IHRA: 2016 Pro champion profile - Cary Goforth

This is the first of four profiles of the 2016 IHRA Drag Racing Series champions.

Cary Goforth, 2016 IHRA Pro Stock champion, wrapped up his title in a close battle in the rain-plagued season finale at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park in Martin, Michigan.

But, Goforth said after the race, the weekend wasn't all roses and bunny rabbits.

The previous day, he said, "I called my wife, and I told her I don't know if I want to do this anymore. It was eating me up. I was letting things get to me. I was sure we were going to get the crap kicked out of us this weekend."

Goforth wasn't even able to make a qualifying run Friday night due to mechanical problems, hence that call to his wife. Nothing was going right. But he qualified third in Saturday's final round.

Then the tide turned: He won all three rounds Saturday night, with his semifinal win over Trevor Eman clinching the title over the Aruba.com racer. It was one of the best races of the IHRA season: Goforth, in his Amsoil Chevrolet Camaro, ran 6.319 at 221.57mph. Eman, gunning for his first championship, ran 6.342 at 220.91mph.

To make it complete, Goforth then beat J.R. Carr in the finals to win the event championship, too.

This was Goforth's third straight IHRA Pro Stock win in his Jerry Haas-built car, which is powered by an 826-cubic-inch V-8 from Sonny's Racing Engines. The Holdenville, Oklahoma resident was joined on the circuit by his father, Dean, who was competitive all season long.

Dean is a former national champion who re-entered the racing circuit after devoting his attention to his other business interests. He owns Dean's Casing Service, one of the largest oil well casing services in Oklahoma, as well as an automotive service center and various other business ventures.

Oh, and as for that Friday phone call home to his wife? Goforth made a very different call on Saturday. "She said, 'I have been dreading this call because I was afraid what you might say,'" Goforth said, grinning. "But it turned out all right."