Even before Kelley and Jackson drew each other during Saturday night’ s chip draw, there were plenty of pranks between the two in the pits involving Cheetos, Christmas trees, and T-shirts. Upon realizing they’ d drawn each other— to a chorus of cheers from all the other drivers— both admitted the pairing couldn’ t have been scripted any better.

“ We’ ve been going back and forth in the pits all day,” said Kelley.“ It’ s all fun and games. We come up here and draw each other, it’ s like, you can’ t make this shit up. It’ s gonna be badass. I know we’ re gonna let it all hang out, and people are gonna get to see a drag race.”

“ I believe things happen exactly like they’ re supposed to,” added Jackson.“ When it got to

No. 10( during the chip draw), I said,‘ Please just let it happen, Lord. Please just give it to me.’ This round right here will set the internet on fire. We race cars because of moments like this. This is probably going to be the biggest round of the year for the internet, and maybe for the sport. I like it.”

Jackson wouldn’ t end up liking the result, as Kelley beat him on both the tree—. 036 to. 056— and on the scoreboard— 3.595 to 3.601— to take the win in round one. Although Kelley’ s six-round winning streak at the DIWS would come to an end in a second-round loss to Zach Sackman, he still felt like a winner after beating Jackson.

“ Growing up, Stevie Fast was my idol,” Kelley said.“ And I just took him down. It was a badass feeling— it kind of feels like I won the finals by beating him.”— CRAIG COOK DI

BRIGHT AND EARLY ON SUNDAY MORNING AT THE U. S. STREET NATIONALS, JACKSON AND KELLEY BATTLED IT OUT IN PERHAPS THE BIGGEST FIRST-ROUND MATCHUP OF THE ENTIRE WINTER SERIES.

142 | Drag Illustrated | DragIllustrated. com Issue 194