Dirt
Ryan Martin
‘ Street Outlaws’ Hit a New Stage
Ryan Martin wins first-ever NHRA Outlaw Street Wally By Craig Cook
As a three-time No Prep Kings points champion and winningest driver ever in the series, Ryan Martin is no stranger to success. His stoic nature is one of a driver that never appears to be too high or too low. But standing at the top end of zMAX Dragway after winning the first-ever event in the Right Trailers Outlaw Street class at the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals, not even Martin could reign in his emotions.
“ Honestly, it’ s pretty surreal,” says Martin.“ I thank God that I’ ve been very fortunate – I’ ve won races for $ 100,000 and I’ ve won championships back-to-back, and that is all fantastic. But you still go,‘ Hey, NHRA is the big stage, NHRA gives away Wallys, and I don’ t have one of those.’ This class gave us the ability to go get a Wally – a 75th anniversary Diamond Wally. That was just icing on the cake.”
The final round was decided right at the starting line. Martin’ s opponent, Scott Taylor, went-. 002 red, throwing away a 3.702-second pass at 195.65. A timing malfunction in Martin’ s lane caused him to not receive a time, and despite seeing the win light come on in his lane, it took a couple minutes until he knew for sure.
“ It was a very odd moment,” Martin says.“ I could clearly tell he got out in front of me, so the first thing I do is look up to see if he went red. He didn’ t have a red light when I looked up, but I had a win light. I make my pass and no time comes up. I’ m on my radio going,‘ What happened? What happened?’ waiting for somebody to say something. They’ d already kicked their headphones off celebrating. Until I parked the car next to Scott, then looked over at the guy walking up to me with the Wally … that’ s the first time I knew.”
The weekend wasn’ t without its challenges.
PHOTOGRAPHS BY RICK BELDEN, MELLIE SNEDEKER, AND NHRA
34 | Drag Illustrated | DragIllustrated. com Issue 200