HEN LOGAN Paul first set foot at an American Drag Racing League ( ADRL ) event in the late 2000s , he had no idea that this initial taste of outlaw eighth-mile drag racing would spark a lifelong passion . What began as a simple visit to the track turned into more than a decade operating in the sport , as well as a career that supports his own racing program . Through dedication and an unquenchable love for the sport , Paul has carved out a name for himself .

In 2009 , Paul was hanging out at the racetrack when he was given an opportunity that set off a chain of events that continues to this day . He joined driver Ronnie Gardner and car owner JD Goad as a crew member on the team ’ s nitrous-fed Camaro , which competed in Piedmont Dragway ’ s Big Dog Shootout series and Quick 8 events throughout the Carolinas .

“ I was literally just standing there one day ,” Paul says , “ and they handed me a wrench and told me to hop in . Ever since then , it became a lifestyle , I would say .”

In 2010 , Paul took another step forward when he started working with Stuart Williams , the head of the Extreme Outlaw Pro Mod ( EOPM ) organization . At just 13 or 14 , Paul was entrusted with running social media for the organization , connecting with racers , tracking statistics , and building a presence that helped EOPM engage fans and drivers alike . Though Williams tragically passed after an 11-month cancer battle in 2014 , Paul ’ s drive to learn and contribute only deepened , as he continued to work with Rick Moore and Charlie Buck until the organization dissolved .

When the Gardner and Goad duo paused their racing program , Paul continued crewing with Pro Mod teams , first Danny Blankenship and later Edward Wilson and Jr . Ward until he was 17 or 18 . In recent years , he ’ s been a part of the Nasty Racing team led by 2019 DI 30 Under 30 honoree John “ John Doc ” Dougherty and Chris Howell .

“ We took it from where it was just like street cars to now a full-on race team ,” Paul says of the team ’ s evolution . “ We ’ ve got radial cars . We ’ ve got no-time cars . We ’ ve got Pro Mods .

It ’ s my addiction , you know what I mean ? That ’ s the best way for me to describe it . I ’ ve just been around it so long that I ’ ve created a name . If there ’ s anything anybody needs , they know they can call me and I will figure out a solution .”

Paul , now 27 , is in the process of building a street-strip 2002 F-body Camaro . Sporting an LS-based engine with twin turbos and a Powerglide , Paul plans to drive the car to the track , run 4.50s , then drive it home . He ’ s located just minutes from GALOT Motorsports Park in Benson , North Carolina , though he also plans to take the car to tracks within five hours or so , including

Darlington , Piedmont , Orangeburg , and others .

Outside of racing , Paul stays plenty busy with two jobs . He and a partner own SP Tools NC , a two-truck distributor of SP Tools . During emergency situations , he also works to restore power to 911 communications . This past hurricane season kept him on the road for weeks , traveling from Asheville and Chimney Rock in North Carolina to the Tampa , Florida , area .

Hard work and a strong penchant for learning have served Paul well . He ’ s helped the Nasty Racing team set records for the LS and 5.2 bore space platforms , as well as win Quick 8 races , no-time shootouts , and other events throughout the Southeast .

“ I want to continue to race and continue to move forward and grow ,” Paul says , thanking parents TJ and Nora Paul , as well as mentors like Gardner , Goad , Blankenship , Wilson , Ward , Dougherty , and Howell . “ Every time we go to the racetrack , I learn something new . If I can continue to pick up knowledge , I ’ ll find it successful .”

Paul also feels strongly about paying forward the opportunity Goad and Gardner gave him 15 years ago by getting the next generation involved in drag racing .

“ They ’ d seen a young kid there , they threw me a wrench , and said , ‘ Here , get involved .’ It just turned a whole new leaf for me ,” Paul says . “ That ’ s why any time a young kid ’ s around , I try to involve them in what I ’ m doing .” – NATE VAN WAGNEN DI

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