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SATURDAY NOTEBOOK -CAPACITY CROWD ENJOYS INAUGURAL UNDER THE LIGHTS EVENT

BUBBA DOES IT - After qualifying his supercharged 1969 Camaro second behind teammate Jason Scruggs, who set a new track record with a 3.570-seconds qualifying blast at 214.79 mph, Bubba Stanton beat Tommy D'Aprile, Frankie Taylor and Kuwaiti racer Turky Alhumidi to reach Badir Ahli of Dubai in the final round.

Ahli, meanwhile, started from the 13th position in the 16-car field and raced through Terry Leggett, Mike Recchia and Scruggs, whose '63 Corvette faltered and shut off in the semis while Ahli's '69 Camaro also sustained engine damage with a burned piston. His NAS Racing team, led by veteran crew chiefs Al Billes and Bob Newberry made quick repairs, though, allowing Ahli to keep his final-round appointment.
Once there, Stanton left with a .020 advantage, then led stripe to stripe, posting his best run of the weekend at 3.576 and 215.82 mph against the 3.636 at 208.59 by Ahli. "I couldn't see him, but I knew he was close," Stanton said of Ahli's effort.

"This is awesome, our third win this year. We worked our butts off this weekend, but the car was flawless all weekend," he added about his Jerry Bickel-built ride. However, a damaged engine during the second qualifying session in the wee hours of Saturday morning forced a last-minute swap that saw Stanton and his crew members buttoning up the new powerplant near 6 a.m. on race day.

"I can't thank (team owner) Roger Henson and Jason and Mitchell (Scruggs) and all my guys enough. I couldn't have a better group of guys to help me," the Potts Camp, MS-based driver said. "I've struggled some the last couple of years, but this has been my best year of racing ever and I owe it all to those guys. I couldn't ask for no better."

HARRIS RETURNS TO WINNING WAYS - Visibly shaken upon exiting his '68 Camaro after defeating Tommy Franklin in the Pro Nitrous final with a 3.867-seconds pass at 172.45 mph, Jason Harris admitted he overdrove his car when it got a little out of shape near the top end of his run.

"I had my hands full. I about wrecked it, but you get in race mode and it makes you do dumb things sometimes," he flatly stated. "It got over on the centerline there and I threw the chutes out and it saved it, but I shouldn't have done that. I've been in a couple of wrecks before and I sure don't want to do that again. That was probably one of the dumber things I've done this year, but God was with me and fortunately it worked out alright."

The Pittsboro, NC, native started from the third qualifying position and beat Jeff Naiser, Ron Muenks and Lizzy Musi in the semis with a run that was spitting out red-hot parts and pieces from his engine's right-side headers.

"We tuned it up for that run," Harris said of the 3.804 at 195.22 that set low ET in the class for the weekend. "Lizzy's got a fast hot rod and she's a tough driver--she treed me--but yeah, we hurt one piston on that run but fixed it up and the car was as good as it's ever been for the final; it just got a little out of shape is all."

GALOT HAS ALOT - Todd Tutterow seemed destined to prevail at Tulsa in the PDRA's new Pro Boost class after qualifying number one with a 3.853 at 191.19 mph in his supercharged '69 Camaro, then running low ET in each round of eliminations, including a new official class record 3.823 at 191.95 in the semis.

But in the end it was Tutterow's GALOT Motorsports teammate Kevin Rivenbark hoisting the trophy for the second-straight time after also winning at Richmond, VA, a month earlier.

"I'm super happy to get the win, but this also really helps me in the points," said Rivenbark, who's chasing Tutterow for the inaugural Pro Boost championship. "I'm just happy it was an all-GALOT final, though, and hopefully these next two races (at Rockingham, NC, and Richmond again) will be the same."

Rivenbark started right behind Tutterow on the qualifying list at Tulsa, then drove his blown '67 Mustang past Randy Bryan, Jeremy Ray and NHRA Pro Mod regular Mike Knowles in his PDRA debut. "Todd was definitely my toughest opponent, but that semi-final against Knowles was a pretty good race, too. He ran a .88 and I had a .86, but he treed me so it was pretty close," Rivenbark pointed out about the eighth-thousandths-of-a-second margin of victory that sent him to the final.

Tutterow, meanwhile, got quicker with each successive pass on race day, going 3.869 in a first-round solo pass, then 3.831 to beat Joe Baker and the 3.82 against Tylor Miller in the semis.

