“I didn’t think I would come back and start racing again. But you miss the acceleration,
you miss the friendships and the camaraderie of the whole Pro Mod class.” — Troy Coughlin
MOVERS & SHAKERS
MONSTER MAKER
Nitro racing wizard Alan Johnson, who is responsible for 12 of the last 21
NHRA Top Fuel world championships as a tuner or tuning consultant, checks
out the Houston starting line before reporting back to the crew chiefs he
works with on multiple top-flight entries.
Love
For
‘Lola’
TOP DOGS
Brian Shrader and his crew celebrate with the legendary “Big Dog” trophy after qualifying No.
1 and winning the May edition of Piedmont Dragway’s historic Big Dog Shootout series.
CALM BEFORE THE STORM
Gray storm clouds loom in the distance
as NHRA Pro Mod standout Bob Rahaim
prepares to strap into his nitrous-assisted ‘17
Camaro for a qualifying session at Houston
52 | D r a g
I l l u s t r a t e d | DragIllustrated.com
Fierce Rivals
While these two can usually be found battling on the track for the Pro Nitrous No. 1 qualifying spot or final-round win,
DI photographer Tara Bowker snapped this candid shot of Jay Cox sneaking up on two-time and defending world
champion Tommy Franklin in the pits at Martin.
Camrie Caruso poses for a
photo with the supercharged
Caruso Family Racing drag-
ster she drove to a runner-up
finish at the PDRA Summer
Drags, propelling her to the
points lead in Top Dragster.
Issue 134