MARTIN REMEMBERS HIS DAYS IN PRO MOD
Wed, 2010-03-24 14:00
Michael Martin walked across the stage on Friday evening during pre-race at the ADRL Dragpalooza in Houston, Tx, the longtime drag racer turned Pro Mod tuner joining eleven of his friends and fellow racers, honored for their role in advancing the Pro Modified division.
Twenty years ago, Martin was playing on another big stage as one of the pioneering drivers of the new Pro Modified class. Martin not only qualified for the inaugural Pro Modified at the 1990 IHRA Winternationals but reached the semi-finals.
“It doesn’t seem like it’s been that long ago but it has,” said Martin, who was No. 17 on Attitude’s CompetitionPlus.com All-Time Drivers List. “The fondest memory that I have of that day is that we were running good.”
Mod tuner joining eleven of his friends and fellow racers, honored for their role in advancing the Pro Modified division.
Twenty years ago, Martin was playing on another big stage as one of the pioneering drivers of the new Pro Modified class. Martin not only qualified for the inaugural Pro Modified at the 1990 IHRA Winternationals but reached the semi-finals.
“It doesn’t seem like it’s been that long ago but it has,” said Martin, who was No. 17 on Attitude’s CompetitionPlus.com All-Time Drivers List. “The fondest memory that I have of that day is that we were running good.”
And though everyone was fighting for their part of history, Martin admits he most appreciated the camaraderie exhibited by his fellow racers. He believes those early years was as much about maintaining friendships as it was about racing.
“We were friends,” he said. “We all kind of stayed close for a while, then everybody fell apart and went their separate ways but I enjoyed it. I don’t regret anything we had ever done. If I had to do it over again I would go back and do it all over again.”
Twenty years and a week after the historic day, Martin finds himself at an event staged by a Pro Modified-based sanctioning body and tuning a car driven by his son Kelly.
Who’d have thunk it? Martin didn’t.
“I didn’t figure it would ever come this far or go this fast, but it has,” Martin said. “I hate it but everything has gotten smarter than I am.”
Though Martin still has a Pro Mod car of his own, a nitrous-injected 1953 Corvette, he’s through driving and has the car for sale.
“I’m going to stick with Kelly this time and help him,” said Martin. “I had my time in the show and it was fun, but now I think it’s best that I step aside and let the next generation do their thing.”
As quietly as Martin thundered into the Pro Modified movement back in 1985, he’s content to quietly ride off into the sunset.
Twenty years ago, Martin was playing on another big stage as one of the pioneering drivers of the new Pro Modified class. Martin not only qualified for the inaugural Pro Modified at the 1990 IHRA Winternationals but reached the semi-finals.
“It doesn’t seem like it’s been that long ago but it has,” said Martin, who was No. 17 on Attitude’s CompetitionPlus.com All-Time Drivers List. “The fondest memory that I have of that day is that we were running good.”
Ron Lewis
Michael Martin walked across the stage on Friday evening during pre-race at the ADRL Dragpalooza in Houston, Tx, the longtime drag racer turned Pro
Michael Martin was recognized as one of Pro Modified's all-time top 20 drivers. (Above) Martin drove his way to the semi-finals of the first Pro Modified race in 1990, losing to eventual winner Ed Hoover.
Twenty years ago, Martin was playing on another big stage as one of the pioneering drivers of the new Pro Modified class. Martin not only qualified for the inaugural Pro Modified at the 1990 IHRA Winternationals but reached the semi-finals.
“It doesn’t seem like it’s been that long ago but it has,” said Martin, who was No. 17 on Attitude’s CompetitionPlus.com All-Time Drivers List. “The fondest memory that I have of that day is that we were running good.”
And though everyone was fighting for their part of history, Martin admits he most appreciated the camaraderie exhibited by his fellow racers. He believes those early years was as much about maintaining friendships as it was about racing.
“We were friends,” he said. “We all kind of stayed close for a while, then everybody fell apart and went their separate ways but I enjoyed it. I don’t regret anything we had ever done. If I had to do it over again I would go back and do it all over again.”
Twenty years and a week after the historic day, Martin finds himself at an event staged by a Pro Modified-based sanctioning body and tuning a car driven by his son Kelly.
Who’d have thunk it? Martin didn’t.
“I didn’t figure it would ever come this far or go this fast, but it has,” Martin said. “I hate it but everything has gotten smarter than I am.”
Though Martin still has a Pro Mod car of his own, a nitrous-injected 1953 Corvette, he’s through driving and has the car for sale.
“I’m going to stick with Kelly this time and help him,” said Martin. “I had my time in the show and it was fun, but now I think it’s best that I step aside and let the next generation do their thing.”
As quietly as Martin thundered into the Pro Modified movement back in 1985, he’s content to quietly ride off into the sunset.
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