MOHNTON, Pa. — Two-time Switzer Dynamics Pro Nitrous world champion Tommy Franklin earned his first No. 1 qualifying award in over a year when he took his “Jungle Rat” ’69 Camaro to the top spot at the PDRA P2 Contracting Northern Nationals presented by P2 Racing Friday night at Maple Grove Raceway.
Tommy Franklin did what no one else has been able to do this season: out-qualify Jim Halsey in Pro Nitrous. Franklin steered his Musi-powered “Jungle Rat” ’69 Camaro to a 3.752 at 202.58 to qualify No. 1 for the first time in just over a year.
“The race track is hot as can be,” said Franklin, the 2017 and 2018 world champion. “They’ve done a great job on track prep, but it’s hot as can be. It’s no secret that we’ve been struggling, so to go out there and make a good run and put it up front feels good. It’s good for the team and everybody involved. Pat Musi Racing Engines has been there for us the whole time. I’m really happy with it.”
Halsey and his Fulton-powered “Daddy Shark” ’68 Camaro posted a 3.756 at 204.70 to slide in second behind Franklin. Marcus Butner ended up No. 3 with a 3.758 at 204.79 in his Butner Construction ’69 Camaro.
A rainstorm prevented the series from completing a third qualifying session for the professional categories. Melanie Salemi (Penske/PRS Pro Boost presented by WS Construction), J.R. Carr (Liberty’s Gears Extreme Pro Stock presented by AED Competition), and Nick Schroeder (Drag 965 Pro Street) also claimed No. 1 spots in the pro classes.
Wes Distefano is the provisional low qualifier in $hameless Racing Pro Outlaw 632, which will get a second qualifying session Saturday morning.
The sportsman classes also completed their two scheduled Friday qualifying sessions, and their fields have been set. The low qualifiers are Buddy Perkinson in MagnaFuel Elite Top Sportsman presented by Tejas Borja, Brian McHattie in Lucas Oil Elite Top Dragster, Bryan LaFlam in MagnaFuel Top Sportsman, and Dickie Smith in Lucas Oil Top Dragster.
Competition remains fierce in the PDRA’s Jr. Dragster classes, where Keaton Peterson grabbed the No. 1 spot in Coolshirt Systems Pro Jr. Dragster with a perfect 7.900 pass, a performance matched by No. 2 qualifier Braylon Kuhn. Brylan Biondo is the low qualifier in Classic Graphix Top Jr. Dragster with a .002 reaction time.