Cale Aronson is coming home this weekend. 

The last time the second-generation drag racer competed under the IHRA sanction was with a Ford Escort, and before he had the opportunity to race a new Mustang in the quarter-mile, the focus of the Norwalk, Ohio-based race series changed, and the class was discontinued.

New management at IHRA has welcomed back the quickest and fastest Pro Stockers in the world. And for Aronson, this means he will finally get to do battle to the 1320-foot mark with his Jon Kaase-powered, 814 CID monster. Aronson has entered this weekend's IHRA Southern Nationals at Bradenton Motorsports Park outside of Tampa, Fla. 

“We really were looking forward racing in 2010 with the IHRA, but due to the changes, we had no other choice but to go elsewhere and race eighth-mile," said Aronson. "Even running to half-track, we knew we had a strong car."

Five years later, Aronson will get the opportunity to crack the whip on his Mustang and possibly run as quick at 6.2 seconds with speeds hovering close to 220. 

Aronson, who has immersed himself in clutch technology through his association with Ace Racing Clutches, expects the numbers to fall as the competitive nature of the IHRA class returns to previous strength. 

"It got so competitive in the eighth-mile, and now we can push these things, 4.02 to 4.05 in the eighth-mile, you will see some of these cars running as quick as the six-teens," Aronson said. "The mile per hour could go upward of 226 - but that will just depend on how these guys want to race the track."

Aronson is the son of longtime Pro Stock racer Chuck Aronson, who raced under the NHRA, IHRA and AHRA sanctions in the 70s and 80s.  

"This will be fun to get back out here and run quarter-mile again," said Aronson. "It's going to be especially fun when we can crank this horse up and let her get full gallop during the second half of the track."

"In a time when the sport can be seen struggling in many other venues, we are very happy to see Pro Stock staying alive through the support of our fans and supporters.  It is a true racer’s class in terms of being the ultimate in tuning and hard work.  Racing IHRA Pro Stock was always my goal and after only two years of it, I am ready to go for more”  

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