In the final round, Rivenbark left first and never looked back on a 3.856 winning pass at 191.35 mph, while Tutterow lost traction and slowed to a 4.838 at just 104.99 mph.

"My car rolled in and lit both (staging) bulbs against Todd and I thought, 'Oh no, he's gonna' make me wait now,'" Rivenbark said. "But he didn't and we just left. I think he shook and I ran the fastest I've been all weekend, but like I said, I'm just glad both of our cars were in the final."

JOHN VS. JOHN - If not for his final-round opponent, Commack, NY's John Pluchino would not even have been in Tulsa to pick up his second Extreme Pro Stock win of the year.

"I'm having trouble with my truck and trailer so we weren't even going to come here, but John Montecalvo, he offered to bring my car down here in his trailer and we worked out of a tent in the pits and we ended up running him in the final," Pluchino explained. "But that's the best scenario that could be--especially since I won!"

Montecalvo, from Center Moriches, NY, started from the number-one slot after a 4.103 qualifying run, with Cary Goforth second and Pluchino third in the eight-car field. In the opening round of eliminations, Pluchino beat Goforth's father, Dean, then took out the son in the semis while Montecalvo went through Lester Cooper and Cale Aronson to reach the final.

Once there Pluchino made his best pass of the event at 4.108 and 175.52 mph to edge his 2006 Ford Escort ahead of Montecalvo's 4.115 at 176.58 combination in his 2012 Camaro.

"This is great, but I wouldn't even be here if it wasn't for John; he's an awesome guy," Pluchino stressed as Montecalvo arrived to congratulate him after both exited their cars. "We've been doing this together and racing each other for more than 20 years now, but for him to help me get down here is just awesome."

"I just don't know how you're going to get home now," Montecalvo answered.

WELCOME BACK - It had been quite some time since Pro Extreme Motorcycle rider and former class champion Ashley Owens last visited victory lane with his 2010 Suzuki, but the Decatur, AL-based rider found his way there in Tulsa after a final-round win over teammate Eric McKinney.

"I'm kind of disappointed with the .10 because I thought it would've repeated the .06 it ran the run before, but I'll take it any way I can get it, I guess," Owens said upon arriving alone at the TRP turnoff following a 4.107-seconds ride at 173.94 mph.

McKinney, who won four of the five previous PDRA race crowns, qualified number one and beat Jeff House and Travis Davis in the preliminaries, but his 2012 Suzuki broke upon launching for the final round. Owens started from the number-two slot and took down Mark Rendeluk and Terry Schweigert to reach the final.

"I'm not real happy with my bike's performance here, but I am glad we got both bikes in the final, something we hadn't been able to do before," Owens said. "Hopefully that's going to change."

THE TOP OF THE SPORTSMEN - Top Sportsman driver Aaron Glaser made a career-first three-second pass at the previous PDRA race a month earlier in Richmond, VA, but stepped it up at Tulsa with a new elapsed time record of 3.981 seconds in qualifying first for the PDRA Under the Lights event. Glaser made it official with an impressive 3.99-seconds back-up pass in the heat of the day during the third and final round of qualifying Aug. 16, before elimination rounds began that evening.

Glaser lost to a near-perfect run by Bob Gulitti in round two, however, while Dylan Stott of Columbus, NC, survived from the 13th and last place on the qualifying list to win his second PDRA trophy of the year.
Stott caught a break in round one when Barry Daniluk went red by -.007 after Stott dialed in at 4.32, but broke out with a 4.29 in his '67 Mustang. He stuck with that 4.29 as his dial in for the next three rounds, however, and beat Bruce Thrift and Darrell Reid before taking on number-six starter Billy Albert and his '69 Camaro in the final.

After leaving with a .029 holeshot, Stott ran 4.307 at 163.18 on a 4.29 dial in to beat Albert's 4.088 at 176.81 against a 4.07 dial.

"I knew I was out front so I let off a little at the end, not much," Stott said. "It's been a tough year so far, so I really didn't want to give this one away."

In Top Dragster, local racer Cody Moore from Collinsville, OK, also lasted from the final qualifying spot to beat Laramie Reid of Iowa Park, TX, for the Under the Lights trophy. Moore and Reid left with identical .016 lights in the final, but Moore's 4.287 at 163.08-mph combo on a 4.27 dial in got the job done while Reid broke out with a 4.115 against a 4.15 dial in.

