In racing, it isn’t always about how much money you have to spend. Having heart, determination, and a burning desire to compete for the sheer enjoyment of it can carry you a long way.

A perfect example of that is Lagana Family Racing, a two-generation Top Fuel team comprised of Bobby Lagana Sr., Bobby Lagana Jr., and Dom Lagana.

Based in Scarsdale, New York, the Lagana family embraces a modified version of the nomadic lifestyle that was common in drag racing’s halcyon match-racing era when drivers would crisscross the country, racing at two or three tracks in a single week.

The Lagana team’s approach isn’t quite that radical, but they still do things just a little differently than any other team out there. They carried their Twilight Zone dragster on a ramp truck until just a couple of years ago, for example, and still work, eat, and sleep wherever they can during racing season, often depending on the generosity of a network of friends and fellow racers to make it from race to race.

And yet they have been successful. In fact, they have added a second car to the stable for 2009.

Read all about these working class heroes in Issue 10!

We have coverage of three Summit Pro-Am events in this issue, including the North Stars at Thompson, Ohio, Renegades at Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Raiders at Greensboro, North Carolina.

The next stop on the Nitro Jam Series tour is Tulsa Raceway Park, home of the Sooner Nationals. We have a detailed preview of the event in Issue 10.

In addition, there’s another track feature by award-winning contributor Susan Wade. In this issue she spotlights Ben Bruce Memorial Airpark Raceway in Evadale, Texas. Get off track with Randy Cunningham as he does an interview with a difference with sportsman hitter Scooter Choate, and follow along as we present the fifth installment of the World Products small block build up. This mighty powerplant will eventually find a home between the rails of the 2009 Summit SuperSeries Box champion’s Mullis dragster.

And of course IHRA President Aaron Polburn offers his unique take on the state-of-the-sport and the world in general in his “The Last Word” column.

Don’t forget to take advantage of a great opportunity to save big bucks on parts, services, and shipping, courtesy of leading performance industry manufacturers and DRM advertisers. Put DRM Online’s Extra Value Coupon Program to work today and stretch your hard-earned dollars. Spending less and racing more is the name of the game in today’s economy, so get in on the savings today!

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For this issue and other issues of Drag Review, go to www.ihra.com/dragreview