After COVID-19 extended the offseason by an extra two months, the 2020 PDRA season is finally kicking off with the East Coast Nationals presented by FuelTech at GALOT Motorsports Park in Benson, N.C.
Update at 9:24 p.m.
Thunderstorms and rain showers kept racers in the pits Friday at the season-opening Professional Drag Racers Association (PDRA) East Coast Nationals presented by FuelTech at GALOT Motorsports Park. Race officials called off the day’s qualifying sessions later in the evening. Jr. Dragster racers completed one qualifying session between storms.
“We sure tried to get some racing in today, but Mother Nature wins this one,” said Tyler Crossnoe, series director, PDRA. “The PDRA and GALOT Motorsports Park track teams worked hard to get the track dry all afternoon and evening. We’ll try again tomorrow.”
The original Friday schedule included three qualifying sessions for the professional classes and two qualifying sessions for the sportsman classes.
The PDRA East Coast Nationals presented by FuelTech will continue Saturday morning with Q1 at 10 a.m., beginning with Switzer Dynamics Pro Nitrous. The run order will then cycle through the rest of the pro classes – Penske Racing Shocks/Precision Racing Suspension Pro Boost presented by WS Construction, Liberty’s Gears Extreme Pro Stock, Drag 965 Pro Nitrous Motorcycle, $hameless Racing Pro Outlaw 632 and Drag 965 Pro Street. Then, MagnaFuel Top Sportsman and Lucas Oil Top Dragster will hit the track for their first qualifying session.
Additional race schedule updates can be found at www.PDRA660.com and www.Facebook.com/PDRARacing.
Update at 8:48 p.m.
The track was just about ready for Pro Nitrous qualifying when another rain shower started to open up over the track. We’re officially done for the night. We’ll have a new Saturday schedule posted as soon as it’s available.
Update at 5:51 p.m.
The track crew is hustling to dry the track in an attempt to get a round of pro qualifying in this evening. There’s a local 11 p.m. curfew tonight.
Update at 4:28 p.m.
Top Jr. Dragster and Pro Jr. Dragster Q1 was just completed. Top end officials are reporting rain on the top end, so we’re on weather delay now. Teams are strapping down their awnings, and the GALOT Motorsports Park team is taking down the tree. The rain is expected to clear up around 5:30.
Update at 4:12 p.m.
Pro Nitrous teams have been asked to stay in the pits. Trying to complete this Jr. Dragster qualifying session before the thunderstorm comes in.
Update at 4:03 p.m. 
The first qualifying session of the 2020 PDRA season is rolling! Top Jr. Dragster is kicking it off, while another thunderstorm is expected to roll into the area in around 45 minutes. The Pro Nitrous teams have been asked to prepare to head to the staging lanes with their gear on.
Update at 3:30 p.m.
Frequent rain showers have pushed back Friday’s qualifying sessions to start off around 3:45 p.m. EST, beginning with Gilbert Motorsports Top Jr. Dragster.
The current run order looks like this:
Top Jr. Dragster
Pro Jr. Dragster
Pro Nitrous
Pro Boost
Pro Nitrous Motorcycle
Pro Outlaw 632
Pro Street
Top Sportsman
Top Dragster
Bracket Bash
This story was originally published on May 29, 2020. 
