DI143
FEATURES
22 Meet ‘The Boss’
Stephanie Long, a former teacher, has
used her voice of reason and authority
to help manage the many chaotic situa-
tions that arise during Duck X Produc-
tions’ drag radial events, keeping racers
happy and preventing rowdy fans from
getting too out of hand.
By Bobby Bennett
80
“All the Track
Will Hold”
SPECIAL SECTION
80 The Hottest 2019
Now in its seventh year, our “Hottest”
Issue highlights just a few of the
countless women who make an impact
on the straight-line sport in various
roles, from stars on the track to
behind-the-scenes bosses. This year’s
edition covers the range from twenty-
somethings just starting their journey
to multi-time champions who’ve been
covering the quarter-mile for decades.
By Drag Illustrated Staff
The 10th running of Donald “Duck”
Long’s infamous “Lights Out” event
exceeded expectations, with over 70
Radial vs. the World entries – and
hundreds of other race cars – packing
the South Georgia Motorsports Park
grounds to set records and race in front
of jam-packed grandstands.
By Josh Hachat & Nate Van Wagnen
28
105
DEPARTMENTS
COV E RAG E
28 NMCA Bradenton
The NMCA kicked off its 2019 season at
Bradenton Motorsports Park, with racers
from across the country turning out to com-
pete in Pro Mod, Factory Super Car, Nitrous
Pro Street and more. By Mary Lendzion
CO LU MN
52 On the Road
A drag racer’s trip through central Florida
isn’t complete without a stop at Don Garlits’
Museum of Drag Racing. It’s the ultimate walk
down memory lane, especially when “Big Dad-
dy” himself leads the way. By Van Abernethy
CLOS E -UP
102 Pamala Wade
The former beauty queen shares
stories from her years of experi-
ence racing in her native Florida,
including a scary on-track incident
with her son. By Van Abernethy
ON THE COVER NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle rookie Jianna Salinas and her sister, Top Alcohol Dragster
rookie Jasmine Salinas, as photographed by Will McDougle at Auto Club Raceway in Pomona, California.
6 | Drag
I l l u s t r a t e d | DragIllustrated.com
Issue 143
CHRIS
105 A Decade of ‘Duck’