DI120
FEATURES
30 Fletcher Speaks
Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle
Fletcher Cox dreamed of going drag
racing long before becoming one of
the NFL’s highest-paid players, which
explains why radial-tire racing is his
hobby of choice when he’s away from
the field.
By Bobby Bennett,
CompetitionPlus.com
“All the Track
Will Hold”
94
78 Race Hard, Play Hard
Drag racing at any level is a high-
pressure, competitive endeavor, but ev-
eryone has to let loose once in a while.
Racers from the exclusive nitro ranks to
the outlaw circles alike share their best
party stories – and drink recipes.
By Ainsley Jacobs
84 Pro Mod X4
In the J&A Service NHRA Pro Mod
Series’ first side-by-side-by-side-by-
side battle at the NHRA Four-Wide
Nationals, the combined experience of
driver Mike Castellana and tuner Frank
Manzo prevailed.
By Nate Van Wagnen
88
88 No Walk in the Park
Longtime sportsman racer Jim Hughes
admits he was one of the many drag
racers who believed owning and operat-
ing a dragstrip is easy. After purchasing
Tuscon Dragway, he’s learned it’s not
easy, but it’s certainly rewarding.
By Larry Crum,
CompetitionPlus.com
26
D I RT
Q &A
26 Gassed Up
40 Danny Topol
Former Pro Modified star Quain Stott
has turned his South East Gassers As-
sociation into a booming success, but it
hasn’t been without its struggles.
By Ian Tocher
Race promoter Danny Topol and his
Las Vegas-based West Coast Hot Rod
Association are trying to improve the
way West Coast drag racing is per-
ceived. By Brandon W. Mudd
CLOS E -U P
94 Troy Coughlin Jr.
The nitro gene skipped a generation in
the Coughlin family, as Troy Coughlin
Jr. is taking after his grandfather, Jeg
Coughlin Sr., who once drove Top Fuel.
By Nate Van Wagnen
ON THE COVER 2017 NHRA Gatornationals Pro Mod winner Steven Whiteley
as photographed by Rick Belden at Gainesville Raceway in Gainesville, Florida.
6 | Drag
I l l u s t r a t e d | DragIllustrated.com
Issue 120
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