has also branched off into Mountain Motor Pro Stock and Pro Mod racing. According to multiple drag racing historians, Enders made history at the 2025 / 26 Drag Illustrated Winter Series, becoming the only known driver to have wheeled a Pro Mod with all four major power adders – screw blower, centrifugal supercharger, nitrous, and twin-turbos.
With so many accomplishments already in hand, Enders is currently preparing to get her Top Fuel license, potentially hopping into a dragster once again – albeit one a bit quicker than the one seen in her Disney Channel movie. – CRAIG COOK
DI
Ryan Martin, Shawn Ellington, and Scott Taylor
In 2013, the drag racing world was brought before the
Martin
Ellington
Taylor masses in a way like never before, thanks to an unlikely hit television show: Street Outlaws. Millions of viewers tuned in every week to watch a group of blue-collar workers go street racing in Oklahoma City. While neither
DI
Lyle Barnett
If you were to take a poll of the most skilled, respected, or feared drivers in all of drag racing, Lyle Barnett would be at or near the top of the list. He is inarguably one of the most sought-after hired guns in the sport. But by Barnett’ s own admission, nearly all his success almost never happened.
During Radial vs. the World qualifying at No Mercy VI in 2015 at South Georgia Motorsports Park, Barnett suffered a horrific fire and crash that left third-degree burns on nearly 15 % of his body. Twenty skin grafts were needed to fix the affected areas, and at times he was certain he would die. But that was not how his story would end; not only did he survive, he overcame the adversity with immense success.
“ The Lyle Barnett that existed before I was burnt is not the Lyle Barnett that many people know today,” Barnett told CompetitionPlus. com’ s Bobby Bennett in a 2023 interview.“ While it was the worst day of my life, it has also created a platform that has turned me into who I am today.”
The person he is today is a proven winner. He returned to the scene of his fire and won Lights Out 8 in the Xtreme Leaf Spring class. He won the U. S. Nationals in 2022. He has won in Radial vs. the World. He’ s won in Pro 275. He’ s won in Pro Mod. He’ s won on small tires. His“ Beer Money” Mustang, primarily competing in Lil’ Gangstas, has won enough prize money to pay for the car many times over.
It’ s not just driving, either. Barnett is a master at self-promotion, bringing in his own sponsors – most recently with Outlaw Light Beer, allowing him to run a full season in the NHRA Pro Mod Series with car owner Billy Banaka. He also isn’ t afraid to speak his mind, whether it’ s online, in interviews, or as the co-host of the hugely popular“ Shake and Bake Show” with fellow Power 100 honorees“ Stevie Fast” Jackson and Courtney Enders-Hyde. Barnett also uses his platform as a safety advocate, urging fellow racers to go beyond the mandated safety measures.
Barnett’ s story is one of resilience and perseverance, a story that anyone in the sport who is going through a difficult time can relate to.
“ I’ ve been known for my story for all these years and the fire and the crash and my comeback,” Barnett says.“ We’ re finally starting to talk about talent and success and wins, and that may be because of the fire and the crash I had in 2015, but now they stand side-by-side.” – CRAIG COOK the original show, nor its nearly 20 spinoffs( including No Prep Kings), are still on the air, that hasn’ t stopped a trio of the Discovery Channel stars from forging ahead in their careers.
Shawn“ Murder Nova” Ellington, Ryan Martin, and Scott Taylor( from Street Outlaws: New Orleans) announced at the 2025 PRI Show the formation of a new NHRA Outlaw Street class, taking place at four select national events in 2026, allowing fans to still see the cars and stars that were beloved on the NPK circuit.
At the first Outlaw Street race earlier this year in Charlotte, it was the three-time NPK points champion Martin taking home a 75th anniversary Diamond Wally. His on-track success should have come as no surprise – Martin finished his NPK career as the all-time leader in event wins( 26) and round wins( 310). Ellington won six NPK events, 120 rounds, and was the 2024 points champion. Taylor won 159 rounds and three events.
Ellington and Martin also started their very own Outlaw Syndicate Small Tire Series this year, where Taylor remains undefeated – in six events so far, he has five wins and a split in the finals due to the event being called.
All three drivers have also jumped into the Pro Mod waters, quickly proving that they are far more than just“ TV racers.” Ellington reached the semifinals of the 2026 Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod, while Taylor made it to the WSOPM quarterfinals a year prior. Currently, Martin leads the Pro Mod points standings in the Mid-West Drag Racing Series, with Ellington right behind him in second( tied with Paul Gargus).
While Street Outlaws may be gone, Martin, Ellington, and Taylor continue to adapt and succeed. They’ re still delighting longtime fans, expanding out to new audiences, and continuing to do what they’ ve always done: win. – CRAIG COOK
DI
Clay Millican
Clay Millican brings an infectious enthusiasm to drag racing like few others in the sport can. That passion is authentic, and unlike others, it’ s not dependent on on-track success. That’ s not to say he isn’ t successful – Millican is a six-time IHRA Top Fuel world champion and an eight-time winner in NHRA Top Fuel – but the Millican who now operates at the sport’ s highest level conveyed the same unbridled excitement and optimism when he was climbing the ranks as a bracket racer in the Mid-South, battling sponsorship woes that put him on the sidelines, and fighting for that long-awaited first NHRA Wally. Over the course of 30-plus years, that attitude has earned Millican one of the strongest fan bases in drag racing.
Millican got his Top Fuel license in 1998 and left behind his day job as a forklift operator at a Kroger
September / October 2026 DragIllustrated. com | Drag Illustrated | 101