Drag Illustrated’s 30 Under 30 Revealed and Celebrated
For the tenth time, Drag Illustrated is celebrating youth in the straight-line motorsports community with its “30 Under 30” list, culled from more than 7,000 nominations throughout the past year. Because the next generation in the drag racing community is vital to the sport’s survival, the magazine has promoted this list of excellence to let the world know that racing has a future and, indeed it’s a very bright future.
The 30 Under 30 honorees have been – and continue to be – celebrated at the annual Performance Racing Industry show, being held December 12-14 at the Indianapolis Convention Center. Drag Illustrated sent out requests for nominations during the summer months, with Nate Van Wagnen, editor in chief of the magazine in charge of the project, which he called, “One of our most significant annual projects. What began as a way to celebrate drag racing’s rising stars and highlight the sport’s promising future,” Van Wagnen stated, “has grown into a full-fledged movement. Ten years in, we’ve celebrated hundreds of young individuals who are making a positive impact on the sport. This year’s list covers numerous different classes and corners of the sport.”
The 30 Under 30 list has never been relegated to those that drive; rather, it has regularly combed the corners of the sport to acknowledge those that wrench on cars, tune cars, as well as acknowledging the achievements of people who are talented in many different facets of drag racing. This year’s list is no different. Yes, there are drivers on the list, but there are also videographers, fabricators, track operators, community activists and journalists, engine builders, photographers, crew members and, yes, drivers and riders from every corner of the sport.
The honorees, as is Drag Illustrated’s custom, receive their custom jackets, gift certificates and other prizes from the program’s many supporters. Lincoln Electric will, again, draw a winner who receives a TIG welder, welding kit and welding class. Supporters of 30 Under 30 include Elite Motorsports, Empaco Equipment Corp., Team GESi Racing, Lincoln Electric, Moser Engineering, PEAK Performance, Pleasanton Ready Mix, Powerbuilt Tools Race Winning Brands, Red Line Synthetic Oil, Sander Engineering, Stainless Steel Coatings, Stroud Safety, Strange Engineeering and VP Racing Fuels.
“The companies and individuals who signed on as sponsors of the 2024 30 Under 30 program share our belief that these honorees are the future of our sport,” Wes Buck, founder and editorial director stated. “These brands see value in recognizing them and supporting them was they continue to take the next steps in their racing careers. We’re honored to work with all of the 30 Under 30 supporters to give these honorees the rockstar treatment they deserve.”
From its humble beginnings, Drag Illustrated’s 30 Under 30 presentation has grown to the point where larger and larger facilities are needed to contain the number of people interested in seeing this presentation. From family members, community friends to those who are intrigued by the idea of celebrating the future of drag racing, the celebration has needed ever-larger areas to accommodate the presentation. This year is no different as the magazine takes over two exceptionally large rooms on the second floor of this huge convention center.
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2024 Drag Illustrated 30 Under 30 List
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