“It feels really great to be out here racing again, but to come away with
the win is unbelievable. Hopefully this is the first of many.” - Todd Martin
MOVERS & SHAKERS
NC Hall of Fame
THE GODFATHER AND T.M.
Carolina doorslammer racing legends Charles Carpenter (left) and
Tommy Mauney were on hand to sign autographs at the North Caro-
lina Drag Racing Hall of Fame Class of 2018 induction ceremony.
Red Hat Mafia
Kept busy tuning and working with the various Pro Line Racing customers at Lights Out 9 were
PLR’s team of talented tuners, including Josh Ledford, Jamie Miller and Brandon Stroud.
SHARING A LAUGH
Ted Jones and Mike Bell have a chuckle after the North Carolina
Drag Racing Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Bell was inducted
as a member of the Class of 2018, while Jones was recognized for
his years of service to the drag racing community with the Jeff
Byrd Memorial Lifetime Achievement Award.
THE REAL DEAL
DRAG ILLUSTRATED founder and editorial direc-
tor Wes Buck poses for a photo in the pits with
N/T and grudge racing star Justin “Lil Country”
Swanstrom, driver of the popular “Armageddon”
Mustang.
44 | D r a g
I l l u s t r a t e d | DragIllustrated.com
A SMILE FROM LYLE
Lyle Barnett, who won Lights Out
in the Leaf Spring class last season,
flashes a grin for the camera before
strapping in to Jason Digby’s “Tooth
Jerker” ‘69 Dodge Dart entered in
Limited Drag Radial.
HEARING VOICES
From the first burnout of the morning until the last set of parachutes
blossomed each night, often well after midnight, announcers Lee
Sebring (left) and Brian Lohnes kept the Lights Out 9 racers informed
and entertained all weekend.
Issue 131