“ It means everything( to get the 200th). From Erica to Shirley to Angelle, to all of those ladies who have paved the way for me to come out here, and I get to call some of them my really good friends, and that’ s what means so much to me.”- ANGIE SMITH ON 200 WINS BY WOMEN IN THE NHRA PRO RANKS

A DAY AT THE DRAGS WITH DAD: Caroline Carpenter spent a day at the drag races with her dad, Drag Illustrated COO Mike Carpenter, when the NHRA rolled into town for the 4-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway in April. In addition to the racing action, events at zMAX Dragway always feature a lot of entertainment options for the younger fans.

MAN OF THE PEOPLE: Track owner Royce Miller walks the fence line to greet the thousands of fans who filled his Maryland International Raceway for its first NHRA national event, the Potomac Nationals.

PRACTICE TREE PRO: Kenny Farrell takes in the action at the Practice Tree Shootout during the Strange Engineering Ronnie Buff Memorial Race at Shadyside Dragway. Farrell ended up winning the shootout and the $ 7,500 prize.

DRIVERS & DIGNITARIES: Two-time and reigning NHRA Funny Car world champion Austin Prock( left) and team owner Bob Tasca III share a conversation with New Hampshire Governor Kelly Ayotte in the pits at the NHRA New England Nationals at New England Dragway in Epping, New Hampshire.

HIGH ENERGY: Three-time NHRA Funny Car world champion Ron Capps shows off Monster Energy, the iconic energy drink brand that joined his Ron Capps Motorsports team along with Top Fuel rookie Mad

PHOTOGRAPHS BY SHAWN KELLY, RICK BELDEN, DANNY STOGNER, KAITLYN WARD, AND NHRA

62 | Drag Illustrated | DragIllustrated. com Issue 201