Drag Illustrated Issue 153, February 2020

DI153 “All the Track Will Hold” FEATURES 22 Studying ‘The Professor’ As a veteran drag racing writer and avid Pro Stock enthusiast, Kelly Wade couldn’t imagine an assignment more intriguing than the one she received midway through 2019: writing the de- finitive Warren Johnson biography. By Brandon W. Mudd 24 Going [Half] the Distance The Northeast Outlaw Pro Mod Association has existed for 27 years as a quarter-mile Pro Mod club, so it came as a surprise to some that founder John Mazzorana and his racer-led rules committee chose to adopt an eighth- mile format for the 2020 season. By Nate Van Wagnen 70 The Season Ahead Drag Illustrated sat down with two racers – Clay Millican and Deric Kramer – and two promoters – Tyler Crossnoe and Chris Graves – to see what – and who – has them excited, intrigued and concerned going into the 2020 season. By Nate Van Wagnen 70 78 The Cars of SEGA With their period-correct colors, and airbrushed car names, the cars of the Southeast Gassers Association are exactly what you would expect from an organization that prides itself in sticking to the sport’s roots. By Van Abernethy 24 78 D I CO LUM N I ST 8 Letter from the Editor Carolina Pro Modified racing hero Todd Tut- terow’s first appearance on the cover was several months into the 2009 season. Just over 10 years later, is his second appearance overdue? By Nate Van Wagnen T RIB U T E 18 Bill Simpson The motorsports world lost an icon in De- cember when safety pioneer Bill Simpson died at 79. The SoCal native was credited with bringing parachutes and Nomex material to drag racing. By Kelly Wade DI CO LU M NIST 42 On the Road Bradenton Motorsports Park is a favorite for Pro Mod, Pro Stock and drag radial teams from across the country who flock there for pre- season testing. By Van Abernethy ON THE COVER NHRA Pro Mod star Todd Tutterow as photographed by Rick Belden at zMAX Dragway in Concord, North Carolina. 6 | Drag I l l u s t r a t e d | DragIllustrated.com Issue 153 ABERNETHY DEPARTMENTS

Drag Illustrated Issue 153, February 2020 | Page 6