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Ned Dunphy Claims First PDRA 660 Man Win at Thunder Valley
Highlights
- Ned Dunphy won his first PDRA 660 Man title at Bristol.
- Rain delay pushed eliminations late into Saturday night.
- Dunphy edged Lyle Barnett with a .013 reaction time holeshot.
- Jason Harris and Ty Tutterow were upset before finals.
- Dunphy’s tuner Robbie Kellerhals and Steve Petty aided performance.
- Next PDRA event: August 27-29 at Galot Motorsports Park.
Ned Dunphy claims first PDRA 660 Man title on Saturday night at Bristol Dragway’s Thunder Valley Throwdown after a three-hour rain delay, defeating Lyle Barnett in a holeshot final.
Dunphy’s 3.632 at 207.08 mph beats Barnett’s quicker 3.627 at 208.42 mph. A .013 reaction time delivers the margin, overcoming the elapsed-time deficit.
The Roswell, Georgia, driver expresses disbelief at the finish. He credits persistence across a disrupted weekend and a car that repeated under pressure.
Pre-race focus centers on points leader Jason Harris and reigning champion Ty Tutterow, with build-up shaped by the Thunder Valley Throwdown hype, but the script flips. Dunphy and Barnett capitalise amid a compressed programme.
Qualifying sixth with a 3.650, Dunphy finds a narrow but reliable window. Tuner Robbie Kellerhals and ProLine’s Steve Petty guide the screw-blown 2024 Camaro to repeatable 3.63–3.64 pace.
A .013 reaction time carries Dunphy’s 3.632 past Barnett’s quicker 3.627 in the final.
Execution inside the car matches that consistency. Dunphy delivers two holeshot wins, including a perfect .000 light in the quarterfinals, underlining composure after the long delay.
Round one sets the tone. Dunphy posts 3.641 at 206.51 mph to eliminate Raymond Matos, who records a 3.676.
In round two, Dunphy’s .000 launch proves decisive. His 3.636 at 206.26 edges Paul Gargus, who goes 3.625 but loses on the tree.
The semifinal features Pro Mod rookie and Super Bowl winner Fletcher Cox. Dunphy repeats a 3.636, while Cox red-lights at -.021 despite a quicker elapsed time.
Two holeshot victories, including a perfect .000 light, define Dunphy’s eliminations run.
Barnett’s return after the season opener brings immediate speed. He qualifies eighth and posts sharp lights, including a .001 in the quarters to oust No. 1 qualifier Ty Tutterow, prominent through qualifying.
He then eliminates points leader Jason Harris with a 3.613 at 209.01. The final underscores parity, with screw and centrifugal packages split in semis and facing off for the trophy.
Semifinals split between screw and centrifugal superchargers, underlining class parity.
That balance features in the event wrap-up, highlighting how tight the Pro Mod field remains.
Post-race, Dunphy notes progress against centrifugal teams and praises a light, upbeat crew environment. The group plans PDRA Drag Wars in North Carolina before skipping the finale for Drag Week.
The next PDRA event runs August 27–29 at Galot Motorsports Park in Benson, North Carolina.
Visual Summary
.013⏱️
.028
Ned Dunphy wins via holeshot
3.632 @ 207.08 mph
🏁
“It felt like a perfect moment.”
Rain, drama, and a flawless launch deliver Dunphy his first 660 Man title.
Dunphy’s Path to Victory
Beat Raymond Matos
3.641 / 206.51 mph
to 3.676
to 3.676
Beat Paul Gargus ⚡
Perfect .000 light, 3.636
to 3.625
to 3.625
Beat Fletcher Cox
Cox red-lit
Quicker ET, but -0.021 RT
Quicker ET, but -0.021 RT
Finals: Beat Lyle Barnett
Holeshot! 207.08 mph
to a quicker 3.627 / 208.42
to a quicker 3.627 / 208.42
⚡ Points leaders fall—Dunphy & Barnett steal the stage!
Title favorites Harris & Tutterow out as underdogs clash for the crown.
Closest, wildest Pro Mod final of the year.
Closest, wildest Pro Mod final of the year.
Next: PDRA Drag Wars, North Carolina — Aug 27-29
Miles Carter covers grassroots and regional drag-strip action, from bracket racing to street-legal shootouts. His event previews and performance-upgrade guides keep local racers up to speed on timing-slip trends, tire tech, and weekend race highlights.
