The final round in Pro Stock was determined by inches , the weather was picture perfect – and speaking of pictures , my favorite image from that entire weekend was the photo of the DI staff as we joined Jeg Coughlin Jr . in the winner ’ s circle last year . Drag Illustrated Founder and Editorial Director Wes Buck was assembling the staff for the photo when suddenly I heard Wes shout , “ Van , come get in the winner ’ s circle ... and bring the alligator !”

You read that correctly – someone had brought an alligator to the track ( its mouth safely taped shut ) and we were all taking turns holding it , when suddenly it got handed off to me . So , here I go lumbering to the winner ’ s circle packing the reptile in my arms . I stood alongside my cohorts , smiling and cradling the 3-foot gator like a baby . The photo was published in the following issue and it instantly became one of my all-time favorite race memories .

That first WDN event was amazing for several reasons , not the least of which was because roughly two days later the wheels officially began to come off the proverbial track , the result of the growing pandemic we know as COVID-19 . Without a whole lot of warning or understanding

, the nation was suddenly entering lockdown mode .

In fact , had our inaugural event been scheduled just one week later , it would have likely been canceled due to government mandates and the event would have most likely suffered the same fate as last year ’ s NHRA Gatornationals , which promptly got shut down just days after our mega weekend in Orlando . Amazing how you can be so high

on excitement , only to watch the world shutting down the following weekend !

The next few months ushered in an unprecedented level of anxious unrest , all while watching daily briefs from the White House and sheltering in place . What a bizarre year it turned out to be . While those dark days of 2020 seemed to drag on forever , before I knew it the curtain was closing on a dreadful year and brighter days were squarely in sight .

Considering all that had happened over the course of 12 months ,

it was pretty surreal driving through the gates of Orlando Speed World exactly one year later , ready to join my DI colleagues once more to present the second annual World Doorslammer Nationals last month . I arrived early on Thursday and parked the DI van on the midway , anxious to greet race goers throughout the weekend who wanted to sign up or renew their subscription to the printed word of

all things drag racing .

For most of Thursday , though , I simply tooled around on my golf cart , watching the pits fill up with race rigs and diehard fans . Many in attendance were donning face masks , which served as a stark reminder of last year ’ s race , which I now categorize as the last normal weekend before the world fell apart !

Suddenly , the glorious sound of a 500-cubic-inch Pro Stock motor came roaring to life and a whiff of racing fuel began to float through the air . I slowly rolled to a stop on the golf cart and took it all in .

People were congregating , smiling and nodding their heads in approval . For some , this was their first race of 2021 . For others , it was the first time they had stepped foot on a dragstrip since this time last year !

Throughout the grassy and wellgroomed sportsman pit area , several kids were throwing around a football , while others were diligently tossing cornhole bags . Smoke was ascending not only from the water box during qualifying , but also from various grills , as people gathered with friends , laughing and enjoying life again .

Among the most memorable scenes I ’ ll take with me from the most recent World Doorslammer Nationals was a father and his adult son hanging on the fence at the finish line , listening to the crack of the parachutes as the cars streaked by . I met the son here last year and I got him signed up to receive the magazine . This year , he returned and brought his father , who also subscribed . They showed up the following day , both wearing their DI shirts . I sat there on my golf cart taking in the scene for a moment before quietly snapping a picture and moving along .

The following day , qualifying had ended and racers in every category rolled to the line , thus demonstrating a phenomenal showing of their abilities before a cheering crowd that was even larger than last year ’ s . And with that conclusion , I once again found myself pulling out of the gates of Orlando , and yes , once more I ’ m convinced that it couldn ’ t possibly get any better .

Realistically , though , I ’ m already looking forward to seeing just how wrong I am 12 months from now ! DI