Drag Illustrated Issue 127, November 2017 | Page 57

30 UNDER 30 2017 By Nate Van Wagnen, Josh Hachat, Lisa Collier, Ian Tocher, & Brandon W. Mudd N ow in its third year, the Drag Illustrated 30 Under 30 list is our effort to shine a light on the young peo- ple who contribute to the straight-line sport in a variety of ways. Contrary to reports that drag racing is a graying sport with little hope for a new generation of diehard participants, we believe the drag racing’s future is safe in the hands of thousands of young men and women in every corner of the sport. This list is our way of rewarding a select group of those individuals and inspiring others to continue their efforts. After poring over thousands of nomination forms and considering rec- D r a g Il l u s t r a t e d . c o m ommendations from past 30 Under 30 honorees, we picked the following list of individuals to make up the Drag Illustrated 30 Under 30 Class of 2017. Some of them earned their spot through on-track accomplish- ments where win lights, trophies and big checks were the reward for their efforts. Others made on-track performances possible through their tuning capabilities or fabrication skills. A handful of them made contributions to the sport in ways that win-loss records can’t reflect. Their roles are diverse, but their personality traits – passionate, dedicated, respectful, modest, and creative – are consistent. We believe these 30 young people will continue to help carry drag racing into 2018 and beyond. 57 Dr ag Illustr ated