Our friends over at Drag Illustrated announced their 30 under 30 this week at PRI. This is by far one of the most important moments each year within the drag racing industry, and this year certainly didn’t disappoint.

We are all used to seeing adults on television, and at the drag strip winning championships, being team owners, etc. What most of us seem to forget is the importance of having the younger generation involved in our sport as well. Along with keeping them or getting them involved, we need to celebrate their accomplishments also. That is exactly what Wes Buck, the founder of Drag Illustrated, and his team do each and every December at the Performance Racing Industry trade show.

So, what is 30 under 30 exactly? Each year, Wes and the team request nomination submissions for anyone under the age of 30 that demonstrates their ability along with attitude to be a great representation and ambassador of our sport. This means that you won’t find some 17-year-old dropping swear words all over social media or carrying themselves in a way that is not a professional representation of our sport. By doing this, it makes sure that being included on this list is a privilege and not some popularity contest. I know from being in this industry that there are plenty of drivers, tuners, crew, etc that have a resume worthy of being on the list but are not a great reflection of the appropriate behavior you expect when you think of drag racing.

In celebrating these younger representatives of our sport, it shows us and others that our sport is and continue to be as strong as ever. The diversity of the list also shows that we are growing as a sport. No longer just an “old white guy” sport, drag racing continues to grow into the most diverse and extreme sport on the planet. There is no other professional sport in the world that have as many people, whether male or female, black or white, straight or gay, competing against each other. You won’t find men and women competing against each other in the NFL, MLB, NBA, MLS, NHL, etc. Drag racing begins these young men and women together and shows them that no matter who you are, you can compete each other on the same level. A list like this brings us all together, and that is nothing but great for our sport. It is also an opportunity for alum of the 30 under 30 to come together with the new class and celebrate this as a close family.

The press release from Drag Illustrated (Nate Van Wagnen:

Drag Illustrated Reveals Fourth Annual 30 Under 30 List at PRI Show

INDIANAPOLIS (Dec. 7, 2018) – The highly anticipated 2018 Drag Illustrated 30 Under 30 list was unveiled Friday afternoon during a press conference at the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Show in Indianapolis. The 2018 DI 30 Under 30 list and its members are the subject of Drag Illustrated’s December Issue, which features NHRA

Top Fuel driver Blake Alexander on the cover. Made up of 30 young drivers, crew members, tuners, fabricators, media members and other drag racing insiders, the Drag Illustrated 30 Under 30 list seeks to shine a light on the rising stars of the straight-line sport. The list, which features personalities from numerous classes, series and countries, was picked by a panel of Drag Illustrated staffers after reviewing thousands of nominations from the drag racing community submitted through the ZP Performance Steering Nomination Process.

“I’m so proud of our fourth annual 30 Under 30 list and what it represents,” said Wes Buck, Founder and Editorial Director, Drag Illustrated. “As a sport, we need to be looking forward and identifying the next superstars and heroes who will carry drag racing into the future. This is our way of recognizing the accomplishments of a group of young people we believe have done big things and encouraging them as they continue to make moves in the sport.”

Leading the 2018 30 Under 30 list is Blake Alexander, who earned his first two NHRA Top Fuel victories during a standout 2018 campaign with Bob Vandergriff Racing.

“Being on the cover of Drag Illustrated is an honor and a great landmark in my young career,” Alexander said. “It means a lot to have my story told on the pages of the 30 Under 30 issue, especially after this 2018 season. This is a year I will never forget.”

The 2018 30 Under 30 list also includes the following personalities: Cory Gulitti, Jordan Ensslin, Matthew DeYoung, Tyler Bohannon, Cam Clark, Jake Simmons, Brandon Greco, Devin Isenhower, Nicole Liberty, Kyle Lang, Cole Rokosky, Madyson Ayesh, Jimmy Plimpton Jr., Justin Hutto, Santo Jr. & Santino Rapisarda, Jake Howard, Sadie Glenn, Daniel Young, Edmond & Caleb Ellison, Jake Sanders, Rachel Meyer, Camrie Caruso, Mike Decker III, Andy Schmall, Ashley Pritchett, Charles Myers, Kris Whitfield and Marina Anderson.

“We always do our best to include honorees from all corners of the sport, but this year’s

list is perhaps our most diverse list yet,” said Nate Van Wagnen, Editor-in-Chief, Drag Illustrated. “From championship-caliber NHRA sportsman racers to small-tire racing stars, Australian Top Fuel tuners to series promoters and track managers, the 2018 30 Under 30 list truly represents the future of drag racing in all of its forms.”