Chasing Wally

Five years ago, Josh McLaughlin agreed to let a group of buddies help him remodel a 1978 Chevrolet Malibu that was sitting idle in his back yard, slowly disappearing among the weeds. Fast forward – literally – to today and McLaughlin has brought home the most prestigious trophy in drag racing for the third time.

“This Wally trophy is the most prestigious – it’s what everybody looks to get in drag racing,” he says.

McLaughlin races at Sturgis Dragway, where he must fulfill certain conditions to compete for the Wally.

“It’s offered for one weekend a year at each track. You hav...