Feedback, Friendly Notes, & Hate Mail

Fletcher on the Front

I don’ t even known Dan Fletcher, but I love the guy [“ The Triumph of Dan Fletcher,” DI 133 ]. This cover story literally made my day, and will most definitely impact my racing program. I probably don’ t make enough lists, and I definitely don’ t shake off a rough weekend quick enough. Thanks for putting this together, I’ m sure I’ m not the only one of your“ racing readers” who got a kick out of it.

Sam Torrey, via e-mail

I found Josh Hachat’ s piece on Dan Fletcher to be one of the best reads I’ ve had in years. Want to say also that I appreciate you letting Dan be himself, and not trying to force him into a box or some perceived notion of what the ultimate sportsman racer should be. I had a feeling when I saw the cover that this might be some“ hard look” at the trials-and-tribulations of a bracket racer, but instead it turned out to be a super inspiring story about someone who is living the dream. What’ s that the say? It’ s not about the destination, it’ s about the journey? I think Dan Fletcher has things figured out. Bravo.

Brian Thorum, Leduc, Alberta

Did you know that Dan Fletcher doesn’ t listen to the radio? Like when he sets off on a trip – even across country, like from New York to Las Vegas – he doesn’ t listen to music or anything. Is that incredible or what? Loved the story, and thought I’ d pass along a little tidbit about one of the best to ever do it.

John Lauser, via Facebook

GREG STANFIELD

Factory Stock Showdown’ s Power Broker

COLLIER FAMILY RACING

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TROY COUGHLIN JR. PAUL PITTMAN DON O’ NEAL

THE TRIUMPH OF

[ FOUNDER AND EDITORIAL DIRECTOR WES BUCK REPLIES: Yes! However, I only learned of this recently, during the interview I did with Dan on my weekly DRAG ILLUSTRATED LIVE! Show on Facebook. I tell you what, though … I get it. I love music and especially talk radio, but I can tell you that I’ ve spent many a mile on the open road in dead silence. Another interesting sidestory is that our own roaming subscription sales superstar and photojournalist Van Abernethy is the exact same way! He covers thousands and thousands of miles each year on behalf of DI, and every single one of them is spent in peace and quiet – unless he’ s on the phone with his beautiful wife Vicky( or me).]

Say“ No” to Retirement

Noticed that two-time NHRA Pro Mod world champion Troy Coughlin was back behind the wheel at the Virginia NHRA Nationals in Richmond. Is this proof-positive that drag racing is the hardest habit to kick? John Allen, via e-mail

[ WES BUCK REPLIES: Absolutely! There’ s nothing that can come close to the thrill provided by the Great American Motorsport! In all seriousness, though, we were thrilled to see Troy Coughlin back on the qualifying sheet for a NHRA Pro Mod race. It’ s been weird having all these races without that

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familiar yellow-and-black. From what I gather, he’ s back for the remainder, too, and will be at the rest of the races in 2018, and I’ m guessing back on the tour full-time in 2019 and beyond. I’ ll admit there have been some times in the past when it might have made sense to walk away from Pro Mod, but it’ s most assuredly come and gone. Pro Mod is without question the hottest thing in drag racing right now, and it seems like it would almost be a crime for the best years this eliminator has ever seen to happen without Troy Coughlin.]

Pro Extreme?

What exactly is going on with PDRA Pro Extreme? While I find it extremely admirable of the PDRA to stick it out the way that they have( almost unbelievable), I have to say that it’ s probably time to fold up the Pro Extreme tent. If $ 10,000-towin and a safe, fast place to race, within a world-class racing organization, isn’ t enough to bring them out, well, I don’ t know that anything will. Considering how fast virtually every class and category of heads-up drag racing is these

days, personally, I’ m having a hard time understanding what exactly happened to Pro Extreme, specifically, that sent it off a cliff so quickly. What’ s it been? A little over a decade? Granted, we’ ve seen the cars go from 3.90s at 195mph to 3.40s at 220mph during that timeframe, but we’ ve seen similar if not more dramatic improvements in other categories that remain fairly healthy. And what’ s even more confusing is that Pro Extreme went from like kinda hit-or-miss, largely struggling, to completely dead. What the hell happened?

Richard Pahl, via e-mail

[ WES BUCK REPLIES: If the PDRA hasn’ t pulled the plug on Pro Extreme by the time this issue goes to press, I’ d be shocked. I don’ t necessarily have any insider information, but there’ s enough talk amongst the remaining screw-blower racers to know that it’ s over. I’ ve got it on good authority that even Jason Scruggs is headed towards a roots-blower combination that will be PDRA Pro Boost, NHRA Pro Mod and World Series of Pro Mod legal for 2019( possibly even yet in 2018). If the original outlaw Jason Scruggs is moving on, I can’ t imagine the entire world isn’ t far behind. That said, I do think it’ s incredible that the fine folks with the PDRA have tried like they have to keep the class afloat. They’ ve spent thousands of dollars and a lot of time and energy to restore the eliminator to its former glory, but I think we’ re about to see Pro Extreme go the way of the Dodo. We’ ll be expounding on this much more in the very near future. Stay tuned.]

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12 | Drag Illustrated | DragIllustrated. com Issue 134