“ I enjoy the people , and seeing happy , smiling faces . I also enjoy listening to people applaud , and the collective reaction when something spectacular happens on the track . Those are the reasons I do what I do .” - BILL BADER JR .

HOME TRACK PHOTOGRAPHER : Northern Ohio native Cole Rokosky , who ’ s shot several Drag Illustrated covers , finds the right spot from which to photograph a qualifying session at the PDRA Norwalk race .

HAULING A WIN HOME : John Goodman drove his sharp Chevy truck to the win at Farmington Dragway , scoring top honors during the 12th Annual Doorcarpalooza event .

SUCK IT UP : NHRA Safety Safari official Jeff Parker works to dry the Houston Raceway Park racing surface after another downpour at the rain-soaked NHRA SpringNationals .

TALKING SHOP : Drag racing PR guru Elon Werner ( center ) is flanked by multi-time NHRA Pro Stock world champions Greg Anderson ( left ) and Jason Line as the trio swaps stories in the staging lanes .

RUN , KYLE , RUN : Kyle Pawuk , son of former Pro Stock wheelman turned Factory Stock Showdown star Mark Pawuk , runs out past the starting line to back up Pat Moore in Larry Nance ’ s “ Catch 22 ” ‘ 68 Camaro Pro Mod .

PHOTOGRAPHS BY JOE MCHUGH , TARA BOWKER , VAN ABERNETHY AND HOLLOWAY SAUNDERS

50 | Drag Illustrated | DragIllustrated . com Issue 169