In just his rookie season in PDRA Pro Nitrous, Tim Paap is proving he belongs among the best in the class.
On Friday night at the Talbert Manufacturing Northern Nationals presented by Callies Performance at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park, Paap ripped off a 3.624-second, 206.61 MPH blast in his Musi-powered ’16 Corvette to grab the No. 1 qualifying spot in Switzer Dynamics Pro Nitrous. It marks the second time this season the former Elite Top Sportsman standout has qualified No. 1, and this one might mean even more.
“It feels great to be back in the No. 1 spot for the first time since the beginning of the season,” Paap said. “I had to miss one race for my son’s wedding, but we’re still going for the championship. That’s all I can say. Hold on.”
Paap, who made his move into the fast doorslammer big leagues during the Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod and Winter Series events earlier this year, continues to impress in his first full PDRA Pro Nitrous campaign. But he knows the competition is relentless.
“There’s a lot of tough people in this competitive field,” Paap said. “You’ve got the Franklins. You’ve got Rickie Smith tuning [Tim] Molnar now. It’s anybody’s game to figure out who’s gonna be No. 1.”
With eliminations set to begin Saturday around noon, Paap will look to translate his Friday night performance into a win and keep himself in the thick of the championship hunt. Backed by Jeffrey Barker on tuning duties, Paap’s team is locked in and confident – but not complacent – as they chase a statement victory in Martin, Michigan.
This story was originally published on August 2, 2025. 
