DI Roundtable: Van Wagnen, Buck & Hachat Break Down Drag Racing Success Stories, Drama In Denver & More|

The Drag Illustrated team is back for its latest roundtable, tackling a number of of import topics going on in the sport. From success in the PDRA and Donald Long's Magic viii, to events thriving all over the country and the Bandimere family continuing the good fight, the DI team give us their thoughts as some critical matters in drag racing.

QUESTION: The ii big events last weekend were Magic 8 and the PDRA event. What were your large takeaways from them?

NATE: A few really interesting things happened at the PDRA race. In Pro Nitrous, Tommy Franklin lost in the offset round after winning the first two races of the yr, opening the door for Jay Cox to win his beginning Pro Nitrous race in around a twelvemonth. Second, the GALOT Motorsports team has a grip on Pro Heave again. They were dominant in 2016, and while they haven't dominated this year, they've been to all three finals this year: John Strickland got a win and a runner-upwards, and at present Kevin Rivenbark has a win to go with his runner-upwardly to Strickland at Darlington. Third, Johnny Pluchino is the real deal. He'southward focused on Extreme Pro Stock this year after two Pro Outlaw 632 championships, and he merely won his second race out of 3 events. It'southward most as impressive as Steve Furr, who's now won all 3 races in Elite Pinnacle Dragster. There are some seriously strong players in PDRA right now.

I was at the PDRA race all weekend, so I have to admit I didn't closely follow the Magic 8 race. From what I saw online, it was the Killin' Fourth dimension Racing show in Radial vs. the Earth. KTR teammates Stevie "Fast" Jackson and Marcus Birt qualified No. 1 and 2 and won and runnered-up, respectively. It's no surprise, considering the brain trust and the equipment in that pit. It was also cool to see 2022 DI 30 Under 30 honoree Blake Copson become the win in X275.

JOSH: I think it's safe to say Nate has the PDRA covered from every imaginable caste, only seeing Cox get his outset Pro Nitrous win in a couple years was a lot of fun. Information technology's practically impossible for me to believe it'south been that long since he last won, merely it makes things interesting in that class. It might not be apropos of me, just watching XPS got me excited to see Mountain Motor Pro Stock in the quarter-mile at Indy in a couple weeks. It merely seems like that course is suited for the quarter-mile and Pluchino is a legit, young talent, there's no denying that.

Not a unmarried person should exist surprised to see Stevie Fast win in Orlando and merely really be challenged by Birt. He'south altered the entire landscape in that grade in a twelvemonth. Equally good as he was in RvW for years, he's completely taken information technology to a new level, and only the auto he tunes has shown the capability of keeping up. I also beloved that he'south not about to apologize for that success, even as many accept gone running for the hills, or in this case, Pro 275. RvW is in fine shape, but if you desire to win, you've got to reach Jackson'southward level. He doesn't need to lower his operation. Want to exist the best? Well, try to chase him down.

Also, big kudos to master crew master Jamie Miller, who tuned the likes of Copson and Eric Dillard to wins in X275 and Pro 275, respectively. That dude is mega-talented.

Johnny Pluchino (far lane) over JR Carr

WES: Pluchino winning in XPS, in my stance, is a big story for several of the reasons outlined in a higher place. He'south a second-generation racer that is filled to the brim with piss and vinegar. This fellow has a fire in his belly and passion for drag racing that, honestly, I haven't seen in a long time. He lives for this, and information technology'south awesome to come across him succeeding like he is. To take out JR Carr in the final round – a racer who seems to have the entire large-inch Pro Stock scene covered by a few numbers – was pretty damn impressive. It'd be rather understandable for almost young racers to lose that race earlier it started, just Johnny delivered in a big moment that I call back will be somewhat defining for him hither in 2020.

While nosotros're talking Mountain Motor Pro Stock, let's all concord that this category may well be the unsung hero of the PDRA. While auto count wasn't overwhelming in Virginia, the on-track production was strong. Possibly it's just for we hardcores, merely there'due south really no weak spot in this brand of drag racing. From the lumbering tone of an 800-plus cubic inch engine changing pitch with each gear change to the grit and determination of the men and women involved…information technology's a sweet, sugariness thing.

I do wonder just how much quicker the Freedom manual combination is than the Lenco. Anyone who has ever grabbed onto the input shaft of a Lenco and tried to turn it knows that it's a existent homo's game. You tin spin a Liberty with your fingers. Is that what'south giving guys like Carr and Pluchino such a dramatic edge on the residue of the field? Will we encounter that separation between the transmissions produce a rule change? I don't know, but I practise detect it interesting.

Switching gears here, I will say that every bit much as it probably sucked for Tommy Franklin to go out in the offset round in Virginia, I recall information technology may have been adept for Pro Nitrous racing. He's been such a ascendant strength in the category for so long, his success often seen as a foregone conclusion – even when in that location'south no such thing at this level of competition – it just felt like him going out early allow the door open a niggling fleck for someone else.

