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

Super-Class Superstars

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