Grothus Wins PDRA 2024 American DoorSlammer Challenge
Grothus Wins PDRA 2024 American DoorSlammer Challenge
Multi-time Pro Extreme Motorcycle winner Brunson Grothus and the Grothus Drag Bikes team have spent the last few seasons away from PDRA competition to focus on business and life events, including the passing of Brunson’s mother following a cancer battle, as well as the birth of Brunson’s third son.
The team returned this season with a turbocharged ’19 Hayabusa, and in just the second race for the class, Grothus picked up his first win in the series since 2018. The win was decided in a side-by-side final round, with Grothus using a .005 holeshot advantage and a 3.975 at 188.10 performance to beat two-time and reigning world champion Chris Garner-Jones and his 3.978 at 178.78 by just eight thousandths of a second.
“It’s one of the most memorable, if not most memorable, biggest, things in my career,” said Grothus, who thanked motorcycle owner Robert Varela, father Ed, brother Bradley, Dan Wagner, and his wife and family at home. “It’s incredible to come here to race. I got goosebumps thinking about who we’re racing against here. It’s incredible. The very best of the best of the world are here and it’s an honor. I’m humbled. It’s just a gauntlet with people throwing it down. That’s what makes it so amazing to be able to win.”
Grothus qualified third but had the quickest motorcycle on race day, starting with a 4.009 at 184.55 to beat Tyron Lemons and his 4.152. He set low E.T. of the event with a 3.972 at 186.72 in his second-round match with Paul Gast, who ran a 4.019. A side-by-side race followed in the semifinals against No. 1 qualifier Brayden Davis, but Davis negated his 3.996 with a .003 red light. Grothus got the win with his 3.997 at 186.79.
Garner-Jones on his TT Jones Racing ’18 Hayabusa qualified No. 2 and got the first-round win with a 4.061 at 176.81 over Gerry Hunt, who didn’t make the call. He left together with Ashley Owens in the second round but held off Owens’ 4.063 with a 4.041 at 174.57. The two-time and reigning world champion ended up with a semifinal bye run, posting a 4.035 at 176.33.
Qualifying
Brayden Davis took the number one qualifying spot running a 3.980 at 177.98mph.
2024 Schedule
April 3-6 / GALOT Motorsports Park / Benson, NC
April 18-20 / Virginia Motorsports Park / Dinwiddie, VA
May 23-25 / Summit Motorsports Park / Norwalk, OH
June 13-15 / Maryland International Raceway / Budds Creek, MD
July 12-13 / PRO STARS Night of Fire / Virginia Motorsports Park / Dinwiddie, VA
August 1-3 / US 131 Motorsports Park / Martin, MI
August 22-24 / Bristol Dragway / Bristol, TN
October 3-5 / GALOT Motorsports Park / Benson, NC
October 17-20 / Virginia Motorsports Park / Dinwiddie, VA
ABOUT THE PDRA
Celebrating its 10th season in 2023, the Professional Drag Racers Association is the top sanctioning body in the United States for the sport of eighth-mile drag racing. The PDRA’s professional categories include Pro Boost, Pro Nitrous, Extreme Pro Stock, Pro Nitrous Motorcycle, Pro 632, and Pro Street. The series also features sportsman racing in Top Sportsman, Top Dragster, Pro Jr. Dragster and Top Jr. Dragster. The 2023 PDRA schedule consists of eight national events, plus the Summit Racing Equipment PDRA ProStars. For more information on the PDRA, visit www.pdra660.com. Follow the PDRA: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube.
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