Drag Illustrated Issue 127, November 2017 | Page 12

Counterweight SEMA SPECIAL ISSUE dragillustrated.com RACE YOUR WAY IN DEREK MENHOLT SHINES IN AEROMOTIVE WILD CARD SHOOTOUT STEVE MATUSEK SHANE MOLINARI STEVEN WHITELEY WORLD SERIES OF PRO MOD Mike Bowman Victorious at the Biggest, Richest Pro Mod Drag Race in the History of the Known Universe Full Pull Whatever happened to quarter- mile Pro Mod racing? Seems like we used to see a lot more of this, but now it appears to be limited to a handful of special events - primarily on the coasts. Is this a format we’re going to see go away all together? Not a guy that hates eighth-mile rac- ing, but certainly curious if there will be a time when Pro Mods simply don’t run quarter-mile like Top Fuel and Funny Car - where it’s not even up for debate, a thing of the past. Jack Baggett, via the Internet [EDITOR-IN-CHIEF WES BUCK REPLIES: Honestly, Jack, I’m of the opinion that there is still a good bit of quarter-mile Pro Mod racing going on. Of course, we’ve got the DRAG ILLUSTRATED World Series of Pro Mod (shame- less plug), but there’s also and, honestly, more prominently the 12 | D r a g NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series and the 25-year-old North- east Outlaw Pro Mod Association, amongst others. However, I think I get your point - there’s very little no-holds-barred, run what ya’ brung, quarter-mile Outlaw Pro Mod drag racing going on these days. After reading your email, I made a couple of phone calls to some promoters and was told, basically, that the racers have spoken on this matter - the risk is too great and the parts attri- tion is too severe. Quarter-Mile Outlaw Pro Mod races, by and large, struggle for car count, and I definitely believe it will likely soon be a thing of the past. I’m not saying there won’t be a race or two, but I don’t see a series popping up that focuses on a no-rules (or very few), quarter-mile Pro Mod deal. As much as I love to see it, I have to admit that some of these 270mph passes make my skin crawl a little - especially knowing that I l l u s t r a t e d | DragIllustrated.com Feedback, Friendly Notes, & Hate Mail there is considerable room for improvement.] World Series of Pro Mod Experience I absolutely loved Wes Buck’s Letter From the Editor in DI #125 providing some in- sight as to his experience during DRAG ILLUSTRATED’s first- ever drag racing production. Honestly, I would have loved to hear (read) more, and that’s why I’m writing… If this could be passed along, I’d love to know if there was a single biggest takeaway from promoting “the biggest, richest Pro Mod drag race in the history of the known universe” - what would it be? Claude Freeman, via the Internet [EDITOR-IN-CHIEF WES BUCK REPLIES: Ask and ye’ shall receive, my friend! First off, thank you for the kind words. I’m always surprised when I have people tell me that they read my column, and I truly appreciate it. It’s a deeply humbling experi- ence to know that people care what I might have to say about something, especially drag racing. Anyway… I have to admit that it’s very difficult for me to identify just one thing that profoundly impacted me about the inaugu- ral WSOPM event - there were many. However, I have to say that, personally, I was - and still am - taken aback by the passion of drag racing fans. It’s easy to become somewhat jaded or to become a little numb to the significance of the unique vantage point we in the drag racing media are provided, or the access and experience we become accustom to as racers. Typically, I’m quick to complain when I’m at the race track about wishing I had a car to race or a team to work with because that was always the case with me - all throughout my childhood and into my mid-twenties. Now, though, I venture out to the drag races solely as the owner of DRAG ILLUS- TRATED magazine. I’m not crew- ing on a car or driving one and, honestly, there are times when I miss that. Regardless, I absolutely should not take for granted the behind-the-scenes experiences I’m routinely afforded and the all-access pass I typically have at the drag strip because there are - literally - thousands of drag racing fans that would kill for that kind of thing. I’ll never ever forget all the race fans that came up to me at Bandimere Speedway during WSOPM to personally thank me for bringing Pro Mod drag racing to the Denver area, and I still can’t believe how sincere they were about it, how excited they were about the race. There were times when I thought myself and Sporty Bandimere were the only people truly “over the moon” about this deal, but it turns out there were thousands of fans in the area that had goosebumps the first weekend in August, too. I think sometimes we forget, or in the midst of our wishing for drag racing to grow bigger and spread further, just how many people are involved and/or care greatly about our sport in this very moment. I’m not sure what the current number is, but at one point in time NHRA boasted over 80,000 members. Wrap your head around that. Think about how many people come out to 24 NHRA national events, how many fans support all these seemingly innumerable series and events - there are a lot. Hate to ramble any further, but I can’t stress it enough…I am abso- lutely blown away by the passion, enthusiasm and dedication of drag racing fans.] Contact Us LETTERS to Drag Illustrated, 902 Kings Rd., Kirksville, MO, 63501. Letters become the property of Drag Illustrated and may be edited for publication. E-MAIL letters@dragillustrated.com SUBSCRIBER SERVICES Go to dragillustrated.com • Subscribe • Renew • Cancel • Missing Issues • Give a Gift • Pay Bill • Change of Address Issue 127