The list has landed.

Days ahead of the Performance Racing Industry Trade Show, Drag Illustrated magazine continued their tradition of honoring the next generation of drag racing superstars. The coveted 30-Under-30 list was released in the latest issue and will be recognized during a special press conference on Friday, Dec. 8. 
 
“This issue is one of the most important projects on our schedule,” said Nate Van Wagnen, editor-in-chief, Drag Illustrated. “The 30 Under 30 list started as a way to recognize the rising stars of the sport while reminding the world that drag racing’s future is in good hands. Now in its eighth year, the 30 Under 30 list has become a movement. Thousands of people submitted nominations this year. Parents, siblings, teammates, friends, mentors, and other supporters helped us learn more about the young men and women who are contributing to the success of the sport in innumerable ways.”

For 36 years, John Medlen became a student of the game, developing his craft as a nitro tuner. He’s enjoyed the ride so much that he hopes to spend the next 36 years mentoring aspiring nitro tuners on what he learned along the way.

One might consider Medlen as the nitro-tuning version of Mr. Myagi shaping the next Karate Kid of drag racing on how to kick the volatile cars down the track.

“I want to help the young guys learn by maybe what information of what to do and what not to do based on 36 years of trying and failing,” Medlen said. “I learned what worked and doesn’t work. The biggest thing is the hows and the why’s of it, why and how we got to our tuning parameters today, and where that all came from. Because if they don’t understand the hows and the whys, then it’ll be difficult for them to form other opinions later because they’re missing the foundation and the base. You can only get that by thousands of runs down the racetrack, and yep, this works, and nope, that doesn’t work.”

The CompetitionPlus.com PRI booth, in conjunction with the Rooftec Competition Eliminator Bonus Fund, and QuarterMileClassifieds.com promises to be a must-stop destination for many attendees at the Performance Racing Industry trade show at the Indiana Convention Center, December 7-9, 2023.

“I want to thank Rodger Brogdon and the Rooftec Competition Eliminator Bonus Fund for proving us with this incredible opportunity,” said CompetitionPlus.com founder and publisher Bobby Bennett. “We’ve been coming to the PRI Show since we launched in 1999, and never had a booth. When Rodger came to us with this plan, we didn’t hesitate to jump at the chance. 

When you’re the largest professional team in drag racing, naturally you do large things. Elite Motorsports has revealed a significant game plan for the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series. 

The biggest news for the 2024 season will be the full-time return of Jeg Coughlin Jr., driving a SCAG Power Equipment-sponsored Camaro. Coughlin raced the last two races of 2023.

“We couldn’t be more pleased to have Jeg Coughlin Jr. return to the seat of a Pro Stock car at Elite Motorsports,” said Freeman. “SCAG Power Equipment came on board for the last two events of the 2023 NHRA season to put Jeg behind the wheel of Erica’s new car to break it in during real competition. SCAG Power Equipment is another of our partners that share the same values we share. Jeg is a great fit for SCAG, and seeing him interact with dealers in Vegas at and away from the track only proved what a great ambassador to a brand he can be. In addition, Outlaw Mile Hi Light Beer will also play a major role in his return.”

Lee Beard, a renowned crew chief who has won the NHRA World championship and is in the Hall of Fame, has maintained his presence in the drag racing community over the past few seasons by providing consulting services to multiple NHRA fuel teams.

Beard is renowned for collaborating closely with manufacturers and engineers to create cutting-edge goods that provided the teams he worked with a competitive edge in terms of performance.

Currently, Beard is a consultant and spokesperson for AWA Forged Composites. AWA Forged Composites consists of a team of present and past aerospace engineers.

Never mind the incredible runs made during a week full of doorslammer racing, when Mother Nature showed up on Sunday evening, it became apparent every racer on the grounds of Bradenton Motorsports Park was racing for second place. Race officials were forced to cancel the rest of eliminations at the 52nd Snowbird Outlaw Nationals presented by Motion Raceworks. 

The purse was split between those remaining in competition, and the trophies will be awarded during contested in qualifying at the U.S. Street Nationals presented by M&M Transmission, Jan. 25-28, at Bradenton. 

If Pro Modified racer Todd Moyer has proven one thing, you can go home. 

Since returning to the turbocharged combination in October, Moyer has qualified No. 1 at all four races he’s attended. 

Moyer and tuner Carl Stevens’ latest conquest came on Saturday at the 52nd Snowbird Outlaw Nationals with a 3.581-second, 229.43 MPH pass in the fifth and final qualifying session on the eighth-mile strip at Bradenton Motorsports Park.

Canadian Outlaw Pro Modified racer Jay Santos set the pace on the first day of the 52nd annual Snowbird Outlaw Nationals, emerging as the quickest doorslammer on the property with a 3.616-second elapsed time. 

Santos leads a slew of provisional No. 1 qualifiers that includes Mark Woodruff (Pro 275), Eric LaFerriere (X275), Paul Gargus (Limited Drag Radial), Daryl Stewart (Outlaw 632), and Shawn Pevlor (Ultra Street).

Santos led several 3.6-second players in the Pro Modified division. Over 40 cars are competing for a spot in the 32-car field. racing for the $52,000-to-win prize. 

Jonnie Lindberg has learned how to make the most of his drag racing opportunities. This season he will enter the realm of nitro crew chief courtesy of an opportunity presented him by Paul Lee Racing. And he couldn’t have asked for a better trainer, as retired championship tuner John Medlen will serve as Lindberg’s mentor. 

“I believe that Jonnie Lindberg has what it takes to become a successful nitro tuner in the NHRA Funny Car class,” said team owner Paul Lee. “As a former alcohol funny car racer myself, I appreciate the talent and skills that it takes to become a successful racer, and Jonnie has proven he possesses those skills as a former NHRA World Champion. I also enjoy giving a talented young crew chief the chance to showcase his skills. With John Medlen continuing as his mentor, I’m more excited for 2024 racing to begin!”