Drag Illustrated
Nate Van Wagnen Named Drag Illustrated Editor-In-Chief
KIRKSVILLE, MO – Drag Illustrated, a leading motorsports publication, officially announced today that Nate Van 
Wagnen has been named the new Editor-In-Chief of the magazine. Wes Buck will continue as Founder and Editorial Director of DRAG ILLUSTRATED.
The official announcement furthers Van Wagnen’s role with the magazine, which started in 2014 as a freelance writer. A year later, the 22-year-old Van Wagnen was named the DRAG ILLUSTRATED Web Editor, advancing to the Managing Editor role in 2017 before being named the Editor-In-Chief this year.
“I picked up my first copy of DRAG ILLUSTRATED in 2008 and had the opportunity to start writing when I was 18. To grow in that role and now be named Editor-In-Chief, it is really surreal,” Van Wagnen said. “I really appreciate Wes entrusting me with this role, and it has been a great experience to learn with Wes and (Design & Production Director) Mike (Carpenter) over the last few years to fully understand how the whole magazine comes together. Wes trusting me with a position he has held for a long time means a lot, and says a lot about his commitment to developing the future of drag racing media.”
Drag Illustrated Reveals Third Annual 30 Under 30 List at PRI Show
INDIANAPOLIS – Drag Illustrated magazine announced during a press conference today the members of its third 
annual ’30 Under 30’ list. Made up of honorees from every corner of the drag racing community, the Drag Illustrated 30 Under 30 list seeks to shine a light on 30 of drag racing’s youngest, brightest stars. The 2017 DI 30 Under 30 list and its members will be featured in Drag Illustrated’s upcoming 30 Under 30 Issue.
“We’re always eager to take on the challenge of identifying 30 young drivers, crew members, fabricators, promoters and drag racing industry insiders through our 30 Under 30 list,” said Wes Buck, Drag Illustrated Editor-in-Chief. “There are so many young people dedicating their free time to going drag racing in some form. The 30 Under 30 list is our way of showing our appreciation for the efforts and achievements of our 30 honorees, but also inspiring the next generation.”
Third Annual Drag Illustrated 30 Under 30 List to Be Announced at PRI Show
INDIANAPOLIS – Drag Illustrated’s highly-anticipated 30 Under 30 list will be revealed during an official press 
conference and recipient reveal at 2 p.m. on Friday at the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) show at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis.
The third annual list will be announced in the PRI Media Center, Rooms 116 & 117, with one-on-one interviews available with Drag Illustrated Editor-In-Chief Wes Buck and 30 Under 30 honorees in attendance following the press conference.
One of the most popular annual issues for Drag Illustrated, the 30 Under 30 list recognizes 30 top young drag racing drivers, crew members, fabricators and industry insiders who are all less than 30 years old. The distinguished list has become a coveted honor within the sport, highlighting the upcoming stars in all areas and aspects of drag racing.
World Series of Pro Mod Winner Mike Bowman to Receive Noonan Championship Ring at PRI Show
INDIANAPOLIS – Mike Bowman, who won the inaugural Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod, will receive his 
official Noonan Race Engineering Championship Ring during a special press conference at 2:30 p.m. on Friday at the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) show.
Drag Illustrated will hold the press conference in the PRI Media Center, Rooms 116 & 117, awarding Bowman for his victory at the biggest and richest Pro Mod event in drag racing history. In addition to the $100,000 prize that Bowman earned by knocking off Steven Whiteley in the final round of the first-time event that took place at Bandimere Speedway, the Hesperia, Calif., native earned a championship ring from Noonan Race Engineering.
Drag Illustrated After Hours Powered by Dodge in 2017; Drag Racing’s Biggest Party Returns to Indianapolis Fourth Consecutive Year
KIRKSVILLE, MO – Drag Illustrated announced today that Dodge has signed on as the presenting sponsor of its 
hugely popular party during the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) trade show in Indianapolis. Drag Illustrated After Hours Powered by Dodge will take over Indy’s Blu Night Club, Thursday, Dec. 7, allowing show attendees to unwind after the opening day.
“Without question, Drag Illustrated After Hours Powered by Dodge is drag racing’s biggest party,” said Wes Buck, Drag Illustrated founder and Editor-in-Chief. “I’m thrilled to have Dodge join us for what will most assuredly be an unforgettable night.”
