LETTER from the EDITOR
Wes Buck Chief Executive Officer Founder & Editorial Director 660.988.2313 wes @ dragillustrated. com
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Nate Van Wagnen Editor-in-Chief 440.986.1480 nate @ dragillustrated. com
The fact that I’ m sitting down to write this column means that another 30 Under 30 Issue is finally almost ready to go off to print. If I were to compare each issue theme to a major race, the 30 Under 30 Issue would be the NHRA U. S. Nationals in Indianapolis – preparation starts way earlier, there’ s more eyeballs on it, and by the time it’ s all over, you’ re exhausted and ready for a weeklong nap. Anyone who’ s spent a late summer week at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park for the Big Go knows what I’ m talking about.
But like winning the U. S. Nationals, finishing the 30 Under 30 Issue means a little more. This issue is so meaningful for all of us at DI because of its impact on the sport, and more specifically, the young people who operate within it. I see how much it means to them every time I reach out to an honoree to let them know they’ ve made it on the list. I hear it in their voices during the interview process, which is nothing new for professional racers, but for many honorees, this is the first them they’ ve been interviewed – the first time anyone has asked them about their earliest memories in drag racing, their proudest accomplishments, and the people who helped them along the way.
We also see the impact when we get to the PRI Show in Indy, where we host the 30 Under 30 press conference. What started on a small stage in the Press Conference Center has expanded multiple times to the point that we’ ve moved into the Sagamore Ballroom for this year’ s press conference. For the first time in 30 Under 30 history, we’ re expecting perfect attendance for the honorees, and they
Nate Van Wagnen Editor-in-Chief
all bring parents, grandparents, siblings, spouses, crew members, sponsors, and other supporters with them. Even if the impact of this issue is limited to the people in that room, all of the effort was worth it.
One of the coolest parts of the 30 Under 30 program is watching the honorees continue to thrive after their appearance on the list. It would take another complete issue to provide an update on the 300 individuals who’ ve been a part of the program, but I’ d like to touch on some of the major recent highlights. Austin Prock( Class of 2019) won his second straight NHRA Funny Car world championship with his brother, Thomas( 2022), as assistant crew chief. Dallas Glenn( 2021) earned his first NHRA Pro Stock world title one year after losing it by a round to teammate Greg Anderson. Darian Boesch( 2021) secured a second NHRA Top Sportsman world championship.
Over in the Red Line Oil PDRA Series, four of the six pro class world champions were past 30 Under 30 honorees. Marcus Butner( 2023) earned his first Pro Nitrous title. Ty Tutterow( 2016) joined his father, Todd Tutterow, as a Pro Boost world champion, adding to his 2023 NMCA Xtreme Pro Mod title. Ethan Steding, who appeared on the cover of last year’ s 30 Under 30 Issue, clinched his second consecutive Pro Street world championship. Alan Drinkwater( 2023) also became a two-time world champion in Extreme Pro Stock.
These are just a few of the high-level, worldchampionship-caliber highlights that top a long list of accomplishments our past honorees have racked up this year alone. I’ m looking forward to seeing how this year’ s honorees add to that list by this time next year. DI
Feel free to email me at nate @ dragillustrated. com and follow me at facebook. com / nitronate1320 and nitronate1320 on Instagram and X.
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10 | Drag Illustrated | DragIllustrated. com Issue 197