March 1990: The Birth of Pro Modified | First-Ever Pro Mod Race at Darlington (IHRA)

Описание: March 14, 1990 marked a turning point in doorslammer drag racing history.

At the IHRA Winternationals in Darlington, South Carolina, Pro Modified made its official professional debut — the first new professional drag racing category since Funny Car emerged in the late 1960s.

Veteran drag racing journalist Dave Wallace, on assignment for Super Stock & Drag Illustrated, was there to witness it firsthand. What he saw was something entirely different: a raw, aggressive, outlaw-style class that blended showmanship, power, and independence in a way drag racing hadn’t seen before.

“There was an outlaw feel to it,” Wallace recalled. “It felt like Bakersfield in 1959 — anti-establishment, except for safety.”

The field featured Quick Eight veterans, mountain motor Pro Stock standouts, and fearless personalities like Jim “Animal” Feurer, whose Mercury Zephyr embodied the chaos and courage of the era. With qualifying rained out on Friday, racers had limited chances to make the historic 16-car field — and every run mattered.

When eliminations concluded, Ed Hoover emerged victorious, defeating Tim McAmis in the final after McAmis broke on the starting line. Hoover’s win forever placed his name in drag racing history as the first-ever Pro Modified event winner.

This video captures:
• The official birth of Pro Modified competition
• The first professional Pro Mod eliminations
• Early outlaw culture before formal structure
• Historic performances from the class’s founding drivers

Pro Modified didn’t ask for acceptance — it demanded attention.
And in Darlington, it got it.

For more drag racing history and archival footage, visit
👉 https://www.competitionplus.com

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