Counterweight
SPORTSMAN ROUNDTABLE
Bogacki, Seipel, Beard, Langdon & Coughlin Jr.
Talk TruSTART, Big Money, Contingency & More
dragillustrated.com
Jeff
Verdi
2,400 MILES &
270,000 DOLLARS
Gary White,
EKanoo Racing
& Drag Racing’s
Most Impressive
Doorslammer
Scott Palmer’s
Top Fuel Pro Mod
Adventure
David Rampy
& the Future
of Competition
Eliminator
Verdi’s Big Win
Overjoyed to see someone as
deserving as Jeff Verdi on the cover
of Drag Illustrated. Not only was
his performance in Las Vegas impressive in terms of simply round
wins and the caliber of competitors
on hand, it was inspiring. There’s a
lot of good stories in the sportsman
ranks right now, a lot of impressive
up-and-comers and old-timers still
doing their thing, but this has to be
the story of 2016.
Larry Pierce, via the Internet
It’s gratifying when a virtual
unknown bracket racer turns up
on the cover of the quintessential
rock-and-roll-meets-drag-racing
magazine. Have to admit that this
is the kind of move that reminds
me exactly why Drag Illustrated
rocks – what other magazine would
put a regular ol’ bracket racer on the
cover? Even after winning “The Million” – let’s face it – to a lot of people
Jeff Verdi is just another weekend
warrior and definitely not enough of
a star to beat out a Ron Capps, Jack
Beckman or Antron Brown when it
comes to getting major play after a
win. Props to you guys for putting
your money where your mouth is.
You truly are making drag racing
great again.
David Sorensen, via the Internet
[EDITOR-IN-CHIEF WES
BUCK REPLIES: David! THANK
YOU! Clearly, you get what we’re
trying to do here, and I have to be
honest…it feels good. Not to toot
our own horn, but, man, I felt the
exact same way when I saw what
12 | D r a g
our Art Director Mike Carpenter
had achieved on the cover of DI
#110. I’ll tell you what I told him:
This cover with Jeff Verdi is the
perfect representation of why
Drag Illustrated exists. Jeff is
the kind of racer and person that
more than deserves major recognition for his accomplishments in
this sport, and it was our st ated
goal from day one to give guys like
him their rightful moment in the
sun. Thank you for noticing. We
appreciate you.]
The Jeff Verdi cover story
should be mandatory reading for
any and every one who intends
to pursue a future in drag racing.
That’s the kind of experience that
so many of us that have spent years
out on the open road and drag strip
have battled through, and it’s basically par for the course if you want
Feedback, Friendly Notes,
& Hate Mail
directly into a Pro Mod car is MY
KIND OF GUY. This cat deserves
a medal of honor.
Charlie Davidson, via the Internet
How long until we see more of
these Top Fuel Pro Mods? Seems
like this is the kind of race car – especially when paired with a character like Scott Palmer – that could
bring back some of match race madness from drag racing’s glory days.
Al Walker, via the Internet
[EDITOR-IN-CHIEF WES
BUCK REPLIES: Al! Truth be
told, I’ve heard from more than
one (like four, to be honest) guys
that have top-tier Pro Mod operations that are kicking around the
idea of pursuing a Top Fuel Pro
Mod deal to be used strictly on a
match race basis. I like the way
you think!]
of those smaller tracks to bring in
some heavy hitters? You tell me!]
Sportsmen
Speak
Unbelievable job getting such
a tremendous group of well-spoken,
smart, opinionated and experienced
racers/promoters to speak on the
state of sportsman drag racing. It’s
massively impressive to see a story
like Nate Van Wagnen’s “Sportsman
Roundtable” on the pages of Drag
Illustrated. Thanks for keeping
your finger to the pulse of this sport.
Richard Penn, via the Internet
David Rampy, the Cummings
Boys, “Bird” Jones, Brad Plourd,
Kevin Brannon and Jeff Verdi in one
issue of Drag Illustrated? Talk
about a home run! That’s what I’m
talking about! Now, if you would
just make sure that Kevin Brannon
is in your second-annual 30 Under
30 you’d really be onto something!
Make it happen!
Randy Smith, via the Internet
Life Flight
to be the kind of racer – and person –
that finds themselves in the winner’s
circle of the richest bracket race in
the world.
Vic Hays, via the Internet
Call Him Crazy?
I don’t know what the hell
Scott Palmer is drinking when he
sits around after the races with his
crew guys, but I want some. Anyone who thinks it’s a good idea to
put the engine and drivetrain out
of a 310mph-plus Top Fuel dragster
I l l u s t r a t e d | DragIllustrated.com
Does anyone at Drag Illustrated think that Outlaw 440-foot racing, which seems to be what Scott
Palmer is going to do primarily with
his Top Fuel Studebaker, is going to
catch on?
Todd Payne, via the Internet
[EDITOR-IN-CHIEF WES
BUCK REPLIES: I can only
speak for myself, but I’ve got zero
problems with it. To be honest, I
think there are plenty of facilities that don’t have the real estate
required to run serious fast cars,
so maybe it’s an option for some
I don’t know that I was fully
prepared for the emotional response
triggered by PDRA president Bob
Harris’ photo of the Life Flight helicopter leaving Rockingham Dragway with Drag Illustrated’s Ian
Tocher on board, with the fate of the
late Ronnie “The King” Davis still
uncertain. I applaud you for publishing it, and I continue to send
up prayers on both Ian and Ronnie’s behalf.
Fran D’Innocenzio,
via the Internet
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Issue 111