For the many who live and breathe the sport of drag racing, the very thought of never being able to drive again is one they simply don’t wish to face or ponder. But in the fall of 2009, veteran NMRA competitor AJ Powell encountered a fear that went far beyond the scope of his drag racing future.

At the young age of five, Powell was diagnosed with diabetes and as the years progressed, so to did the degree of health concerns related to the metabolic disease. But despite the difficulties that such a situation presents to one in their daily lives, AJ pressed forward like a soldier and contended with the cards that he was dealt.

Over the course of the 2009, visions problems directly related to the diabetes began to creep up, and during a doctor visit upon his return from the NMRA Finals in Bowling Green, was instructed to hang up his helmet and gloves and focus on his health. Not only was he unable to drive his race car, but he couldn’t drive to work or the grocery store. In order to focus on his priorities, his entire racing operation was placed for sale, including his Pro Outlaw 10.5 Mustang, a ’90 Coupe Super Street Outlaw car, and various engines and components.

Fast forward just fifteen months and the future is looking bright for AJ – literally and figuratively – from both a livelihood and racing standpoint. He was recently given medical clearance to return to the drivers seat, and with his ’05 Mustang Outlaw 10.5 ride still in his possession, is going full steam ahead as long as his health will permit. And when we say full steam, that may be the best way to describe the new engine combination now resting between the frame rails of his sharp Mustang.

What you see protruding from the hood is a nasty PSI “D” rotor screw supercharger, mounted atop a 500-cubic inch HEMI powerplant featuring Total flow cylinder heads and destined for Outlaw 10.5 competition in 2011. AJ and his revived ‘Stang are set to compete in the expanded NHRA Unleashed schedule this season, along with several other local and major events along some of the stiffest competition in all of drag racing.