Date Set for 2018 Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod
MORRISON, CO – Just a few weeks after the inaugural Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod presented by One 
Cure and J&A Service, race founder Wes Buck revealed to Pro Mod teams at the NHRA U.S. Nationals that the race will return in 2018. The second annual Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod will be held at Bandimere Speedway, Aug. 10-11, 2018.
“We wanted to waste no time in announcing our plans for the second annual Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod,” Buck said. “We will return to ‘The Mountain’, Bandimere Speedway in Denver, Colo., August 10th and 11th, 2018. We wish it was next week. We could not be more excited about this deal.”
After the successful first event, where California Pro Mod hitter Mike Bowman was awarded the $100,000 winner-take-all prize, Buck worked with John “Sporty” Bandimere III to lock in the date for the second running of the “biggest, richest Pro Mod race in the history of the known universe”. The event has been moved back one week to avoid conflicting race schedules. One aspect that has not changed and will not change is the location of the World Series of Pro Mod.
Third Annual Drag Illustrated ‘30 Under 30’ Nominations Now Open
KIRKSVILLE, MO – Drag Illustrated magazine is now accepting nominations for their 2017 ’30 Under 30’ list. Made up of drag racing’s young ambassadors, the ’30 Under 30’ list will be the subject of Drag Illustrated’s December issue, the Tomorrow Issue. The nomination period begins today and runs through Sept. 18.
“The ’30 Under 30’ list quickly became one of the most challenging, yet rewarding projects we work on every year,” said Drag Illustrated Editor-in-Chief Wes Buck. “Thousands of parents, siblings, grandparents, teachers and supporters send in their nominations in hopes their favorite young drag racer will be recognized for their accomplishments. Young people have so many options when it comes to ways to spend their free time, and we want to reward those who choose to go to the drag strip.”
Bowman Conquers ‘The Mountain’ to Win $100,000 World Series of Pro Mod
MORRISON, CO – Last-minute invitee Mike Bowman was crowned champion at the inaugural Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod on Saturday night at Bandimere Speedway. The Californian driver was awarded a $100,000 check and a custom WSOPM championship belt in the invitational, clocks-off Main Event of the Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod presented by One Cure and J&A Service.
“This is right there at the top of my list of accomplishments,” said Bowman. “I’ve won NMCA championships, Pro Street races, and the Street Car Super Nationals last year. I won a race here in 1995 at a Super Chevy Show race. That was the last time I raced here on the mountain. This event is just awesome. This whole deal just went so fast. Sometimes things just go your way, and for me, this weekend went my way right out of the trailer.”
Menholt Wins Aeromotive Wild Card Shootout at World Series of Pro Mod
MORRISON, CO – Montana’s Derek Menholt earned the Aeromotive Wild Card Shootout win at the inaugural Drag 
Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod presented by One Cure and J&A Service at Bandimere Speedway Friday night. Menholt was awarded a $10,000 check and one of the final spots in the invitation-only World Series of Pro Mod Main Event, which has a $100,000 winner-take-all payout and will be contested on Saturday.
Menholt’s day began with two shakedown runs as he and the other Wild Card Shootout participants prepared for eliminations. He received a bye run in the first round of eliminations, then pedaled his Steve Petty-tuned ’68 Camaro to drive around Tommy Johanns’ supercharged ’53 Corvette in the semifinals. In the final round, Menholt charged toward the finish line and reached the stripe ahead of Daniel McKune in his supercharged ’68 Firebird.
Stand 21 to Award Custom Helmet to World Series of Pro Mod Winner
MORRISON, CO – As if the stakes weren’t already high enough for the inaugural Drag Illustrated World Series of 
Pro Mod presented by One Cure and J&A Service, the list of prizes has grown to include a custom Stand 21 “IVOS Dragster” helmet, valued at $3,450. The winner of the World Series of Pro Mod, Aug. 4-5, at Bandimere Speedway, will also receive $100,000 and a championship ring designed and presented by Noonan Race Engineering.
“We couldn’t be more excited to partner with such an elite brand that takes serious time and effort to create these incredible helmets,” said Drag Illustrated Editor-in-Chief and race founder Wes Buck. “Stand 21 has stepped up to provide the winner of the World Series with a completely custom, top-of-the-line helmet. Rather than painting it with a flashy WSOPM paintjob and turning it into something to put on the trophy shelf, we agreed it would be better to present it to the winner as something they can put to use.”
