If there was a defining moment in Floyd Cheek’s decade-long career in IHRA Pro Stock competition, it certainly came in 1991. The milestone for the former IHRA sportsman champion (1988 - 8.90 Quick Rod) was reached that year at St. Louis, Missouri, during one of his first events as a competitor in the mountain motor division. He and fledgling team owner Alvin Whaley not only qualified No. 1, but also reached the final round before losing to the iconic Rickie Smith.

“That’s when I really realized that we could kick some serious butt doing this,” Cheek said. “I shook the tires on that run, but it really woke me up to doing this.”

Cheek quickly climbed the ladder of success and in his career reached 16 final rounds with eight national event victories. He won two of those events in 1997 when he won the world championship.

If there was a defining moment in Floyd Cheek’s decade-long career in IHRA Pro Stock competition, it certainly came in 1991. The milestone for the former IHRA sportsman champion (1988 - 8.90 Quick Rod) was reached that year at St. Louis, Missouri, during one of his first events as a competitor in the mountain motor division. He and fledgling team owner Alvin Whaley not only qualified No. 1, but also reached the final round before losing to the iconic Rickie Smith.

“That’s when I really realized that we could kick some serious butt doing this,” Cheek said. “I shook the tires on that run, but it really woke me up to doing this.”

Cheek quickly climbed the ladder of success and in his career reached 16 final rounds with eight national event victories. He won two of those events in 1997 when he won the world championship.

“I had a blast racing mountain motor,” Cheek said. “I wish I could afford to do it now because I’d be doing it. I had a blast driving with Alvin Whaley and Charlie Hunt. It was a great time for me.”

Cheek said that he and Whaley originally went 500-inch racing on the NHRA tour during the 1990 season but their extensive work schedules prevented their participation in many events. He said the IHRA’s 12-race schedule at the time worked perfectly.

Cheek said the transition from NHRA “also-ran” to IHRA front-runner didn’t come as a total surprise.

“I always felt like we could have been competitive,” Cheek said. “I had always felt that if I had the right equipment that I would have been competitive. When I raced on my own in sportsman, I won my share of events. I had no doubt I could win – I knew I needed the equipment to do it with.

“As a driver, I always felt confident in my driving abilities.”