PDRA to Decide 2026 World Champions at Brian Olson Memorial World Finals

DINWIDDIE, Va. (Sept. 14, 2026) – The biggest weekend on the 2026 Red Line Oil PDRA Drag Racing Series schedule is set to take over Virginia Motorsports Park as the series looks to crown world champions at the Pro Line Racing Brian Olson Memorial World Finals presented by ProCharger on Sept. 17-20. On top of that, the weekend festivities include the sixth annual Summit Racing Equipment PDRA ProStars presented by Laris Motorsports Insurance as well as VMP’s Night of Fire, adding up to four days of nonstop action. 
 
“We’re closing out the season in a big way at the Brian Olson Memorial World Finals,” said Tyler Crossnoe, series director, PDRA. “From the big bonuses up for grabs in the Summit Racing PDRA ProStars all-star race on Thursday through to the world championship battles that will come down to the wire late in the rounds on Sunday, it’s going to be an action-packed weekend at VMP. It’s an important race for the competitors who’ve been fighting for world championships all season, and it’s also one of our most fan-focused events ever with free admission on Thursday for ProStars, the new Fast Pass that gets you into the rest of the weekend for just $30, and Night of Fire with nostalgia Funny Cars, a wheelstander, and jet cars on Saturday. We’re really going all-out this weekend.”
 
When Friday qualifying wraps up, local band LadySmyth will perform live at the Racer Party as a season finale celebration. 
 
Thursday’s Summit Racing PDRA ProStars is an all-star specialty event that offers up free entry fees, big prize money, and bragging rights for the driver who race their way into the Quick 8-style shootouts. 
 
On Saturday, the Night Of Fire will feature a handful of Nostalgia Funny Cars, a pair of jet dragsters, Rick Ream’s Firetruck wheelstander, and a one-of-a-kind fireworks display never before seen at VMP. 
 
When championship Sunday rolls around, racers across the PDRA’s professional, sportsman, and Jr. Dragster categories will square off to determine the 2026 world champions. Between the condensed season and the cutthroat competition, this year’s championship battles are some of the closest in series history. 
 
“We brag all the time that the best drag racers in the world race in the PDRA, and this season has backed that up,” Crossnoe said. “From Pro Nitrous and Pro Boost to the Jr. Dragster ranks, the championship scenarios are incredible. In some cases, mere qualifying points will decide the champion. Depending on how qualifying goes, we might not crown a world champion until the final round in the closest categories. That makes things exciting for everyone involved.” 
 
The championship contenders in Switzer Dynamics Pro Nitrous presented by Jerry Bickel Race Cars are no strangers to pressure-packed moments. Reigning world champion Marcus Butner leads the way after winning the last two races on tour in his Jay Cox-tuned, Musi-powered “Heartbreaker” ’69 Camaro. Three-time world champion Tommy Franklin, who has a win and a runner-up finish in his Jeff Pierce-tuned, Musi-powered “Jungle Rat 3.0” ’69 Camaro, sits second by just over two rounds. Fredy Scriba, the 2024 world champion, is also mathematically eligible in third with his Musi-powered “Sorcerer” ’69 Camaro thanks to a win and a runner-up finish. 
 
Johnny Camp, who set a new WS Construction Pro Boost presented by P2 Contracting and Ty-Drive class E.T. record on his way to victory at the season opener, is the points leader pursuing his first career world championship in his ProCharged “Hells Bells” ’69 Camaro. Tuned by Brandon Stroud, Camp also won the most recent race on tour to give himself a 10-point lead going into the World Finals. His closest challenger, Jason Harris, is looking to become the first driver in series history to win five world championships. Harris, driver of the Harts Charger-boosted “Party Time” ’69 Camaro also tuned by Stroud, owns a pair of titles in both Pro Nitrous and Pro Boost. Reigning world champion Ty Tutterow is still in the hunt as well with a runner-up finish and three consecutive No. 1 qualifier awards in Justin Smith’s screw-blown Quik Fuel ’68 Camaro. 
 
