NHRA Hot Rod Pro Mods: Drag Racing's Colorful Class

Pro Modifieds, the colorful drag racing class with few rules and big engines, has worked its way from an IHRA beginning 20 years ago to NHRA professional status.

Rules are simple compared to other pro classes. Engines can be 527 cubic inches, supercharged (blown), and methanol fueled, or have a larger 820 cubic inch engine fueled by nitrous oxide and gasoline. Typical horsepower is above 2500.

Cars can weigh 2700 lbs (supercharged) or 2375 lbs (nitrous) and have a hood scoop for the nitrous cars or cut hood to accommodate a supercharger fitted onto a blown motor.

Identifying a supercharged car from a nitrous car requires hood observation. Superchargers stick out of a hole in the hood and nitrous engines have large hood scoops.

Watching wild designs on modified classic cars is a big part of the Pro Mod draw. Popularity follows an entertaining form of color and power on straight race tracks.

This slide show should support that attraction, with images by Gary Larsen at Racetake.com.

Supercharged Pro Mod Corvette

All drag racers warm the tires with a burnout getting ready for a run. Pro Mods are loud and colorful.

Nitrous Pro Mod at the Tree

A red and black Pro Mod waits for the lights to drop at the line.

Silver Supercharged Pro Mod Burnout

The wet box on the strip staging area facilitates tire spin and hence tires warm enough to roll. The wet box is not really a box, it's a square of the pavement kept wet by officials.

Supercharged Blue Pro Mod Roars

Some burnouts are better than others. Note the crew members behind the Pro Mod reacting to the engine noise.

Nitrous Pro Mod Backs up

The hood scoop indicates nitrous and gasoline mix. Note the rear deck on the flamed Pro Mod designed for downforce. That's important at 220 mph plus.

Bold Color Combo on a Supercharged Pro Mod

Color combinations won't make a car go faster, but the variety of paint schemes on Pro Mods makes for dynamic viewing.

A Supercharged Classic Burnout

Yet another shade of red on a modified classic car design.

A Supercharged Pro Mod Gets Backup Position Help

A splash of colors all over the Pro Mod with the green color of money on the door—Pro class drag racing is expensive.

Nitrous JEGS Camaro Warms up Tires

More color to the line. This time it's the performance parts distribution giant's chosen combination of yellow and black.

Supercharged Burnout

Simple black and white color combination on a not very simple mean machine.

Supercharged Blue and White Pro Mod

White flames on a sky blue Pro Mod is hot for the fans.