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Doorslammer Drag Video: Pro Mod Action From the 1990 IHRA Fall Nationals


Doorslammer Drag Video: Pro Mod Action From the 1990 IHRA Fall Nationals

Since we’re on an obvious door slammer kick these last few days, the natural progression leads up to some awesome vintage Pro Mod footage from the first season that the class existed. In 1990, the IHRA debuted Pro Modified, a heads-up outgrowth of the Top Sportsman category that took racers who were at the top of the sportsman ranks and made them pros. The class has morphed and grown through the years, but the ethos remains the same. Big power, short wheelbase, operating doors, and never lift. 

In this video you’ll see some historic cars too. The first is the legendary “Black Mariah” Corvette of Jim Oddy and “Fearless” Fred Hahn. The car ranks as one of the great pieces in door slammer drag racing history because it was so advanced for it’s day the IHRA told Oddy that after the 1990 season, everything but the paint job would be illegal.

Scotty Cannon’s shovel nose Willys is present, as well as Ronnie Sox’s Comet Pro Mod. Sox’s run is bitchin’ with daylight visible under the front left tire a bunch during the run.

Sadly, the IHRA no longer runs a pro mod class, which to us is a cryin’ shame.

A couple of other footnotes to this video. Bob Varsha is the man on the microphone. You know him from Formula One and road racing coverage on SPEED now, but back then he was with ESPN. That leads us to another point. IHRA was the first to have their races broadcast by ESPN, something that few people remember (or want to remember perhaps).


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