Drag Illustrated Issue 151, December 2019 | Page 71

30 UNDER 30
2019
By NATE VAN WAGNEN, JOSH HACHAT, KELLY WADE
ALLYSON JOHNSON AND CRAIG COOK
PHOTOGRAPHS By COLE ROKOSKY, RICK BELDEN, TARA BOWKER, JOE MCHUGH,
SHAWN CROSE, CHRIS SEARS, SCOTT WITTY AND WES TAYLOR
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"DRAG RACING is an aging, dying sport,” they say. The
Drag Illustrated 30 Under 30 list, now in its fifth year, is our
counterargument. While it’s certainly true that the men and women
who pioneered the sport are growing grayer and “aging out,” we’ve
discovered hundreds of individuals who are lining up to fill those
spots – or better yet, create new ones.
Today’s drag racing youth movement is spread out across numer-
D r a g Il l u s t r a t e d . c o m
ous different corners of the sport, many of which didn’t exist 40,
30 or even 15 years ago. The fifth annual 30 Under 30 list reflects
that diversity, from a 28-year-old front-engine Top Fuel dragster
pilot to an engineer developing cutting-edge EFI technology for
one of the largest automotive aftermarket firms. This list, developed
with the help of over 2,000 people who sent in nominations, shines
a light on the young people who are shaping the sport’s future.
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Dr ag Illustr ated