As for the Magic 8 – and I've said this quite a bit earlier on the podcast and elsewhere – only I wouldn't exist surprised to run into this format be something that Donald Long hangs onto long after we're done talking most COVID-19. There'south some sort of underground, "Fight Guild" feeling that these small, limited date shootouts produce, and I think a lot of people like information technology. Also, "Duck" has very, very little left to prove in elevate racing. He's known as one of the best promoters of all time, has been almost solely responsible for radial tire racing going from something of a filler category to a headlining, marquee attraction. Then, why not put on events that are simply a whole lot less stressful? I wouldn't exist surprised to encounter him do one major race a year that is designed to draw a big oversupply, and do several – at least ii-three – smaller shootouts similar this.

QUESTION: Events similar Street Auto Takeover and major subclass/sportsman races have had huge success this year, in spite of everything going on. How impressed have you been with that and does that bode well for the sport?

NATE: It's really impressive to see racers flood the pits at some of these events. It's really interesting when you recall nearly the circumstances. For i, the cancellation of and then many events has narrowed downward the choices that racers accept when they want to get racing every weekend or a couple times a month. For a long fourth dimension now, car counts at races have been pain considering racers accept so many options. At present, instead of seeing 150 or 200 racers show upwards at a race hither or there, y'all're seeing 400-500 racers piling into i race. It's encouraging to meet the sport all the same doing well despite the challenges it faces. I merely hope everyone is willing to weather condition the tempest, as it's stretching on longer than a lot of people predictable when everything was shut down in early March.

JOSH: Merely put, I recall racers just desire to race and they're not going to exist held downwardly, especially as many of them – at least those whose business organisation is involved in some aspect of the sport – are doing well during this time. I've heard from many people who are thriving and fifty-fifty enjoying record business during this public wellness crisis, and I call up we're seeing that at race tracks across the country.

Some ongoing restrictions have certainly hurt tracks in the so-called hot spots, and not having fans hurts, but a lot of these races weren't fan-driven events in the first place. Racers have shown up in record numbers in a lot of cases, and that's incredible to see and bodes well for the future. We're seeing a massive abundance of racers of all ages merely wanting to exist at the rails and that's going to proceed the sport live and well. So many people deserve credit for keeping this wheel moving, too.

SCT has been a major success, and nosotros've seen the likes of sportsman promoters everywhere powering through this to give racers somewhere to go. Donald Long has never had a summer upshot for radial cars before this twelvemonth, yet he's already had two, if for no other reason than to assist tracks and keep racers interested and active. That's a big deal and another reason why it's been so cool to see the sport come together like it has during this pandemic.

WES: I hate what this coronavirus pandemic has done to our country and our sport, simply I'm telling you…they're not going to take drag racing away from us. I think a lot of people look at the struggles facing NHRA and the troubles they're having and think that means drag racing as a whole is doomed, and nothing could be farther from the truth. A lot of the problems NHRA has were starting to bear witness themselves well before the second calendar week in March. The big show is…well…the big evidence, and I don't think that's going to change in the immediate future. All the same, drag racing has been built on the back of grassroots, weekend warrior racers and as Josh and Nate have outlined above – they're even so racing for the near function.

I besides think that here in 2022 and, hopefully, well into 2021, we're going to see racers and race fans with something of a bit on their shoulder – determined to show upwardly and show out in support of the the sport they honey. The same way we're never more than patriotic than we are immediately post-obit a tragedy that impacts the nation, I don't know that anyone will always feel more than defended to doing their function to back up drag racing than they do right now.

We'll go through this together, and I'm not and so sure we won't exist amend for it.

QUESTION: Topeka was the latest NHRA race to get postponed. What'due south your conviction level in these events really happening later on this yr, and will NHRA race anywhere other than Indy in 2020?

NATE: I applaud the optimism involved in "postponing" a race rather than canceling it outright, simply it's hard to believe these postponed races will happen later this year. However, I still think there's a chance a couple of races happen exterior of Indy. From what I've heard, Atlanta is 1 of the only other race destinations with a clear become-alee to agree its race. Information technology'south condition as an NHRA-owned track helps its case. I sure promise Bandimere Speedway gets the chance to hold its race this year, only the local officials have made information technology challenging for them to hold even a Midweek nighttime examination-n-tune event. It will take some major changes to make a national event possible at that place, in my opinion.

JOSH: If it has to exist Indy-only in 2020, I guess yous power through it, but it's a tough spot for NHRA to be in this year. Like we discussed, as good every bit it is to have racers participating in huge numbers at the sportsman or smaller levels, we need strong, viable professional person racing to keep the sport in good standing amidst casual fans, or those who may only watch when it'south on FOX.

