johnny Camp of Canonsburg, PA, in Pro Boost, a category in which Street Outlaws TV star Kye Kelly of Bogue Chitto, MS, was a first round winner; Chris Powers of Carlisle, PA, in Extreme Pro Stock, Brian Weddle of Frederick, MD, in Pro Street and Jeff Melnick of Hubbard, OH, in Pro 632.
Reed, a five-time drag boat racing champion, powered his way to quick time and top speed of the entire event and, in a classic duel, beat Dixon head-to-head, 3.798 at 325.14 mph, to the three-time NHRA Top Fuel Champion’s 3.866 at 299.80 mph.
Outside of the PDRA Series, some of the best racing of the event came in the nostalgia Top Fuel class where Anderson not only won the race title in his “West Texas Hustler,” he also claimed the 2024 Extreme Top Fuel points championship. The Abilene, TX resident upended defending event champion Jimmy Young of Salem, WI, in the semifinals, 5.745 to 5.753, and then turned back Julius Hughes and the Atlanta Speed Shop entry in the final.
The event also featured a host of nostalgia Funny Cars including those driven by Vandalia’s Mark McElwee (“Buzzy’s Nitro Bomber” 1966 Chevy II), John Lawson of Joliet, IL., and Joe Haas, the Larsen Motorsports jet dragsters of Zach Costello and Josette Roach and the wheelstander of “Nitro Mike” Kunz.
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MARTIN, Mich. – Results from the 23rd Northern Nationals featuring the PDRA at US 131 Motorsports Park. Hometowns are Michigan unless otherwise indicated. Results include elapsed time and finish line speed:
TOP FUEL
Round 1 – Larry Dixon, Indianapolis, IN, 3.899, 304.05 mph, def. Scott Palmer, Cassville, MO, 4.277, 191.85 mph; Shawn Reed, Defiance, MO, 3.859, 323.97 mph, def. Krista Baldwin, Pittsboro, IN, 4.130, 228.89 mph.
Round 2 – Scott Palmer, Cassville, MO, 3.935, 275.74 mph, def. Krista Baldwin, Pittsboro, IN, 3.966, 269.78 mph; Shawn Reed, Defiance, MO, 3.798, 325.14 mph, def. Larry Dixon, Indianapolis, 3.866, 299.80 mph.
WINNER – Shawn Reed, 2-0. Low ET (3.798) and top speed (325.14 mph) of the meet.
NOSTALGIA TOP FUEL
Round 1 – Jimmy Young, Salem, WI, 5.771, 236.84 mph, def. John Lorbiecki, Hubertus, WI, 6.673, 175.71 mph; Julius Hughes, Atlanta, GA, 5.942, 224.33 mph, def. Joey Haas, Pleasant View, TN, 7.109, 151.01 mph; Mike Taylor, Berwyn, IL, 5.970, 233.64 mph, def. Larry Gocha, Flushing, 9.241, 77.75 mph; Michael Anderson, Abilene, TX, 5.997, 251.68 mph, def. Tim Cullinan, Des Planes, IL, 6.127, 219.94 mph.
Semifinals – Anderson, 5.745, 252.67 mph, def. Young, 5.753, 250.98 mph; Hughes, 5.895, 255.10 mph, def. Taylor, 5.957, 291.94 mph.
FINAL – Michael Anderson, Abilene, TX, 5.815, no speed recorded, def. Julius Hughes, Atlanta, GA, 5.937, 218.6 mph.
RED LINE OIL PDRA SERIES
(Round 5 of 8)
PRO NITROUS – Jackie Slone Jr., Milan, 1969 Chevy Camaro, 3.742, 200.36 mph, def. Jim Halsey, Havre de Grace, MD, 1968 Chevy Camaro, 5.266, 93.05 mph. Semifinalist – Fredy Scriba, Millersville, MD, 1969 Chevy Camaro. No. 1 qualifier – Tommy Franklin, Fredericksburg, VA, 3.644, 206.71 mph.
PRO BOOST – Johnny Camp, Canonsburg, PA, 1969 Chevy Camaro, 3.641, 203.44 mph, def. Jason Harris, Pittsboro, NC, 1969 Chevy Camaro, 6.011, 68.52 mph. Semifinalists – Travis Harvey, Burlington, NC, 2017 Chevy Camaro, and Derek Ward, Friendship, MD, 1968 Pontiac Firebird. No. 1 qualifier – Todd Tutterow, Yadkinville, NC, 1969 Chevy Camaro, 3.613, 206.90 mph.
EXTREME PRO STOCK – Chris Powers, Carlisle, PA, 2021 Chevy Camaro, 4.121, 173.95 mph, def. Steven Boone, Weaverville, NC, 2007 Chevy Cobalt, 4.136, 175.37 mph. Semifinalist – Jeremy Huffman, Catawba, NC, 2010 Chevy Cobalt. No. 1 qualifier – Elijah Morton, Swansboro, NC, 2019 Ford Mustang, 4.096, 175.64 mph.
PRO STREET – Brian Weddle, Frederick, MD, 1968 Chevy Camaro, 3.979, 195.40 mph, def. Scott Kincaid, Thorn Hill, TN, 1969 Chevy Camaro, 4.076, 191.41 mph. Semifinalists – Joel Wensley Jr., Dearborn, 2014 Chevy Camaro, and Bill Riddle, Howell, 1989 Chevy Camaro. No. 1 qualifier – Nick Agostino, Markham, Ontario, 1969 Chevy Camaro, 3.939, 201.97 mph.
PRO 632 – Jeff Melnick, Hubbard, OH, 2020 Chevy Camaro, 4.184, 169.94 mph, def. Jason Ventura, Pompano Beach, FL, 1970 Chevy Camaro, 4.255, 166.17 mph. Semifinalists – Amber Franklin, Fredericksburg, VA, 1969 Chevy Camaro, and Kyle Salminen, Port Charlotte, FL, 2003 Chevy Cavalier. No. 1 qualifier – Amber Franklin, Fredericksburg, Va., 1968 Chevy Camaro, 4.189, 169.30 mph.
ELITE TOP SPORTSMAN – Glen Butcher, Doylestown, OH, 1969 Chevy Camaro, def. Ron Biondo, Macedonia, OH, 1994 Chevy Lumina. Semifinalists – Ronnie Proctor, Hedgesville, West VA, 2009 Ford Mustang, and Brian Stultz, New Lebanon, OH, 1969 Chevy Camaro.
TOP SPORTSMAN — Mark Reese, North Dinwiddie, VA, 2005 Ford Mustang, def. D.J. Mateicka, Franksville, WI, 1005 Chevy Cavalier. Semifinalists – Eric Grace, Brooklyn, WI, 1963 Chevy Corvette, and Nick Meloni, Brentwood, NH, 1969 Chevy Camaro.
ELITE TOP DRAGSTER – Tony Elrod, Howell, def. Mike Kopko, Burgettstown, PA. Semifinalists – Frank Falter IV, Mt. Airy, MD, and Rick Morley, Allendale.
TOP DRAGSTER – Luca Salemi, Clarence Center, NY, def. Tom Reese, Leroy, OH. Semifinalists – Nicole Zuccarelli, Falls Church, VA, and Matt Parlett, Mechanicsville, MD.