Ronnie Davis of Suwanee, GA, won the IGetFixed.com Ultimate Shootout for the top four Top Sportsman qualifiers, with top qualifier Phil Esz of Amelia, OH, taking similar honors in the Ultrasonic Ultimate Shootout for Top Dragster.

UP NEXT - With its inaugural eight-race schedule winding down, the PDRA returns to action Sept. 4-7, when it visits North Carolina's historic Rockingham Dragway for the second time this year, then makes a return visit to Virginia Motorsports Park Oct. 10-11, for its season ender.

THE YEOMAN INFERNO EXPLAINED - Jerry Yeoman has seen a lot during his drag racing career. The former mountain motor Pro Stock standout  wasn't accustomed to seeing a flash fire up close and personal.

Yeoman had his opportunity during Friday evening qualifying at the PDRA Under the Lights event at Osage Tulsa Raceway Park in Oklahoma. As the Galena, Kan.-based briver left the starting line his turbocharged Corvette burst into flames.

A dazed Yeoman slowed to a stop and pulled his Corvette out of the groove, unfortunately preventing emergency crews from opening his driver's side door. Yeoman exited the car and was transported to a local hospital to be checked out.

"It was very, very bad," son John Yeoman said via Motormania online television. "

The cause of the massive explosion has been determined to be a line blew off of the transmission into the transmission cooler causing an explosion. The resulting spilled oil on the headers produced a massive fire.

Yeoman said the smoke and fire entered the cockpit where his father suffered burns to the face and some smoke inhalation. He didn't reveal the extent of the burns or smoke inhalation.

"We didn't get the computer turned on and then the motor over-revved, and that's what caused the problem," Yeoman added.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME - For Billy Harper, his birthday wish came true on Friday at the PDRA Under the Lights event in Tulsa, Ok.

Harper, the Paducah, Ky.-based Pro Nitrous driver, treated himself with a return to the strip after three years on the sidelines and sporadic competition in the last five.

"I'm fortunate to be having another birthday at my age, and to do it in a Pro Modified car is something I'm looking forward to," explained the 70-year old Harper. "I'm excited to be back."

Harper admits struggles with the economy and a downturn in business for his construction company, kept him away from the sport. Now he's planning to run the rest of the PDRA events in 2014.

"Until we could get solid, and survive, I had to keep everything parked," Harper said. "This year we started selling off some businesses and stabilizing. Got some personal issues resolved, and [former teammate] Dennis Radford and I had been talking. This seemed to be the best time to bring out our new car we built back in 2008."

Harper managed to get a few runs in on his "new" Jerry Bickel-built Dodge Viper and for him, the journey to test didn't require him to travel far.

"We actually have a track there in Paducah now," said Harper. "I made some shakedown runs off of the line, and really got comfortable in the seat. We had a baseline to work off of."

Harper showed no ill-effects of the downtime posting a 4.089 elapsed time to land No. 11 after two Pro Nitrous qualifying sessions.

Thursday he made his first full pass back in the car during pre-event testing in Tulsa.

"Had a mild tune-up in the car," Harper added. "Had a little bit of engine damage, nothing major, but all in all it felt great."

For Harper, recapturing his former magic behind the wheel of his Reher-Morrison-powered entry wasn't a long drawn out process.

"It felt great, it just took a few passes," said Harper. "This car felt a little different than my last although they look the same. It's all coming back to me."

Harper returns with the same crew he employed before stepping away.

"Just like being back at home," Harper said.

There's place like home when it's your birthday.

FRIDAY NOTEBBOK - SCRUGGS, MOHAMMED, TUTTEROW AND MONTECALVO NO. 1 AFTER DAY ONE IN TULSA

THE GAME PLAN - To avoid running in oppressive heat, qualifying for the inaugural Professional Drag Racers Association (PDRA) Under the Lights event at Osage Casino Tulsa Raceway Park (TRP) began at 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 15, but when the second round didn't conclude until after 2 a.m. Saturday, PDRA and track officials reached the decision to postpone the third of three scheduled qualifying sessions to 3 p.m. with eliminations to follow Saturday night.

SCRUGGS IS THE MAN - After two completed qualifying rounds on the TRP eighth mile, Jason Scruggs led the premier Pro Extreme class with a track record 3.570-seconds pass at 214.79 mph in his supercharged 1969 Camaro.

Scruggs, from Saltillo, MS, led both Pro Extreme qualifying rounds and was followed on the list by teammate and current points leader Bubba Stanton, also from Mississippi. Texas racer Randell Reid was third, followed by Terry Leggett and Mick Snyder in the top five of 16 provisional qualifiers.

