STREETCAR SUPERNATS

Doorslammer Racing’ s Las Vegas Shootout Sets the Scoreboards on Fire

30 Under 30 Class of 2016

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30 Under 30

DRAG RACING’ S MOST TALENTED, ACCOMPLISHED

& PROMISING YOUNG PEOPLE

Shane Westerfield Trevor Larson Jason Gardner Alex Laughlin Dan Ferguson Megan Meyer

Caleb Cox & MORE

SWEDISH INVASION

Top Alcohol Funny Car’ s True World Champion

Jonnie Lindberg

It’ s hard to believe Drag Illustrated could outdo itself in such spectacular fashion. The 2016 class, in my opinion, was very strong, and contained a surprising variety of young men and women from different segments of the drag racing world, while( not surprisingly) including a few big names. Well, this year’ s class represents an even more diverse group of people – all of which seem to be more than deserving – and I just want to applaud your efforts. As Wes [ Buck ] has written extensively, highlighting these young men and women is so important. Bravo!

Larry Cirilo, via the Internet

Still waiting on a 60 Over 60 list. What’ s the hold up?

Bryon Manes, via the Internet

Thrilled to see so many truly deserving names as part of the 2017 Drag Illustrated 30 Under 30. I have to admit that last year I was a little bit disappointed. Felt like a few of those names were a stretch, if not blatant political moves. I’ ve never seen you guys( DI) behave in that fashion, though, so I gave you the benefit of the doubt, and after seeing this year’ s list, well, I think I made the right decision. These are all great young people, and confirm that you guys aren’ t just trying to position yourself or bolster advertising sales through these selections.

Good work. Noel Rosales, via the Internet

I read through all 39 pages of your DI 30 Under 30 and can’ t find a single thing to complain about. That feature is amongst the most thorough and substantial pieces I’ ve seen on any topic in any magazine. It’ s so refreshing to see such an obvious commitment to doing good work, especially during a time when everyone with a Facebook account likens themselves a journalist and / or photographer. Please don’ t’ change! Also, hit me up if you do a 40 Over 40 list!

Donnell Dombroski, via the Internet

How much effort is put into seeing what kind of people these young men and women are away

from the drag strip? Honestly, I’ m just curious. I understand they are talented up and coming drag racers, but are they good people?

Curtis Mickle, via the Internet

[ EDITOR-IN-CHIEF WES BUCK REPLIES: You’ d be surprised, Curtis. I can’ t say that we exhaust every imaginable resource trying to get a completeand-total picture of the character of the young people comprising our annual DI 30 Under 30, but we do our level best to make sure that we’ re identifying truly good

people; truly good ambassadors for the sport of drag racing. I hate to admit how many people that we’ ve had nominated or either found interesting ourselves, and upon a quick Facebook search been 100-percent turned off based on the pictures they post and statements they make publicly. I’ ve personally scratched people from the list over things like that. In closing, I have to admit that I’ ve personally met all 60 of the young people we’ ve highlighted over the last two years and I haven’ t regretted a single one. Well, maybe one.]

So cool to see a Top Alcohol guy at the forefront of the DI 30 Under 30 class of 2016. I can’ t help but feel bad for those guys – especially guys like Jonnie – when I walk through

the pits of a NHRA national event and see them running around like chickens with their heads cut off to get the car serviced, normally pitted on grass, or on gravel, or in the mud – well-knowing their session might get canceled, or moved, or whatever else the NHRA might throw at them. Just doesn’ t feel like those guys get the credit they deserve sometimes and little if any time in the spotlight. Someone young and marketable like Jonnie Lindberg definitely needs to be promoted, and I have to say that it’ s kind of a nice reminder that there are young people out there

that are not only interested, but massively capable of going drag racing at a high level and succeeding. The kid does it all, too. He works on the car, tunes it, drives it and even drives the rig and whatever else is required. Just a nice feel good story if you ask me. Thank you for sharing. All the others were great, too.

Chuck Peres, via the Internet

How about a jet car driver in the 30 Under 30!?!?! So great to see Sarah Edwards featured so prominently. I met this young lady at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park recently and could not have been more impressed with her outgoing personality and professional demeanor. She’ s got a future in prolevel drag racing for sure.

Wally Greear, via the Internet

If I had to identify the single thing I like best about the DI 30 Under 30 it would easily be that these aren’ t all kids that are dead set on driving a Top Fuel car, or being groomed to do so. These are kids that have a passion for drag racing, and they get their fix by not just driving the cars, but working on them and being around them. There are a lot of people that make their living in drag racing, but don’ t drive race cars, and I think it’ s important to reward the young people that are on that tract, too. Good work!

Efren Calvert, via the Internet

From NHRA Pro Stock to Street Outlaws and everything in between, the Drag Illustrated 30 Under 30 hit the mark once again in 2016. Absolutely unbelievable job. Please accept my sincerest thanks for celebrating drag racing’ s next generation.

Orlando Dejohn, via the Internet

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