Jay Payne remembers the first time he ever saw a Pro Modified in person.

The year was 2001, and he was awaiting his turn to qualify in the Top Alcohol Funny Car [TAFC] division. A gathering of 24 invited Pro Modified cars were on hand to showcase their skills for the first time in NHRA drag racing since the class was first debuted and recognized as a professional category in 1990.

“I sat there and watched this 1949 Mercury do a burnout, swap lanes – come over in the other lane, hit the other car – go back to his lane, and back up,” Payne explained. “Then this guy in an Indian suit ran around the car, tapped on it and then they made the run.

Jay Payne remembers the first time he ever saw a Pro Modified in person.

The year was 2001, and he was awaiting his turn to qualify in the Top Alcohol Funny Car [TAFC] division. A gathering of 24 invited Pro Modified cars were on hand to showcase their skills for the first time in NHRA drag racing since the class was first debuted and recognized as a professional category in 1990.

“I sat there and watched this 1949 Mercury do a burnout, swap lanes – come over in the other lane, hit the other car – go back to his lane, and back up,” Payne explained. “Then this guy in an Indian suit ran around the car, tapped on it and then they made the run.

“I looked over at Brad [Anderson, team owner] and said, ‘We gotta get one of those.”

Three seasons later Payne and Anderson had a Pro Modified and they’ve had a ball ever since. Though their first season was a struggle [8 DNQ’s], Payne has recorded seven career Pro Mod victories and a world championship.

Payne has won more than 30 Top Alcohol Dragster [TAD] and TAFC races over the course of his career. On Friday at the NHRA Gatornationals, Payne was one of six drivers who participated in the NHRA’s press conference introducing Pro Modified as their newest professional category.

Payne didn’t bring his Funny Car to the NHRA Gatornationals, and for him that’s a sign of the future. He believes there’s a reason many of the leading Top Alcohol tuners such as Frank Manzo, Bob Newberry, Jimmy Rector and Howard Moon have migrated towards the all-out doorslammer division.

“Pro Mod is getting more attention right now,” said Payne. “It’s a growing class. The Top Alcohol Funny Car class is kind of a dying class. The prime example, and it’s not life or death, is that in Pro Modified we are racing for twice the money.

“Plus you see in Top Alcohol fields that aren’t full, and you have 28 cars trying to qualify in Pro Modified. It’s the interest factor and driving the Pro Modified is more fun. If I had to choose between the two, I’d leave the alcohol car at home.”

With both Payne and Anderson firmly entrenched in the Top Alcohol ranks, they understand change and focusing on the Pro Mod team isn’t a bad move Payne believes.

“There’s nothing wrong with change, and the two classes are getting close to running the same as far as ET and speed. To drive the car is a lot of fun, and I don’t know if it was the doors or what. It’s exciting and once you get past low gear, when it gets stupid, you can only shut it down. You just can’t drive. We’ve all tried and did stupid stuff and missed the wall by a half-inch, but with this car, you just need to shut it off. It has a mind of its own and will go where it wants to.”