Though seventh on the list at 3.631 seconds, Georgia's Eric Dillard set the fastest speed so far at 220.48 mph in his twin-turbocharged entry. Twenty-five entries made qualifying attempts, with Gene Hector and his "Small-Block Mafia" currently on the bump spot at 3.749 seconds.

SCARY MOMENT - The second session of Pro Boost qualifying was marred by a massive transmission explosion and fire in Jerry Yeoman's turbocharged '59 Corvette.

Just as the Galena, KS-based, former Mountain Motor Pro Stock driver left the line, his cockpit initially filled with smoke, with a violent explosion following that blew the car's windows out and set it ablaze in a huge fireball.

Though the fire was fierce and Yeoman coasted to a stop near the eighth-mile finish line, he was not seriously injured in the accident. He was, however, transported by ambulance to a local hospital for a precautionary check-up.

VIEW FULL SEQUENCE HERE

INTERNATIONAL SUCCESS - In Pro Nitrous, Khalid Mohammed was first with a 3.811 at 198.70 mph in another '69 Camaro.

Mohammed, based in Houston, improved by just three thousandths from his first run to also lead both Pro Nitrous sessions, with Lizzy Musi, the most recent Pro Nitrous winner on the PDRA trail, second with a 3.819 pass at 196.02 in her 2006 Dodge Stratus. Points leader Jason Harris was third; Tommy Franklin fourth and John Camp rounded out the top five of 16 entries.

KING TUTT REIGNS ON FRIDAY - Todd Tutterow in yet another supercharged version of the classic Chevy placed number one with a 3.853 run at 191.19 in the new PDRA Pro Boost class.

Like his Pro Extreme and Pro Nitrous peers, Yadkinville, NC's Tutterow led through both qualifying rounds in Pro Boost, followed closely in both sessions by teammate Kevin Rivenbark, who also won the most recent PDRA event last month at Richmond, VA. Mike Knowles placed third, with Canadian racer Jim Bell fourth and Tyler Miller fifth of the 16 Pro Boost entries on the grounds.

MONTE HAUL - In the naturally aspirated Extreme Pro Stock division, John Montecalvo topped the field with a 4.103 at 176.51 mph in his 2012 Camaro. Both Montecalvo and current points leader Cary Goforth vaulted past first-round leader John Pluchino. Cale Aronson filled the last position in the provisional top half of the eight-car field.

ROUNDING OUT THE PROS - Pro Extreme Motorcycle rider Eric McKinney rounded out the PDRA professional class leaders with a 4.082-seconds ride at 172.36 mph aboard his 2012 Suzuki.

Both McKinney, from Homersville, OH, and Alabama-based teammate Ashley Owens improved over their first-round efforts, pushing Canada's Terry Schweigert down to third in the process. With just nine entries at TRP, Pro Extreme Motorcycle also will feature an eighth-bike field, with Travis Davis currently fourth and Chuck Wilburn on the outside with one qualifying opportunity to go.

BEST OF THE REST - First in the sportsman classes, also with one more qualifying opportunity, were Aaron Glaser in Top Sportsman and Phil Esz in Top Dragster, while all three Jr. Dragster qualifying sessions were completed Friday night, leaving Tutterow's daughter, Tia, on top in Pro Jr. Dragster and Kaylee Shepherd first in Top Jr. Dragster.

Glaser and first-round leader Ronnie Davis ran side-by-side in round two of Top Sportsman qualifying, with Davis improving to 4.062 seconds in his nitrous-boosted '63 Corvette, but the '69 Camaro of Glaser going 3.981 at 182.77 to get the nod as the provisional leader. Tom Stultz placed third and Bruce Thrift, the most recent Top Sportsman winner, was fourth.

Meanwhile, Esz stumbled in round one with his 2006 Spitzer-built dragster, placing last of 20 Top Dragster entries, but the Amelia, OH, racer recovered with a stout 3.696 pass at 193.96-mph pass. The second through fourth-place drivers were Rob McKinely, Richard Edwards and Jennifer White, respectively.

The four top qualifiers in both PDRA sportsman classes will race in the special IGetFixed.com Top Sportsman and Top Dragster shootouts to open the PDRA Under the Lights competition at 3 p.m. on Saturday afternoon before one more qualifying session for all classes, except Jr. Dragsters, which have already established their elimination ladders.