Everybody pitches in. Everybody wears a bunch of hats. Everybody wants the thing to work. That’ s refreshing, and honestly, it makes this place special.
I’ m also a people person. I love working with people. I love making people happy. If I can make somebody laugh, that makes my day. Even if the joke is on me, and let’ s be honest, a lot of times it is. I’ ll take the hit if it gets a laugh out of somebody.
I think that translates into how I work with people. I think people can feel when you’ re genuine with them. Whether it’ s racers, sponsors, fans, track owners, whoever, I want people to enjoy being around us and enjoy working with DI. If I’ ve been able to play even a small part in that, I’ m proud of it.
� What are you most proud of when it comes to DI’ s involvement in the sport?
This is the big one. When I first started, you’ d call companies and not everybody really knew what Drag IllustrateD was. Some people did, of course, but it wasn’ t anywhere close to what it is today. To see where DI has gotten in this sport is almost freaking unreal.
I’ m proud that DI has become a real voice for the racers, the fans, the tracks, the sponsors, and the sport as a whole. When people see the Drag IllustrateD logo now, they know what it means. They know we care. They know we’ re going to show up, put in the work, tell the stories, promote the sport, and try to make everything feel bigger and better.
The way racers treat us means a lot. You can walk into almost anybody’ s pit and feel welcome. I know racers are good people and they’ re like that with a lot of folks, but it still makes you feel good. Same thing with the racetracks. Tracks want DI involved. They want us there. They treat us great. And that means something.
From where we started to where we are now, sometimes I honestly can’ t wrap my head around it. It’ s wild. It makes me proud, it makes me thankful, and it makes me excited for what’ s next.
CAROLINE FOX
Customer Service / Office Manager
� How and when did you join DI?
I joined DI back in 2013, shortly after moving to the town Wes and JT are from. I started part-time answering the customer service line and gradually took on more responsibilities until eventually joining DI full-time. I love all
� FOX
“ YOU CAN REALLY FEEL THE PASSION EVERYONE HERE HAS FOR DRAG RACING, AND THE DRIVE TO HELP IT GROW AND SUCCEED.”
of my coworkers. They make work so fun. I feel very grateful; being part of DI has truly been a blessing.
� Do you have a favorite or most memorable issue?
My most memorable issue was the very first 30 Under 30 issue. Honestly, every 30 Under 30 issue is memorable because so much work goes into each one. There’ s always a lot of excitement surrounding the list, both internally at DI and throughout the sport. Since I’ m not one of the decision-makers, I get to enjoy all the excitement without the pressure of choosing only 30 people!
� What’ s your favorite memory of working at DI?
My favorite memory at DI is a bittersweet one. A few years ago, my husband was in the hospital, and we didn’ t know if he was going to make it. It felt like my world was ending. During that time, everyone at DI was incredibly supportive. I’ m paraphrasing, but Wes basically told me,“ Don’ t worry about anything here, and what do you need?” I was away for weeks, but I never had to worry about my job or my paycheck, which allowed me to focus all my energy on being where I was needed most.
It meant more than I can put into words. I don’ t take for granted that I work somewhere that truly cares about me. I can trust that when life inevitably happens, DI is an added support, not added stress.
� What are you most proud of when you think about your own involvement with DI?
I think I’ m definitely part of the nuts and bolts of the company. I handle a lot of the behind-the-scenes work that helps keep things running smoothly and supports what we do at DI. I take pride in being someone people can rely on to do my part.
I also really enjoy helping our magazine subscribers. There’ s something especially rewarding about turning a frustrated call into a positive experience. I love that DI allows me to truly be on the customer’ s side and help people without having to put the company’ s bottom line first. The people pleaser in me would die a slow and painful death if I had to let people down all day, every day.
� What are you most proud of when it comes to DI’ s involvement in the sport?
I’ m most proud of the positivity we bring to our coverage of the sport. You can really feel the passion everyone here has for drag racing, and the drive to help it grow and succeed.
BRET KEPNER
Historian & Statistician Contributing Writer
� How and when did you join DI?
I was captured by the quality of the original issue of Drag IllustrateD when Wes produced a slick-paper hard-bound print issue which included the work of the sport’ s best photographers. It was a beautiful product which stood out at the very, very end of the drag racing print publishing era. Having worked for the magazine end of drag racing media since 1976, I was intrigued and was interested in being a part of Drag IllustrateD since all of us in the business knew it would be the last gasp of a true independent magazine in the industry.
I knew of Wes from his family’ s involvement in racing and his then recent involvement with Eddyville( IA) Raceway Park but the first time I spoke with him was when he interviewed right
138 | Drag Illustrated | DragIllustrated. com Issue 200