“ In all the other forms of racing , you blow a corner and you fix it and do better the next lap . There is no next lap if you screw up in these cars .” - TONY STEWART

FATHER-SON FAN TIME : Third-generation drag racer Mason McGaha signs autographs for a fan alongside his father , fellow NHRA Pro Stock contender Chris McGaha .

AMERICAN XPRESS : Ultra Street rising star Kieffer Simpson , who won Donald Long ’ s Sweet 16 earlier this season , gets a push back to the pits from his mom , Kelli , at No Mercy 13 . Simpson ran the full FuelTech Radial Outlaws series in Ultimate Street along with his fiancée , 2019 30 Under 30 honoree Haley James , who was the championship runner-up with a win at No Mercy .

KORETSKY FAMILY PORTRAIT : Pennsylvania businessman and former Pro Stock racer Kenny Koretsky ( second from right ) is proudly joined by his family for a quick photo in front of the tower at Maple Grove Raceway , the historic track the family purchased earlier this year and worked to revitalize before the Pep Boys NHRA Nationals in September .

CAN ’ T GET ENOUGH NITRO : “ Big-show ” nitro drivers Mike Salinas and Cruz Pedregon take advantage of an off weekend on the NHRA Camping World Series tour to take in some nostalgia racing at the NHRA California Hot Rod Reunion at Bakersfield .

PHOTOGRAPHS BY DYAN LOVER , CHRIS SEARS , RICK BELDEN , MARC GEWERTZ , JERRY FOSS , AND MICHAEL ALLIO

58 | Drag Illustrated | DragIllustrated . com Issue 179