Little did Paul Trussell realize when he was just 12 years old, how much the course of his life would

A successful construction business owner, Paul Trussell's escape is to the drag strip where he owns a Pro Modified car driven by Ed Hoover. Oh yeah, there's his extensive car collection too.

change through one event.

"I remember when I was 12, and  my dad bought me my first car," Trussell said. "He bought me a 1932 Ford five-window coupe."

As the story goes, Ed's father obtained the car to settle a $300 debt. To this day, Paul still owns that car and many, many more.

Trussell, who owns and operates a construction business based out of Columbia, S.C., has become an avid car collector over the years.

"I think I own a total of 30 sports cars now, and as long as I can afford to keep collecting cars I will," said Trussell, who won the best in show award with his 1932 Ford five-window coupe at a car show in Nashville, Tenn., when he was 16.

Trussell's inventory of cars now includes five Dodge Vipers, a 1967 Corvette, a 1962 Corvette, a 1979 Corvette, and a 1937 Ford Roadster and a 1932 Ford Roadster among others.

Those two Ford Roadsters have been recognized for their superiority.

The '37 has won nummerous honors, including the 1997 America's Most Beautiful Roadster title  and the 1998 Street Rod of the Year award. The 1932 car won the 2001 America's Most Beautiful Roadster crown.

"I would like to own the entire line of 1932 Fords," Trussell said.

With that in mind, Trussell just recently purchased a 1932 Ford B400.

"This car was sold in 1932 and was then sent to Australia," Trussell said. "This car has all the original parts. It's pretty rare car and I'm glad to have this one."
 

Hoover (left) first approached Trussell about sponsorship for his race team and Trussell agreed under one condition, he had to own the team. That was 12 years ago.

Although Trussell has become a car connoisseur, there
was a time when he was behind the wheel as a drag racer. He had mild success in the sport and once campaigned a D/Modified Production 1955 Chevy.

Back in 1996, Trussell re-entered the drag racing scene by hooking up with Pro Mod star driver Ed Hoover. Hoover won the inaugural sanctioned Pro Modified race at the 1990 IHRA Winternationals in Darlington, S.C., and has been competing the series ever since.

"When I talked to Ed in '96, he told me that I could be his sponsor (on his car) for $25,000," Trussell said. "I told him if I was going to do that I was going to own the car."

Thus, in 1997, the pair teamed up and Hoover drove Trussell's nitrous-injected Stingray. Then, in 2008 the duo switched gears and put Hoover behind the wheel of the Trussell-owned 1968 Chevrolet Camaro.

"We were nitrous guys for a long time, but switching to the blower (on the Camaro) has worked out for us," Trussell said.

Presently, Hoover and Trussell are chasing the elusive IHRA Pro Modified championship, something neither one of them has ever won.

Trussell's latest toy is this STREET-driven 1957 Chevy which he parks in the shop alongside of the first car his father ever gave him.

Hoover presently is second in the Pro Mod points chase behind Kenny Lang. Hoover was leading the standings, but dropped to second after losing to Ike Maier in the quarterfinals of the last Pro Mod event on Aug. 2 in Martin, Mich.

"We're having a good year," Trussell said.

The Pro Mod season concludes Oct. 22-25 with the World Finals in Rockingham, N.C.

"If everything holds up, I will keep racing until Ed wants to quit," Trussell said.

  According Trussell around 14 years ago or so, there was plans of having him drive a second Pro Mod car, but that has yet to materialize. Trussell, however, noted that he did go 187 mph at Sebring (Fla.) International Raceway in a 1996 Dodge Viper GTS coupe.

  "I like the speed (of cars), and I just started working on cars when I was younger as a way to stay out of trouble," Trussell said."Now, I still really enjoy being around cars."

With his amazing car collection, that's something Trussell never will have to worry about.