DI115
FEATURES 22
J. R. Todd Stays True to the Process
One of NHRA Top Fuel drag racing’ s biggest stars has paid his dues over the course of the last decade and appears poised for a championship season in 2017. By Nate Van Wagnen
“ All the Track Will Hold”
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Back to the Bowtie
After a much talked about and controversial departure from Chevrolet by Elite Motorsports’ Erica Enders- Stevens and Jeg Coughlin Jr., thePro Stock tag team is headed back to the manufacturer that saw Enders earn back-to-back championships in one of drag racing’ s most competitive eliminators. By Rob Geiger
SPECIAL SECTION
30 UNDER 30
Much has been said and written about the aging nature of drag racing, but Drag Illustrated identified 30 worthy young people, each less than 30 years old, who are making a difference and taking the sport into the future.
78 DAN FERGUSON 80 JASON GARDNER 100 KRISTA BALDWIN 106 SHANE WESTERFIELD 113 ALEX TAYLOR 117 JUSTIN KIRK
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DEPARTMENTS
DIRT
38 The Good Ol’ Days 122
Beloved drag racing aficionado and current director of marketing at performance manufacturer Accufab George Klass details what he believes to be drag racing’ s“ ultimate era” of ingenuity and creativity – a time he experienced firsthand – and the way things have changed over the years. By Brandon W. Mudd
CLOSE-UP
Iceman Heating Up
Legendary Pro Mod driver Shannon“ The Iceman” Jenkins filled in for longtime racing partner Mike Castellana late in 2016, and appears poised to make a full-time return to driving duties this coming season as Castellana moves into a supercharged team car. Jenkins will be a welcome addition to the fast doorslammer scene.
ON THE COVER Jonnie Lindberg as photographed by Joe McHugh in Benson, North Carolina
PHOTOS: KEVIN COX, DYAN LOVER, NHRA / NATIONAL DRAGSTER
6 | Drag Illustrated | DragIllustrated. com Issue 115