Drag Illustrated Issue 135, August 2018 | Page 6

DI135 “All the Track Will Hold” FEATURES 51 Mutt and Jeff Lifelong friends Paul Burruss and Dylan Griffey joined forces to form Mutt and Jeff Promotions, using their collective racing experience and penchant for fun to put on a big bracket race at Maryland’s Mason Dixon Dragway. By Van Abernethy 78 The Oral History of Pro Extreme Pro Extreme was the hottest thing go- ing when it reached its peak in the late 2000s. How did it go the way of the dodo after just over a decade since its inception? Class founder Kenny Nowl- ing and former Pro Extreme stars share their thoughts. By Josh Hachat 90 A/Fuel to Top Fuel 96 Fast from the Factory The NHRA Factory Stock Showdown burst onto the scene as a one-off race-within-a-race at the 2012 U.S. Nationals. Six years later, it’s one of the fastest-growing programs in the NHRA, with a seven-race championship series and stacked fields full of NHRA pros and sportsman stars. By Kelly Wade 28 78 90 DEPARTMENTS T RI BUT E CAU G H T ! 28 Tom McEwen 42 Yvonne Lucas In a candid long-form interview, Don “the Snake” Prudhomme shares behind-the- scenes stories and remembers his old friend and racing partner, Tom “the Mongoose” McEwen, who passed away June 10 at 81. Venerable Northwest photog- rapher Paul Grant captured a scorching image of a fiery mishap suffered by Washington-based Pro Mod racer Yvonne Lucas. CO LU MN 44 On the Road Van Abernethy’s recent visit to Charleston, Il-