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Chase Lautenbach
For over a decade, Street Car Takeover co-founder Chase Lautenbach has been bringing grassroots drag racing to the masses, providing a true entertainment product that appeals to all different types of car-culture lovers.
Whether it’ s eighth-mile or quarter-mile, radial prep or no prep, roll racing or traditional drag racing, Street Car Takeover does it all. Car shows? Yep. Burnout contests? Check. Pit road racing at NASCAR facilities? Of course.
Now in its 13th season, SCT has been at the forefront of the grassroots drag racing movement, giving fans and racers a place to see relatable cars that can be driven around town during the week, while blasting down the dragstrip on the weekend.
With 18 events scheduled from coast to coast in 2026, the series continues to grow and evolve, partnering with Tom“ Jimmy Dale” Gunner and Michael Poland this year to bring Lil’ Gangstas – arguably the hottest class in all of drag racing currently – to every event on the tour.
“ Street Car Takeover and Lil’ Gangstas uniting is about more than a class addition; it’ s about raising the bar for grassroots drag racing across the country,” says Lautenbach.“ Individually, both brands have reshaped the landscape. Together, we form a powerhouse that puts racers first, delivers real competition, and gives fans a show that’ s worth the trip.”
That level of commitment to both racers and fans is what should help Lautenbach and SCT push forward through another decade and beyond. – CRAIG COOK
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Tyler Crossnoe
Few people in drag racing understand what it takes to put on a successful event from as many angles as Tyler Crossnoe. A lifelong racer and student of the sport, Crossnoe
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has built a career that has touched nearly every side of the industry, from writing articles and track preparation to event promotion, facility management, and race direction. His early work included covering news stories for Drag IllustrateD, giving him an appreciation for the racers, personalities, and stories that make drag racing successful. He also put on his own event, Outlaw Street Car Reunion, for several years.
Crossnoe later became Vice President of Virginia Motorsports Park while simultaneously helping lead the Professional Drag Racers Association( PDRA). After serving as the PDRA’ s track prep specialist, he was named Series Director beginning with the 2019 season and has helped guide one of professional eighth-mile drag racing’ s premier organizations ever since.
In 2026, Crossnoe stepped away from his position at Virginia Motorsports Park to put an even greater focus on the PDRA. Under his direction, the series continues evolving with increased purses, expanded racer programs, enhanced fan experiences, professional streaming coverage, and most importantly – continued professionalism and consistency.
Whether preparing a racing surface, building an event schedule, or shaping the future of an entire series, Crossnoe’ s versatility makes him one of drag racing’ s most influential behind- the-scenes leaders.
– MADELYN ZARON
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Chris and Tera Graves
For the past 10 years, Chris and Tera Graves have made an art form out of organizing Chaos – literally. What started as one event in 2017 has grown into a trio of successful series: Funny Car Chaos, Nitro Chaos, and Fuel Altered Chaos.
In 2026, Funny Car Chaos features nine races on the schedule, Nitro Chaos is hosting five events,
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and Fuel Altered Chaos – the newest series added to the mix – is presenting two races, both at Tucson Dragway. The husband-and-wife duo also help promote other events, such as the World Fuel Altered Nationals at Eddyville Raceway Park and the 405 Shootout at Mo- Kan Dragway.
The key to their success and continued growth has centered around offering everyone, regardless of budget, a place to race. Multiple eight-car fields at each event( labeled A-field, B-field, etc.) means every competitor can“ Get in where you fit in.” The races are specifically designed with community and friendship within the racing family in mind.
“ We certainly didn’ t plan on being full-time promoters, but it’ s all I know how to do. Drag racing has been my whole life,” says Chris.“ It gets overwhelming at times, but it’ s a lot of fun and we’ re blessed to be able to do what we want to do and have fun doing it.
“ Everyone out there is having fun,” Chris adds.“ Everybody’ s in good spirits, everybody wants to help each other, everybody wants to put on a show. That’ s the whole reason this thing works the way it does. The people are there for the right reason, and the fans and racers have caught on.” – CRAIG COOK
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Jennifer Folk
For Jennifer Folk, promoting some of the biggest and most prestigious bracket races in the country is a family tradition and thriving business that she has helped carry into a new generation.
Folk grew up surrounded by drag racing and has become a driving force behind Folk Promotions and the legendary Million Dollar Drag Race. Working alongside her father, Randy Folk, Jennifer learned the complexities of producing a premier“ big-money” bracket race event before eventually taking on a leading role in its operation. The Million, first held in 1996, celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2025, an impressive milestone in an increasingly competitive
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bracket racing landscape.
Her influence has expanded well beyond one event. Folk Promotions has successfully taken the Million to multiple facilities across the country, including its move to World Wide Technology Raceway, while Jennifer has helped cultivate the racer-first experience and customer service that has become a hallmark of the brand.
In 2024, Folk and her team expanded that formula by launching the Mini Million Florida 40s at Gainesville Raceway. Its inaugural running attracted more than 400 Top Bulb entries, bringing racers from across the country to Florida and proving the Million experience could successfully translate into a new event and market.
Beyond sportsman racing event promotion, Folk is co-owner of Competitive Suspension alongside her husband, Dave Connolly, and is a mother of two boys. Jennifer Folk’ s years of experience and dedication to the sport have anchored her position as a businesswoman and her influence only elevates sportsman drag racing to new heights. – MADELYN ZARON
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Mike Hill
Mike“ The Hitman” Hill has worn just about every hat in heads-up drag racing, but his greatest influence today comes as one of grudge and no-time racing’ s most established promoters.
Hill built his reputation behind the wheel, emerging from the Southeast’ s street and outlaw racing scene before competing in Outlaw 10.5, Pro Mod, and ADRL Pro Nitrous. He also developed a reputation as a tuner, experience that gives him a clear understanding of what racers need from an event.
Promotion became a major part of Hill’ s career around 2000, when he began working with legendary promoter George Howard at Huntsville Dragway. Their early events offered substantial purses for Outlaw 10.5 racers, and Hill eventually developed his own style of big-money heads-up promo-
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