LETTER from the EDITOR
Wes Buck Chief Executive Officer Founder & Editorial Director 660.988.2313 wes @ dragillustrated. com
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Over the summer, just as we were wrapping up some of the major pieces in this State of Drag Issue, I made my way back to the racetrack for the first time in eight months. The span between the Snowbird Outlaw Nationals at Bradenton Motorsports Park in early December 2024 and the PDRA Northern Nationals at U. S. 131 Motorsports Park in early August was the longest I’ ve been away from the track since I was probably 12. The time away was well spent, as my wife, Allyson, and I welcomed our baby boy, Callum, in January and I chose to step back from traveling to be home with them.
So, it wasn’ t hard to get up bright and early on a Saturday morning to make the four-hour drive up to Martin, Michigan, for the Northern Nationals and to see all of my friends I hadn’ t seen since December or earlier. Since taking over DI’ s PDRA on-site coverage in 2016, I’ ve attended every PDRA race up until the ProStars race last year. I’ ve grown close to the group that travels with the series – the racers and crew members, of course, but also the media members, series officials, and everyone else it takes to put on an eight-race series.
Reuniting with everyone at Martin provided a burst of enthusiasm that I’ m still feeling to this day. Being away for some time and then coming back gave me a refreshed perspective, and maybe a better appreciation for everything this sport has going for it. It’ s one thing to read posts and comments online or hear from people that do attend the races, but actually getting out to the track is the best way to see and feel what’ s going on in the sport.
That’ s what this issue is all about. We’ ve tapped into our connections across drag racing to help us get a read on the state of drag racing. From top to
Nate Van Wagnen Editor-in-Chief
bottom, left to right, we’ ve identified some of the high points and hot topics.
To lead things off, six-time NHRA Pro Stock world champion Greg Anderson appears on the cover for the second time, though it’ s his first solo appearance. His last appearance in November 2010 – FIFTEEN years ago! – was with his then-teammate, Jason Line. Pro Stock has changed a lot since then – carburetors and hood scoops went away in favor of EFI and flat hoods – and it’ s changed even more since Anderson cut his teeth in the class working with Warren“ The Professor” Johnson as a crew member. In the cover story, we talk about the evolution Anderson has seen, as well as how he’ s constantly evolving to remain competitive. I really enjoyed my conversation with Greg, and I hope you find something meaningful in it as well.
This issue isn’ t just about the polished world of NHRA professional racing, though. Major features also include a roundtable interview with four of the original Street Outlaws racers, as well as my piece on Lil Gangstas and its promoters, Tom Gunner and Michael Poland. The Street Outlaws guys talk about the show’ s origin, its longevity through spinoffs like No Prep Kings, and what comes next for that group as the television series has come to an end. In the Lil Gangstas story, we take a look at what’ s made the small-tire, grassroots index class so popular at tracks and events across the country.
Everything covered in this issue is obviously just scratching the surface when it comes to the good things happening in drag racing right now. Sure, it’ s not all positive. Yes, racers and fans find themselves pinching pennies a bit more, and the tracks and businesses that serve the sport are feeling that squeeze, but there’ s a lot of exciting stuff out there to discover. Let this issue serve as a starting point. DI
Feel free to email me at nate @ dragillustrated. com and follow me at facebook. com / nitronate1320 and nitronate1320 on Instagram and X.
Nate Van Wagnen Editor-in-Chief 440.986.1480 nate @ dragillustrated. com
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