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Friday, November 16, 2007

Scotty Cannon Returns To Torco Race Fuels Pro Modified

by Bobby Bennett Scotty Cannon, Sr. will join his son Scott, Jr. in the pursuit of the 2008 IHRA Torco Race Fuels Pro Modified world championship. The elder Cannon, a six-time IHRA Pro Modified world champion, will cease driving in the Top Fuel ranks in order to drive an identical Vanishing Point Race Cars 1968 Firebird to the one Scott, Jr. won the 2007 championship with. Scotty said driving Evan Knoll’s personal Top Fuel dragster was an incredible opportunity but his heart was in racing the doorslammers. “What can you say when a man like Evan Knoll gives you the opportunity of a lifetime,” Scotty said. “We all have to be honest with ourselves and my heart is in racing Pro Modified. I poured my life into the class and while I had to pursue the nitro racing to fulfill a dream, Pro Modified still had my heart. I don’t think I ever really left. “I think this comes at a time when Evan is really trying to raise the level of the Pro Modified class and he’s upped the money in the shootout. I just want to do my part in making it all a success. Evan deserves the best in everything he does and I want to help.” Scotty will continue to manage Knoll’s Seelye-Wright dragster from his Lyman, South Carolina race shop. A replacement driver will soon be announced for the team. --Advertisement-- This move provides just one more hard-hitting Torco Race Fuels Pro Modified driver that Scott expects to fight tooth and nail against to keep his No. 1 designation. Scott edged out Mike Janis, also a multi-time champion, for the 2007 title. “When I was a kid – growing up at the race track – I was cheering for my dad to win every race,” Scott said. “Now I get the opportunity to race alongside of that and words can’t describe that feeling. He’s a tough driver to go up against and I look forward to that challenge. “The San Antonio race will be here before we know it and we’ll be working hard all winter preparing for another championship run.” Scotty said he will have mixed emotions running against Scott next season. “On one hand, I am proud of what he’s accomplished and there’s no doubt he’s worked hard to earn the title,” Scotty said. “Then there’s the competitor side of me that wants to knock him off because I’m a drag racer. He may beat me and I may beat him – but one thing is for sure – I’m awful proud of the kid and what he’s accomplished.”