“ This bike is challenging in all the best ways . I can feel the power underneath me and it ’ s unlike anything else I ’ ve ever experienced .” - JIANNA EVARISTO

STAGING LANES LADIES : Racers For Christ chaplain Tammie Smith ( center ) snaps a photo with PDRA Pro Jr . Dragster racer Ava Meloni ( left ) and NHRA Pro Stock rookie Sienna Wildgust in the staging lanes at zMAX Dragway during the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals .

SEND-OFF SMOOCH : Jennifer Boone blows a kiss to her husband , 2018 PDRA Extreme Pro Stock world champion Steven Boone , before sending him down the eighth mile in his Allen-powered Boone Motorsports Cobalt .

THE ORIGINAL WOMAN OF POWER : Four-time Top Fuel world champion Shirley Muldowney poses for a photo with her sidekick , Missy , while signing autographs and meeting fans in the pits at the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals . Over the course of her career , Muldowney has inspired countless women to pursue their drag racing dreams .

HAVING A BALL : PDRA Pro Street rookie Ethan Steding , son of Pro Boost star Kurt Steding , keeps young Tommy Tutterow entertained in the P2 Racing pits at the PDRA Mid-Atlantic Showdown . The 17-year-old Steding earned his first No . 1 qualifier award driving his roots-blown ‘ 24 Camaro tuned by Tommy ’ s father , secondgeneration tuner Ty Tutterow .

SMOKE ON AIR : NHRA on FOX reporter Amanda Busick sits down for an interview with motorsports icon and NHRA Top Fuel rookie Tony Stewart between rounds in the Tony Stewart Racing Nitro pits at a recent NHRA race .

PHOTOGRAPHS BY TARA BOWKER , DAVID HILNER , VAN ABERNETHY , RICK BELDEN , AND NHRA

64 | Drag Illustrated | DragIllustrated . com Issue 189