Top Picks

Have always been a fan of DRAG ILLUSTRATED ’ s lists and best-of pieces . Curious why we haven ’ t seen anything exploring the best tracks in the country , or maybe just a list of your personal favorites ? I know we live in a world of over-the-top political correctness , so maybe it ’ s too touchy of a subject - I ’ m sure it ’ d be hard to avoid someone being torqued if you didn ’ t list their facility ! Seriously , though , what ’ s your favorite ?

Jeff Lambert , via the Internet

[ FOUNDER AND EDITO- RIAL DIRECTOR WES BUCK REPLIES : Interestingly enough , I just touched on this during a recent episode of DRAG ILLUS- TRATED LIVE ! While I always enjoy attending the slew of supernice drag strips across this great country like Las Vegas Motor Speedway , Summit Motorsports Park , Bandimere Speedway , zMAX Dragway and Bristol Dragway - to name a few - I think my favorite tracks to visit are a little more homely . Despite not having all the creature comforts or being as

nice-and-new as the aforementioned facilities , I typically enjoy myself the most at places like Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in Englishtown , New Jersey , Huntsville Dragway in Alabama , Rockingham Dragway in North Carolina , Byron Dragway in Illinois and many other places like that . I like going to drag strips that have character ; places that have a spirit about them - an atmosphere . For whatever reason , I just think drag racing plays well at venues like that . Old Bridge Township Raceway , for instance , might be the coolest place in the world to watch drag racing - especially at the NHRA Summernationals . Of course , I have to give a plug to my friends at Bandimere Speedway in Denver - home of the DRAG ILLUSTRATED World Series of Pro Mod - which is likely the best-run drag racing facility on the planet .]

dragillustrated . com

Burnout Pix

I send across a note every year , but just wanted to let you guys know that I don ’ t know anyone who doesn ’ t absolutely love the Photo Annual . This year , though , introducing the burnout theme took an already great thing to an entirely new level . I don ’ t know anything about photography , but I have to tip my cap to Jeremy Patterson for the cover shot of Alex Laughlin in the Gas Monkey Energy A / Fuel Dragster . Am I correct to assume

he was on the track when this photo was taken ?

Derek Meyer , via the Internet

[ EDITOR-IN-CHIEF NATE VAN WAGNEN REPLIES : That is correct , Derek .]

Gassers for the win ! Quain Stott ’ s “ Grand Illusion ” coming out of the water box broadside with the window down and one slick hanging over the yellow line , well , might be my favorite photo of all time . Thank you so much for sharing this gem , and thank you to photographer Roger Richards for capturing this moment .

Erik Hogan , via the Internet

Would love to know a little bit more about the Deric Kramer burnout shot taken by Roger Richards on page 54 [“ 2017 Photo Annual ”, DI # 129 ]. Was this when he won the NHRA Pro Stock burnout challenge ? I have to admit that I love the Days of Thunder reference ! Cesar Perkins , via the Internet

[ WES BUCK REPLIES : It was actually at the NHRA ’ s second trip to Las Vegas Motor Speedway in late October that Kramer and company put together this whale of a Halloween costume / theme for their race team . According to a report on NHRA . com , Kramer came up with the idea when he saw a Mello Yello t-shirt for sale at Wal-Mart , which he bought . Apparently , that purchase was well-received at the drag strip and inspired him to go all-out and re-wrap his American Ethanol-sponsored Dodge in honor of hero driver Cole Trickle ’ s legendary black NASCAR in the 1990 film Days of Thunder to celebrate Halloween at The Strip - a really popular deal amongst Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle teams ( they started it ). We actually labored over putting this photo or one very similar on the cover of the Photo Annual because we love it so much , but we ultimately decided that none of us would be able to sleep at night if we put an ode to stock car racing out front .]

I don ’ t think anyone asked , but , hey , I ’ m going to tell you - that shot

on page 74 of the fourth-generation Camaro rolling out of the water box with all the fans , all the people plugging their ears is freaking awesome . I know it ’ s not nitro or a vintage fuel burner , but it sure seems to me this photo perfectly captures all of drag racing ’ s awesomeness . Dustin Crawford , via the Internet

Rookie of the Year

While I find it somewhat laughable to refer to “ Stevie Fast ” Jackson as a rookie , I have to admit that he is undeniably deserving of the title and , personally , I am thrilled he was awarded it by the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series / Real Pro Mod Association [“ Rookie No More ”, DI # 128 ]. His performance this past year in Pro Mod was impressive , to say the least . What does two wins , multiple jaw-dropping performances and a third-place finish in the championship points in your first season in a class mean ? I ’ d say it means he ’ ll be ordering a set of No . 1 decals in the very near future . What say you ?

Brett Webb , via the Internet

[ WES BUCK REPLIES : We can ’ t argue , Brett . There ’ s no denying he ’ s got a lot of momentum headed into 2018 . With Troy Coughlin retiring and Rickie Smith seeking sponsorship , there ’ s definitely going to be an opportunity for Stevie to push toward the top of the Pro Mod heap this year . However , I think Frank Manzo and Mike Castellana are going to have a lot to say about it . It ’ s going to be another super exciting year in Pro Mod . We can ’ t wait .]

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