Drag Racing Online - Race Results

NHRA FANS SEE PRO MODS UP CLOSE

Words and photos by Jeff Burk.

The next and perhaps most important chapter in Pro Mod history began at exactly 2:01 p.m. March 16, 2001 at NHRA's Gainesville Raceway. At that moment Quain Stott fired up the motor in his '63 split window Corvette while Michael Castellana, driving a '57 Chevy shoebox, was doing the same in the opposite lane. Those two drivers secured their places in drag racing history and at the same time became the answer to the trivia question: Who were the first two Pro Mod drivers to make a qualifying attempt at an NHRA sanctioned race? Other Pro Mod racers have made qualifying laps but not for a professional Pro Modified class. The Pro Modified class will never be the same.

6.217 VS 6.267! THE QUICKEST SIDE BY SIDE IN HISTORY?
During the third Pro Mod qualifiying round at Gainesville, IHRA stalwart and NHRA hitter Kirk Kuhns (above right) ran in what is certainly the quickest ever side-by side doorslammer race in NHRA history and possibly the quickest side-by-side in Pro Mod history. It even had NHRA Top Fuel overtones.

Alan Pittman's supercharged '41 Willys, which has a 526 cubic inch Alan Johnson-designed Olds under the hood and is tuned by Darren Mayer, ran a 6.217/226.24. In the other lane California racer Kirk Kuhns' '63 split window 'Vette ran a career best 6.267/221.31. Kuhns' Vette uses a blown 526-ci Brad Anderson-designed hemi under the hood. Pittman told DRO before the lap that he thought the car might run a 6.22. He was obviously dead wrong!

ATHEY AND HOOD - TOO COOL FOR SCHOOL!

In the first round of qualifying NHRA fans got a real taste of how cool under pressure Pro Mod drivers are. Paul Athey was obviously trying to give the crowd their money's worth when he did a monster burnout with IHRA National Event and quick-eight veteran Ronnie Hood in the other lane. Athey got crossed up, crossed over the centerline and ran into Hood's Vette. A hole was punched in the fender of Johnny Rocca's Merc while Hood's 'Vette received minor damage.

While slack jawed NHRA officials stared, the pair calmly straightened their cars and proceeded to back up and stage while the stunned crowd roared their approval. NHRA starter Rick Stewart obviously figured that if the drivers were game so was he and after the pair staged he gave them the green. Hood (photo below) calmly proceeded to rip off a 6.322/224 to Athey's troubled 7.39.

Later John Force was heard to ask, "Don't those guys have any rules? Who are those guys anyway?"

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