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MECHANICSVILLE, MD (JUNE 4, 2017) – The door-slammer big show, known as the Professional Drag Racers Association (PDRA), made a stop at Maryland International Raceway in Mechanicsville, MD for the PDRA North South Shootout. Two Pro Line-powered cars were among the ranks of the world’s quickest door cars competing for victory.
Making its PDRA Pro Extreme return was the EGR/Q80 1969 Camaro “The Beast” with a fresh paint job and a new twin turbo PLR-hemi under the hood. This was the car’s first time out since going back to turbos, and the orange Camaro ran a 3.673 at 218 MPH to qualify seventh. The Beast improved to a 3.612 at 220 MPH to take the upset win over second qualifier, Matthias Wulcan. Even though Wulcan ran a quicker 3.586 at 211 MPH, the near perfect 0.006 reaction time from the Beast was what won the race. The team knew they would have to step it up for round two, so tuner, Steve Petty, turned up the wick on the PLR-hemi which resulted in the Beast riding the rear wheels in a slow drift towards the wall. The driver shut it down early and still ran a 3.912 at 167 MPH, yet high 3s is not enough for a PX win.
In Pro Boost action, the Q80/EGR 1967 Mustang “Eleanor” qualified third with a 3.750 at 213 MPH and was poised to defend the series points lead. Eleanor took a first round win over Marc Caruso with a 3.775 at 209 MPH pass, and went on to face Melanie Salemi in round two. The PLR-hemi powered ’67 Mustang improved to a 3.746 at 212 MPH to defeat Salemi and advance to the semi-finals. The PDRA Pro Boost semi-final race between Ty Tutterow and Eleanor was a race for the fans, with a mere nine inch margin of victory. Eleanor turned it on and ran an event best 3.724 at 211 MPH, yet it was not enough to edge out Tutterow who ran a career best 3.717-second ET.
When people think fast, they think jets, and what’s faster than a jet engine on wheels? The EGR/Q80 Beast accepted that challenge and lined up against the Blazing Angel jet car in a PDRA grudge race. The Beast may have went out early in Pro Extreme, but the PLR-hemi powered Camaro showed what it can do by running a 3.53 at 226 MPH to outrun the Blazing Angel’s 3.62 at 223 MPH. Pro Line Power is faster than jet power!