Liberty’s Gears Pro Street presented by KTR Drag Racing will crown a first-time world champion, and six drivers are in the running. With a win and two semifinal finishes in the nitrous-assisted “Bonnie” Lizzy Musi tribute ’69 Camaro, 2023 Super Street world champion Blake Denton is the points leader by just over one round. Richard Reagan, who also has a win and two semifinal exits in his screw-blown ’91 Mustang, is second. Joel Wensley Jr., who won for the first time earlier this season, is third in his ProCharged ’14 Camaro. The latest first-time winner in the class, Ron Green, is just outside the top three along with Scott Kincaid just a few points behind him. Sixth-ranked Jerry Morgano also has a mathematical shot at the title. 
 
Two drivers, J.C. Beattie Jr. and Jeff Pittman, have dominated PDRA Pro 632 presented my Mark Williams Enterprises this season. Beattie won the first two races of the season in his Reher-Morrison-powered ATI Performance Products ’18 Camaro and added a third win at the last race on tour to hold a strong points lead. With a first career win and a runner-up finish in his Barry Allen-powered Hickory Enclosed Trailer Sales ’68 Chevelle, Pittman has a shot at the championship, but if Beattie out-qualifies him by two or more spots, the hunt is over. David Cook Jr. sits third, but isn’t championship eligible. 
 
It's been a season-long battle between young guns Austin Vincent and Connor McGee in 1320 Fabrication Super Street presented by Brian’s Heating & Cooling. Vincent, who finished second to McGee in the 2025 championship points, won the last two races to give him three wins in four straight final rounds behind the wheel of his Vincent Performance ’88 Mustang. McGee, driver of the Fulton-powered Brian’s Heating & Cooling ’90 Mustang, will need Vincent to fall early to maintain his chances at a second consecutive title. Though he has two wins, two No. 1 qualifier awards, and he set a new class E.T. record at the last race, McGee sits 347 points behind Vincent. Dan Whetstine, the 2024 world champion, is looking to solidify a third-place finish in his ProCharged “Red Velvet” ’90 Mustang. 
 
In MagnaFuel Elite Top Sportsman presented by PAR Racing Engines, defending world champion Bryan LaFlam is the points leader with two wins, including one at the most recent race. Zach Houser, Scott Duggins, and Jamie Fowler are also in the hunt. 
 
Less than a round separates the two title contenders in Greenbrier Excavating & Paving Elite Top Dragster presented by American Race Cars, two-time world champion Steve Furr and young gun Josh Duggins. 
 
Past MagnaFuel Top Sportsman world champion Joe Roubicek has a commanding lead as he pursues another title, but Dave Muller, 2020 world champion Stacy Hall, and Ronnie Proctor are all mathematically eligible. 
 
Joe Gary holds the points lead in ATI Performance Products Top Dragster presented by TBM Brakes going into Virginia, though a big performance could result in a title for 2023 Top Sportsman world champion Chad Traylor, Steven Boone, and Taylor Holland. 
 
An incredible 11 different drivers are mathematically eligible for the Pro Jr. Dragster world championship, with Katelyn Page leading that group. Classic Graphix Top Jr. Dragster is also competitive with five championship contenders chasing points leader Mason Dudley. 
 
Though not a championship category, Edelbrock Bracket Bash presented by Philadelphia Racing Products will also take part in the World Finals. 
 
The jam-packed World Finals schedule begins on Thursday with pre-race testing at 9 a.m. Summit Racing PDRA ProStars driver intros start at 4:30 p.m. followed by pre-race ceremonies and eliminations starting at 6 p.m. Friday qualifying, which kicks off with Jr. Dragsters at 9 a.m., includes two pro qualifying sessions. Saturday featuring the Night of Fire will include one final qualifying session as well as first round of eliminations. Eliminations will conclude on Sunday until winners are crowned in the FuelTech Winner’s Circle. 
 
Admission for the Summit Racing PDRA ProStars on Thursday is completely free. The World Finals marks the debut of the new PDRA Fast Pass program, which covers admission for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, all for just $30. Discounted Junior and Kids Fast Passes are also available. Kids 5 and under get in free. Saturday and Sunday public suite tickets are also available. Purchase tickets at www.PDRA660.com or at the gate. 
 
PDRA fans around the world can catch all the action live on the official event live stream through www.FloRacing.com.