“ To be one of the guys who won a championship with Alan [ Johnson ] as the crew chief is what I ’ ve dreamt of , and obviously , winning it with Connie [ Kalitta ] here is extra special as well .” - DOUG KALITTA , 2023 NHRA TOP FUEL WORLD CHAMPION

FINALLY : Mike Castellana , one of the pioneers of the NHRA Pro Modified movement , celebrates his first-ever FuelTech NHRA Pro Mod Series world championship during eliminations at the NHRA Nevada Nationals in Las Vegas . Castellana was a part of the first NHRA Pro Mod exhibition in 2001 .

POWERFUL PROPOSAL : Newly crowned PDRA Super Street world champion Blake Denton and 2022 Pro 632 world champion Amber Franklin celebrate their engagement at PDRA DragWars at GALOT Motorsports Park . Denton proposed while taking winner ’ s circle photos after Franklin and her father , Tommy , doubled up in Pro 632 and Pro Nitrous , respectively . Their pup , Hallie , joined in the celebration .

FUNNY CAR FAMILY : Mike Peck Sr .’ s family-based team sets the intake and blower back on the nitro-burning AJPE powerplant in his “ Instigator ” ‘ 70 Camaro Nostalgia Funny Car between rounds at the Wally Parks Nostalgia Nationals in Bakersfield , California .

DON AND DONNIE : Southern California drag racing legend Donnie Couch ( right ) interviews the iconic Don “ The Snake ” Prudhomme , who served as the grand marshal of the Wally Parks Nostalgia Nationals at Famoso Dragstrip .

IN THE LANES : Aspiring tuner and suspension specialist Jalen Burbage , who ’ s worked under the tutelage of Mark Menscer throughout this season , checks in with Pro Nitrous driver John Vergotz before final qualifying at the PDRA Brian Olson Memorial World Finals .

PHOTOGRAPHS BY DAVID BEITLER , DAVID HILNER , DANNY STOGNER , GARY ROWE , AND NHRA

68 | Drag Illustrated | DragIllustrated . com Issue 185