We don't want to be in a state of relying only on racers to keep the sport moving forward. Fan interest has to grow, though in the instance of 2020, staying the aforementioned may be viewed as growth. As for future races, I recall Atlanta has a proficient shot to happen. NASCAR has had – or will exist having – fans in limited numbers in Texas, Bristol and Daytona, and why couldn't NHRA follow adjust? That would possibly let for autumn races in Houston, Dallas, Bristol and, fingers crossed, Gainesville. All are large enough facilities where you could still depict well and comply with local regulations. Though, you would have thought that would accept been the case in Topeka, which is as spread out every bit any facility out there.

It certainly doesn't expect skillful for Brainerd, Maple Grove, Vegas and Pomona, then perchance Topeka tin happen later in the yr. And, hey, I'm fine with a autumn race at Indy in ideal conditions and why non wrap up the year in Gainesville in belatedly-October or early Nov? That might exist a cool way to cease what is surely the most bizarre twelvemonth in NHRA history.

WES: I desire to as well say that it doesn't get whatsoever more spread out than Heartland Park Topeka. As much as I dearest that facility, my feet and knees dread my annual visit to God'southward state.

Anyhow, I'k typically the most optimistic person in any group I discover myself, but I'yard having a hard time allowing myself to believe whatever of these postponed events are going to happen. Of course, I'd honey for them to, merely only if it represents an opportunity for success for everyone involved. What I don't desire to see is a agglomeration of track operators or race promoters "taking one for the team". I know it sounds great and it volition make for an awesome Facebook post – you lot know, forging forward with no opportunity or upside – but what do they say about the road to hell? Paved with good intentions? Yeah, I thought so.

Earlier this year when Keith Berry and Russell Miller made the decision to movement forward with WOOOSTOCK at Darlington Dragway, chalking any financial loss upwardly to an advert/marketing expense for future years, I supported information technology. Being amongst the very showtime races to happen later on the globe essentially stopped turning due to coronavirus, in my stance at the time, was going to help them elevate the status of WOOOSTOCK forever. It was a ability play; an opportunity they seized.

At this point, though…where in that location's no real terminate in sight and well-nigh tracks aren't able to host a oversupply that volition generate a profit – I don't want to see people putting themselves in a bad spot for the sake of existence a hero or taking a stand up or whatsoever else. I'1000 not proverb we should all just lay downward, wave the white flag, discover a safe space and cry until we feel better, simply at that place's no sense in destroying whatever foundation a track, business organization, race team or whatever else might have built over the class of the final however many years (or decades) simply to say you did it.

QUESTION: The Bandimere family has stood stiff through some trying times. What practise yous make of the situation in Denver?

NATE: It's been inspiring to run into the Bandimere family fight for their right to stay open as the Denver area'due south only active dragstrip. And they haven't been alone in their fight. They've developed a fiercely loyal racer base, and that group has stood backside the family since their troubles began a month ago. It sounds like the county health officials are finally starting to piece of work with the Bandimeres to come with a plan that works for both sides, which is definitely good news. I hope things continue to trend in the right management.

JOSH: Wouldn't it be magical if September or Oct rolls effectually and we're having the annual NHRA result at 1 of the finest facilities in the globe? It's certainly would be what the Bandimere family unit would deserve after the countless headaches they've had to suffer during this summertime.

I won't dig too deep into this, but not allowing fans at the Denver rail – or whatever in neat numbers – while other "events" get to congregate en masse is wrong, at all-time, and a total case of hypocrisy at worst. Information technology's been incredible how professional and swish the Bandimere family has been through this, though information technology'due south no surprise to anyone who has spent any amount of time around them. They're as skillful as information technology gets in any regard, and that dignity has been showcased for the country to meet.

That in of itself should mean things going their way, and like Nate said, I hope it happens. They deserve our full back up and the strength of our racing community has been on full display during this. Legions of fans and supporters have backed the Bandimere family in their fight to stay open and go on to bring fans into their facility, and I hope it doesn't allow upward.

WES: I'm proud of Sporty and the gang. I hardly know what else to say. Well, I know exactly what I want to say, but it's hard not to get myself worked into a tizzy over the whole bargain, so I'm trying to exercise some restraint. The fact that our revenue enhancement dollars are being wasted by judges, government officials and whoever else laboring over what is or isn't happening at Bandimere Speedway makes me want to vomit. There's hardly any telling how many millions of dollars have been pumped into the local economy based on the business conducted at Bandimere Speedway for nearly seven decades.

I'm not proverb the Bandimeres deserve special treatment, simply y'all'd certainly think they're due a footling fleck of understanding all things considered.

Personally, I cannot wait to go out to Bandimere Speedway this year. Whether it'southward for a Have it to the Track night or the Mile-High Nationals or our ain Main Result 2022 – I love those people, I love the facility, I beloved the community and I will always be rooting for them.