Longtime doorslammer wheelman Buddy Perkinson ended Friday qualifying as the No. 1 qualifier in two different classes at the Professional Drag Racers Association (PDRA) North vs. South Shootout presented by Line-X and Iron Man Quick Connect Push Bar at Maryland International Raceway. Perkinson earned his first No. 1 qualifier award in Switzer Dynamics Pro Nitrous as the fill-in driver for two-time world champion Tommy Franklin, and he’s the provisional low qualifier in MagnaFuel Elite Top Sportsman presented by US Rail. 
 
The No. 1 spots in the rest of the PDRA’s professional classes went to Kurt Steding (WS Construction Pro Boost presented by P2 Contracting and Ty-Drive), Elijah Morton (Liberty’s Gears Extreme Pro Stock presented by AED Competition), Walter Lannigan Jr. ($hameless Racing Pro 632), Paul Gast (Drag 965 Pro Nitrous Motorcycle), and Nick Agostino (Menscer Motorsports Pro Street presented by AFCO). 
 
In the debut of the PDRA’s new small-tire class, AFCO Super Street presented by Menscer Motorsports, Maryland’s own Wes Ervin is the No. 1 qualifier. 
 
In addition to Perkinson, the provisional No. 1 qualifiers in the sportsman classes are Victor Puglia in Lucas Oil Elite Top Dragster presented by Laris Motorsports Insurance, Joe Roubicek in MagnaFuel Top Sportsman 32 presented by Vortech Superchargers, and Patrick McMath in Lucas Oil Top Dragster 32 presented by Laris Motorsports Insurance. 
 
In the Jr. Dragster ranks, a pair of Maryland natives hold the provisional No. 1 spots. Ridgely’s Nyck Shirkey posted a 7.900 in his ’21 Halfscale dragster to lead the 37-car qualifying order in Coolshirt Systems Pro Jr. Dragster presented by PRP. Defending world champion Rowan Parlett, from nearby Mechanicsville, is the provisional low qualifier in Classic Graphix Top Jr. Dragster presented by PRP with a perfect .000 reaction time in his Computech ’15 Halfscale entry.