PHOTOGRAPHS BY CHRIS SEARS

RYLAN MCCLASKEY has quickly learned the benefits of surrounding himself with good people . Just 21 years old , the Texan works with the likes of Kenny Hubbard , Jeff Naiser and David Vasser , using their expertise to already make the most out his young career .

He ’ s used their advice and showcased his own driving talents , winning No Mercy 11 and Lights Out 12 in Ultra Street . McClaskey has also put together back-to-back championships in Tex275 and is the current points leader heading into the final race of the season . It ’ s been a surreal experience for McClaskey , who still finds all the immense success so soon in his career a little hard to believe .

“ It ’ s been crazy and almost hard to put it into words ,” McClaskey admits . “ I never thought at 21 I would be able to accomplish all this . Kenny and Jeff and David help out tremendously and that ’ s definitely been a big key .”

McClaskey , though , has taken that support and gotten everything out of it driving his ’ 67 Camaro . He started in Jr . Dragsters at 8 years old , moving into bracket racing , index racing and no prep index racing the moment he turned 16 .

In 2018 , he made the move into radial racing and the Ultra Street class , showing almost immediate potential . He already crossed one major goal off his to-do list by winning No Mercy and McClaskey followed it up with another impressive performance at Lights Out . It has him set up for a big 2022 , where he ’ ll also race at the Sweet 16 event along with his usual schedule . With a family-style atmosphere firmly in place on his team , McClaskey welcomes next year ’ s busier schedule as he looks to keep rolling early in his drag radial career .

“ The group of people with us , it ’ s like one big family ,” McClaskey says . “ We do a lot of testing and work really hard , but it ’ s more of a family style with our team and people are more relaxed . Anybody will help you with anything and it ’ s great . We ’ re going to be very busy next year , but I love it .” – JOSH HACHAT DI

November 2021

IN HIS first full Pro Mod season , Joey Oksas is already surpassing expectations . The young standout came onto the Mid-West Drag Racing Series scene a year ago like a freight train , advancing to three final rounds after making his debut late in the season .

This year , Oksas proved he was for real , as the 24-year-old wheelman drove to the MWDRS world championship in Pro Mod , picking up three victories along the way in the loaded class .

Oksas had big hopes when he took over driving his father ’ s turbocharged Mustang , but winning a championship already is far beyond even the most optimistic of goals .

“ We ran the last three races last year and had good success , but coming into this first full year I definitely didn ’ t expect to win a championship ,” Oksas says . “ I thought we would be competitive for sure , but I didn ’ t think we could win a championship . I figured we could be competitive , but having success at the end of the year , it was awesome . This year was just a surreal experience .”

Oksas handled all the pressures of racing for a world title with impressive resolve and coupled with his natural driving talent earned him a spot on the 30 Under 30 List for 2021 .

After the MWDRS came back in August after a two-month summer break , Oksas was nearly unstoppable , winning his first career race in Great Bend and following it with a victory in Martin , Michigan , to take control in the loaded Pro Mod ranks .

He added another victory in Tulsa – winning three straight races in the process – before a final-round showing at the Xtreme Texas World Finals to easily clinch his first Pro Mod championship .

Oksas was quick to share the credit with standout tuner Jeff Pierce and the rest of his team , but his driving abilities and potential are undeniable .

He has performed well in Jr . Dragsters and X275 and carried the same cool , calm and collected mindset inside the Pro Mod Mustang . It ’ s already served him well , as he ’ s been outstanding on the starting line throughout his career . He ’ s grown more comfortable in the car , showing an innate ability to communicate what he ’ s feeling into the car to Pierce .

“ I feel more comfortable everywhere , to be honest ,” Oksas says . “ My reaction times have stayed consistent and my cognitive feelings inside the car have gotten better . When I get back from a pass , I talk to Jeff , tell him what I feel and I ’ m a little more keen to the little things that happen in the car . That ’ s been awesome for me and hopefully that helps Jeff and to help us continue to go faster and be consistent .” – JOSH HACHAT DI

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