Jason Scruggs, a member of the original PDRA ownership group, confirmed with CompetitionPlus.com today Roger Henson has left the group in an effort to spend less time racing and more time with family.

“To my understanding, Roger and Shirley Henson wanted to scale back their racing some and spend more time with family,” Scruggs said. “I do believe Roger will race from time to time, but at this time he is no longer an owner with the PDRA as we talk now.”

Rumors ran rampant during the PDRA Summer Drags in Martin, Mich., Hinson’s departure would have a dire effect on the series which is now down to the Scruggs Family and Tommy Franklin as the series’ primary ownership. Scruggs is adamant the PDRA is in good health and right on pace with their initial projections of growth for the series.

“The PDRA is just as strong as it has ever been,” confirmed Scruggs. “The PDRA is here to stay. We are like a lot of outdoor based businesses this year in that we have encountered a lot of rain. Rain has affected every race we’ve had this season. However, we are encouraged by some of the stuff we are seeing. We have a new marketing and advertising strategy which appears to be working as we hoped it would. We are on track with our initial projections, and we have had good races with good car counts. Our biggest battle this year has been with the weather. We just need good weather, and I think we can finish off the season strong.”

The Professional Drag Racers Association (PDRA), founded in 2014 by Jason and his father Mitchell Scruggs, Gene Hector, Roger Henson and Tommy Franklin with the intent of creating a solid foundation for eighth-mile Pro Mod-style drag racing following the demise of the American Drag Racing League. The ADRL and also defunct X-treme Drag Racing League engaged in a season-long feud which essentially split the community apart.

After all they had been through in putting this format of organized eighth-mile drag racing Scruggs says there’s a part of him which stands disappointed to see Henson go, and another side which understands fully.

“In a way it disappoints me to see [Roger] step away because we all started it together,” said Scruggs. “At the end of the day, I understand that everyone has to do what is best for their self. We are all doing this because we love racing. It makes sense for a person who wants to scale back their racing not to have to deal with racing every day.”

Scruggs said Henson’s contribution, as well as the others who helped in the formation of the PDRA, was invaluable in growing the series to where it is today. PDRA, Scruggs believes, is a series with a solid future.

“All of the original owners were instrumental in getting the PDRA where it is today,” said Scruggs. “It takes a lot of work to get something of the magnitude of PDRA off the ground. We had a completely new start-up where we had to develop and identity. We really did have to start up from scratch, and when you look at it, we have only had 13 races. We are only a season-and-a-half old when you look at it. A project like this takes a lot of work and requires a lot of attention. All the owners in the PDRA were all instrumental in getting us to this point.

“There’s no hard feelings or issues here. The PDRA is just as strong as it ever has been. We are dedicated to making this series as big as it ever has been.”

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