Drag Illustrated Issue 152, January 2020 | Page 36

“The emotions of racing are so terribly strong. You see outbursts all the time from people you wouldn’t expect that of,
and to keep yourself in a focus it takes something that doesn’t get mentioned nearly enough, and that would be a really
good woman by your side to tell you that you can do this whether you think you can or not.” - AUSTIN COIL
MOVERS & SHAKERS
SCRUGGS STAREDOWN: Two-time Pro Extreme
world champion Jason Scruggs is all business as
he suits up and prepares to strap into his new-look
“Mississippi Missile” ‘19 Camaro for Pro Mod final
qualifying at the NHRA U.S. Nationals in Indy.
TRIMMING THE
TREE: Past
SELFIE MODE:
Bangshift.com’s
Chad Reynolds snaps
a selfie with fan-
favorite announcer
Al Tucci along the
return road at SCSN
15 in Vegas.
36 | D r a g
I l l u s t r a t e d | DragIllustrated.com
BUNDLE UP: X275 head honcho John Sears (left)
presents a championship jacket to the 2019 X275
series champion, Charles Hull, during a small
championship awards presentation in the Neal
Chance Racing Converters booth at the PRI Show.
LIFER: Ed Ward proudly holds an original poster
detailing the first NHRA national event in history,
which was held in 1955 at Ward’s local track, SRCA
Dragstrip in Great Bend, Kansas. Ward competed
in this historic race after “borrowing” his dad’s
1954 Ford without his knowledge and racing it.
Today, this 81-year-old enjoys watching his five
grandkids race at the same iconic drag strip.
Issue 152
JOE
Funny Car world
champion Jack
Beckman checks
out the bulbs in
the Christmas Tree
while crew chiefs
check the track
surface before a
qualifying session
at the NHRA
Midwest Nationals.