Attitude’s CompetitionPlus.com, through the assistance of a key group of Pro Modified historians and enthusiasts, have compiled a list of the Top 20 all-time drivers based on their contribution to the class, historic achievements, statistics and fan appeal.

Starting on Friday, January 08, 2010, the electronic magazine began revealing those names on the list, and will announce two drivers per week, until the No. 1 driver is unveiled on Saturday, Mar. 20, during the ADRL Dragpalooza in Houston, Texas.

Attitude’s CompetitionPlus.com narrowed the list from hundreds of drivers down to 20. Today, we reveal No. 15 on the list.

Street, MD.

NOTABLE ACCOMPLISHMENTS
•    First into the fives with nitrous doorslammer
•    First nitrous car over 240 mph
•    Won 5 ADRL Pro Nitrous events/ 4 IHRA/ NHRA U.S. Nats Champion


Just think, if a chassis builder who will remain anonymous, hadn’t been tardy with the Pro Stocker for Crouse Motorsports, Jim Halsey’s driving career might have taken a different path. At that time, all roads led to NHRA Pro Stock.

“We ordered the car from a well-known builder, and it took nearly a year-and-a-half to get it,” explained Halsey. “While we were waiting for that car, we bought a car from Mike Ashley [his Lumina] and started playing around with the Pro Mod stuff.”

It didn’t take long for Halsey and the Crouses to realize they had stumbled into an exciting world of drag racing doorslammers, quick, fast and on nitrous.

They ran some IHRA events, but also became regulars on the SUPER CHEVY and Pete Williams’ Pro Motorsports tour.

Never would Halsey, in his wildest dreams, have believed racing Pro Modified would take him to the levels he’s attained.

“We were always bracket racers and this racing was always more of a hobby,” Halsey said. “I really didn’t expect to be in this as long as we have been.”

Nor did Halsey, in those early days, expect to be the first driver to put a nitrous doorslammer into the five-second zone. He pulled off the feat in 2008 when he dipped into the fives multiple times during the Shakedown at E’town [Englishtown, NJ] event with his Gene Fulton-powered, Tim McAmis-built Camaro.

“That was one of the greatest moments in my drag racing career,” Halsey added. “With the exception of a nitrous car running 250, that was probably our last big barrier.”

Halsey has found a home in the ADRL’s Pro Nitrous division scoring five wins in seven final rounds during the last three seasons. He’s also got four IHRA wins in seven finals dating back to 1993.

“I’m pretty proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish,” Halsey said. “We were a single-car team for a long time and the multi-car teams we’ve raced against with a part-time team says a lot about our determination.”

Oh, by the way, whatever happened to the Pro Stock car?

“We sold it to Tom Martino and he made a Cup car out of it,” Halsey said.

For the complete list visit: ATTITUDE'S COMPETITIONPLUS.COM'S ALL-TIME TOP 20 HOMEPAGE

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