About

The short story
WinLight News is a home for compelling human-interest stories spotlighting the people of drag racing who devote their lives to power and speed.

The long story
WinLight Communications was founded in 2011 by Kelly Wade, who entered the extraordinarily fast-paced and completely addictive world of drag racing as a reporter for NHRA’s National Dragster in 2007. She has also been a feature story contributor for NHRA.com, DragRace Central, Drag Illustrated, and CompetitionPlus.com, and she held the role of web editor for the short-lived yet dynamic online photo magazine LOOK@DragRacing for Auto Imagery.

In 2011, WinLight Communications was conceptualized and born as a Public Relations and Social Media firm, with NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Jerry Savoie signed as the very first client. The next season, Funny Car driver Johnny Gray, Top Fuel driver Dominick Lagana, and Pro Stock driver Shane Gray joined the fold, and the WinLight family continued to grow. The Gray Motorsports Pro Stock and Stock Eliminator team, Funny Car driver Tommy Johnson Jr. and sponsor Terry Chandler, multi-class Sportsman winner and champion Jimmy DeFrank and California Car Cover Company, Pro Stock’s Chris McGaha and Harlow Sammons Racing, the Summit Racing-sponsored KB Racing NHRA Pro Stock team, Funny Car driver Tim Wilkerson, and LAT Racing Oils all aligned with WinLight Communications for multiple seasons.

Since its inception, WinLight Communications has actively and enthusiastically promoted drag racing as a whole. Through the years, the organization became devoted to the most technologically advanced and constantly evolving classes in the sport — NHRA Pro Stock and the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series.

The Pro Stock class features naturally aspirated 500 cubic inch EFI engines and requires profound precision in every aspect – from machining and assembly to tuning and driving in a world of constant development and change. Races are won or lost by mere thousandths of a second on a regular basis, and more so than the nitro-fueled cars in the series, the factory hot rods demand finesse. Incredible attention to even the most minute detail is mandatory if measurable success is to be achieved – including the driver’s ability to deliver a near-perfect performance every time.

NHRA’s Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series encompasses all of that and more, and the competition is just as fierce. Sportsman racers are the heart and soul of NHRA drag racing, and through their passion and perseverance, the series has continued to grow and thrive. They may not be in the spotlight as often as the Pros, but Sportsman racers have just as much invested in the game, and their achievements on the racetrack are no less worthy of attention and respect.

That’s why we’re here. At its heart, WinLight Communications strives to reach the broadest audience possible in order to share the exhilarating, ultra-competitive experience of drag racing. We accomplish our mission through behind-the-scenes stories and images of a unique group of individuals who have devoted their lives to power and speed.

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