Drag Illustrated Issue 120, April 2017 | Page 46

MOVERS & SHAKERS Boom it Down SMALL TIRE SUPPORT SYSTEM Two of small tire drag racing’s biggest proponents, the Godfather of X275 racer John Sears and the founder of the MX235 series Jordan Grunwald, pose for a photograph together in Memphis, Tennessee. Dewayne Mills busts loose a ratch- et strap holding his world-beating “Golden Gorilla” ’68 Camaro in place before unloading the twin- turbocharged hemi-equipped, radial tire beast for competition at the Super Bowl of Small Tire Drag Racing in Valdosta, Georgia. MAKING IT CLEAR Radial vs. World heavy hitter Barry Mitchell proudly displays a one- off t-shirt identifying himself as “Stocklin’s Test Pilot” in the pits of South Georgia Motorsports Park, referring to his crew chief - famed Texas-based tuner Billy Stocklin. Teacher & Student With one of his eight NHRA Top Fuel world championship rings in hand, Tony Schumacher passes on a bit of knowledge to rookie driver Troy Coughlin Jr., who earned his Top Fuel license with Don Schumacher Racing last season before joining Kalitta Motorsports for a full campaign this year. CONNECTED Joe Oplawski, owner of Hyperactive Performance Solutions, checks his phone between rounds at South Georgia Motorsports Park for Lights Out where he was helping out a slew of customers competing in the radial tire ranks. 46 | D r a g I l l u s t r a t e d | DragIllustrated.com Issue 120