LETTER from the EDITOR
When we made the move to six issues per year in 2022 , one of the hardest parts of the transition was deciding which issue themes to cut back . We weighed the pros and cons of each issue , and unfortunately , the Photo Annual was one of the themes that didn ’ t survive the trimming .
Well , that didn ’ t go over well with 99 percent of the photographers in the sport . The Photo Annual became their year-end look back at some of their best shots . Even if their photos didn ’ t make it into the issue , they appreciated the opportunity to admire the work of their colleagues from across the country and even around the world . Even better , the photos were in print , a rarity in today ’ s digitized content world .
It wasn ’ t just photographers who missed the Photo Annual . I ’ ve been approached by numerous readers , both in-person and online , who ask where the Photo Annual went and when it ’ s coming back . Of course , we pride ourselves on the in-depth interviews and long-form features that appear on the pages of this magazine , but sometimes you just want to read it for the pictures . All year long , our photographers provide incredible images for each issue , but the Photo Annual is a concentrated collection of the very best and the ones that tell a story without words .
Last year , shortly after it was announced that Drag Illustrated would be partnering with the Professional Racers Owners Organization ( PRO ) to host the inaugural SCAG Power Equipment PRO Superstar Shootout presented by Johnson ’ s Horsepowered Garage at Bradenton Motorsports
Park in early February , we realized there was an opportunity to bring back the Photo Annual to start the 2024 editorial calendar .
With very little notice , we called on our everexpanding team of photographers to send in some of their favorite photographs from the 2023 season . Between our core group that provides images for every issue and our network of occasional contributors , submissions started rolling in quickly . Not unlike the selection process for our 30 Under 30 issue , our editorial team got together for multiple two-hour-plus calls to review all the photos – over 700 – and work them down to the several dozen that appear on the following pages . Details provided by the photographers helped us write the accompanying captions , though in many cases , the photos themselves tell the story .
I count more than a few drag racing photographers as good friends , so I ’ m especially excited to bring back the Photo Annual to provide this group with a platform to show off their work . The sport of drag racing is blessed to have so many talented photographers capturing images of this passiondriven endeavor . Many of them are paid only in the satisfaction of seeing their images hanging on a racer ’ s wall , printed on a T-shirt or hero card , or posted as a profile picture on social media .
Next time you see a local photographer sweating it out in the sun at your home track , offer them a cold drink or a friendly wave . You ’ d be surprised how many more photos of you or your car you ’ ll see pop afterwards – maybe even in next year ’ s Photo Annual . DI
Wes Buck Chief Executive Officer Founder & Editorial Director 660.988.2313 wes @ dragillustrated . com
Mike Carpenter Chief Operating Officer Design & Production Director 704.737.2299 mike @ dragillustrated . com
Nancy Koeppen Chief Financial Officer 573.552.5551 nancy @ dragillustrated . com
Nate Van Wagnen Editor-in-Chief 440.986.1480 nate @ dragillustrated . com
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JT Hudson VP of Business Development & Client Relations 660.341.0063 jt @ dragillustrated . com
Kayla Zadel Digital Content Director & Editor-at-Large 970.203.5146 kayla @ dragillustrated . com
Van Abernethy Senior Staff Writer & Field Subscription Sales 828.302.0356 van @ dragillustrated . com
Caroline Fox Customer Service / Office Manager 660.988.2313 caroline @ dragillustrated . com
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS : Bobby Bennett , Greg Burrow , Craig Cook , Tommy D ’ Aprile , Allyson Van Wagnen , Bret Kepner , Brandon W . Mudd , Ian Tocher , Kelly Wade
PHOTO DEPARTMENT : John Fore III , Van Abernethy , Rick Belden , David Beitler , Tara Bowker , Bob Campagna , Jason Dunn , Phil Hutchison , Joe McHugh , Gary Nastase , Mark J . Rebilas , Roger Richards , Cole Rokosky , Chris Sears , James Sisk , Ian Tocher
ADVERTISING SALES : 704.907.3515
SUBSCRIPTIONS & CUSTOMER SERVICE : 660.988.2313 customerservice @ dragillustrated . com
DRAG ILLUSTRATED MEDIA , LLC PO Box 674 , Kirksville , MO 63501 P : 660.988.2313 F : 660.665.1636 www . dragillustrated . com
Copyright © 2024 by Drag Illustrated Media , LLC . All rights reserved . Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited . Drag Illustrated is a registered trademark of Drag Illustrated Media , LLC . Printed and mailed by Publication Printers in Denver , CO .
Nate Van Wagnen Editor-in-Chief
Feel free to email me at nate @ dragillustrated . com and follow me at facebook . com / nitronate1320 and nitronate1320 on Instagram and Twitter .
All statements , including product claims , are those of the person or organization making the statement or claim . The publisher does not adopt any such statement or claims as its own , and any such statement or claim does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the publisher .
8 | Drag Illustrated | DragIllustrated . com Issue 186