“I don’t think you’ll ever see a gap like we had (in Pro Stock) last year. When the competition is this
close, it’s a victory just to get a round win, and to sling a couple rounds together is huge.” - BO BUTNER
MOVERS & SHAKERS
HANDS-ON OPERATOR
Ronnie Buff, owner and op-
erator of historic Shady Side
Dragway, near Shelby, North
Carolina, gets in a little track
prep time during a recent
Southeast Gassers event.
New in Town
Pro Stock turned Pro Mod drivers Jonathan Gray (left) and Larry Morgan survey
the scene in the staging lanes before strapping in for Pro Mod’s first-ever four-wide
qualifying session at the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals in Concord, North Carolina. Gray
is filling in for nitrous legend Rickie Smith, while Morgan is the new driver for Brad
Anderson’s supercharged Mustang.
MULTITASKING
One of the true “racer’s rac-
ers” who competes in Funny
Car, Tim Wilkerson makes a
few last-minute adjustments
to his Levi. Ray & Shoup
Mustang after checking the
track surface. Wilkerson is
one of the few nitro drivers
who calls the shots as the
driver, tuner and team
owner of his Springfield,
Illinois-based operation.
MASKED MAN
Decked out in full John
Force Racing regalia,
team track specialist
Lanny Miglizzi surveys
the starting line of
Atlanta Dragway.
HANGIN’ OUT
Past Pro Extreme world
champion Mick Snyder
left his signature
orange Powersource
Transportation ‘63 Cor-
vette Top Sportsman
car at home when he
made the trek to Val-
dosta to provide tech
support to his Snyder
Motorsports customers
at the PDRA Southern
Extreme Nationals.
44 | D r a g
I l l u s t r a t e d | DragIllustrated.com
Issue 121