DI142
“All the Track
Will Hold”
FEATURES
18 Courtney Force
Steps Away
Courtney Force’s last-minute decision to
step away from her Funny Car driving
duties at John Force Racing was the
biggest headline to come out of a tumul-
tuous offseason of rumored changes in
the nitro ranks. What does the star’s exit
mean for the sport? By Josh Hachat
38 New Kid on the Block
Twenty-two-year-old no-time grudge
racing standout Justin “Lil’ Country”
Swanstrom lit up the scoreboards
and social media with his Radial vs.
the World debut at the U.S. Street
Nationals. Is he radial racing’s next big
star? By Nate Van Wagnen
41 Boosted Confidence
An offseason move from roots blowers
and mechanical fuel injection to an
EFI-equipped ProCharger-boosted
combination has 2016 PDRA Pro Boost
champion Kevin Rivenbark believing
his GALOT Motorsports team can
contend for another title this season.
By Nate Van Wagnen
38
92 The Oral History
of ‘Lights Out’
DI celebrates the 10-year anniversary
of promoter Donald “Duck” Long’s
“Lights Out” drag radial events with a
comprehensive look back at the race as
told by several people who helped turn
the event into one of drag racing’s most
talked-about happenings.
By Josh Hachat
18
41
D I CO LUM N I ST
D I CO LU MNIST
54 On the Road
58 The Enders Elevation
Legal difficulties in 2011 threatened Emer-
ald Coast Dragway’s future until Ryan Mil-
liken and Ozzy Moya stepped in to keep the
gates open. Today, the Florida Panhandle
drag strip is thriving. By Van Abernethy
The latest addition to Drag Illustrated’s column
lineup takes readers on a behind-the-scenes tour
of the 24-race NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Se-
ries, introducing the little-known MVPs who make
things happen. By Courtney Enders-Lambert
T H E DE TAILS
90 Jason Carter’s
‘78 Malibu
Get up close and personal with
the twin-turbocharged 1978
Chevrolet Malibu owned by Jason
Carter and driven by Mark Micke.
ON THE COVER Inaugural Sweet 16 Radial vs. the World event champion Mark Micke
as photographed by Mat Matlack at M&M Transmission in Jefferson City, Missouri.
6 | Drag
I l l u s t r a t e d | DragIllustrated.com
Issue 142
DEPARTMENTS