MOVERS & SHAKERS
FAN FAVORITE : NHRA Funny Car pilot Alexis DeJoria spends time with a couple young fans between passes in her Bandero Premium Tequila Toyota GR Supra Funny Car at the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals in Las Vegas .
LIKE FATHER , LIKE DAUGHTER : Amber Franklin , who ’ s won PDRA world championships in Pro Jr . Dragster and Pro 632 , celebrates a firstround win at the PDRA American Doorslammer Nationals . The daughter of three-time Pro Nitrous world champion Tommy Franklin , Amber is pursuing a second Pro 632 title this season .
WINDY CITY WIN LIGHTS : Mountain Motor Pro Stock veteran John DeFlorian can ’ t hold back his excitement after getting out of the GETTREX Pro Stock Camaro he helped build at Jerry Haas Race Cars for Matt Hartford . DeFlorian got the call to drive the new car for Hartford at the NHRA Route 66 Nationals , where DeFlorian upset six-time world champion Erica Enders in the first round .
PRACTICE TREE SHOWDOWN : The emotions of victory and defeat are on full display as photographers Darrel Jackson Jr . and Mellie Snedeker square off on the practice tree in Virginia Motorsports Park ’ s media center during a break in the action at the PDRA Mid-Atlantic Showdown .
FAMILY TRADITION : Conover , North Carolina ’ s Aus Danner , grandson of local racing legend Lee Danner , comes from an established racing family . Aus began his career in the Jr . Dragster ranks when he was just five years old , winning his first event at Shadyside Dragway not long after he started . Currently 15 , Aus plans to continue in Jr . Dragster until he ages out , after which , he ’ s got his eyes on his dad ’ s Chevy Malibu , or perhaps a dragster of his own .
66 | Drag Illustrated | DragIllustrated . com Issue 189