DI159
“All the Track
Will Hold”
FEATURES
34
‘$20k, Baby!’
When Sean Bellemeur crossed the finish
line first in the Mid-West Drag Racing
Series’ first-ever Top Alcohol Funny Car
final round, he earned $20,000, what is
believed to be the highest payout in the
category’s rich history. By Josh Hachat
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Crossed Up
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted
drag racing from the national touring
series to small, local venues like
Crossville Dragway, where track owner
Michael Newcome has relied on racers,
track sponsors and new event formats to
weather the storm. By Van Abernethy
Thriving in 2020
While some sectors of the sport have
gone into survival mode to get through
the challenges presented by COVID-19,
big-money bracket races are thriving.
DI sat down with promoters Kyle Seipel,
Kyle Riley, Jared Pennington and JEGS
Performance’s Scott “Woody” Woodruff
to find out what’s making things tick.
By Josh Hachat
NHRA Returns
Photographer Shawn Crose was on
the hallowed grounds of Lucas Oil
Raceway when the NHRA and its Mello
Yello Series racers took to the famed
Indianapolis-area dragstrip for a pair of
semi-national events to start the postshutdown
season.
By Nate Van Wagnen
DEPARTMENTS
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TRIBUTE
24 T.T. Jones
53
Veteran Pro Mod-style motorcycle racer and Huntsville Dragway
owner William “T.T.” Jones passed away July 15 at 63. His
son, Chris Garner-Jones, talks about his impact on his racing
career and what it meant to win his home race in his father’s
memory. By Nate Van Wagnen
ON THE COVER JEGS-SFG $1.1 Million winner Steve Sisko
as photographed by Gary Rowe at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park in Martin, Michigan.
DI COLUMNIST
The Real Deal
Rather than lamenting the downsides of this tumultuous season,
Tommy D’Aprile is taking a more positive approach by
getting back to his roots and attending more local races that
don’t require hours of travel, setting up and tearing down.
PHOTOS: ALEX OWENS, RANDY CURTIS, VAN ABERNETHY
6 | Drag Illustrated | DragIllustrated.com Issue 159