IHRA: Class Action – Pro Modifieds

It was one of the most popular announcements made for the IHRA 2015 season: The return of the Pro Modified class to the Nitro Jam Drag Racing series in 2015 with a brand new class sponsor, Crower Racing Products.

The Pro Mods debuted more than 20 year ago, tracing their lineage to the IHRA Top Sportsman class.

"I am so excited for Crower to be the official sponsor of the new IHRA Pro Mod class," said Louis Floquet, Sales and Marketing Manager for Crower Racing Equipment, at the announcement. "The Pro Mods have always been one of the most exciting classes in drag racing. We have been working very closely with some great teams and can't wait for the 2015 season to start."

Indeed, neither could the Pro Mod competitors. The class championship was won by former Ice Capades skater Dina Parise, whose goal was to race in the class. "I wanted to drive the Pro Mod, because there weren't too many women in Pro Mod," Parise said. She was inspired by the legendary Carolyn Melendy, the first woman to ever drive in the class.

"Pro Mod was born in the IHRA, so to us that is where it belongs. IHRA is bringing the class back to its roots and we are all very excited about that," said Parise, driver of the fan-favorite Cadillac CTS-V Pro Mod. "This is a great opportunity for all of us in the Pro Mod community to be back where it all started."

The Pro Modified class consists of a unique combination of supercharged, turbocharged and nitrous-driven engines, beneath bodies that can be as up-to-date as Parise's Cadillac, or as old-fashioned as Bill Lutz's 1969 Chevrolet Camaro.

The class attracted two dozen different drivers in 2015, and all three type of engines – nitrous, supercharged and turbocharged – won at least once. Six different drivers won a coveted Ironman trophy: Isaias Rojas, Jimmy Keen, Rueben Tetsoshvili, Billy Harper, Bill Lutz and Paolo Giust. Harper won the season finale, making him the only driver to double up.

Next up for the Pro Mods: The IHRA Good Vibrations Texas Nationals at San Antonio Raceway, where qualifying begins at noon Friday, and eliminations begin at 9 a.m. Saturday. For information, log onto IHRA.com.