Pat Musi is widely recognized as a dominant nitrous engine builder and an eight-time NMCA Pro Street champion with multiple Pro Modified victories. What many fans may not realize is that Musi was also an accomplished Pro Stock racer in both IHRA and NHRA competition.
Musi never claimed an NHRA national event win, but his resume includes a runner-up finish and a No. 1 qualifying effort at the 1981 NHRA U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis. That season proved to be his best, as he finished fourth in the NHRA Pro Stock championship standings.
“I had some good memories racing in NHRA Pro Stock,” Musi said.
Musi opened the 1981 NHRA season with a runner-up finish to Bob Glidden at the Winternationals. The performance helped set the tone for a season in which he became a consistent challenger to the established NHRA stars.
Musi said that in the early 1980s, IHRA competitors often faced skepticism when they crossed over to NHRA events. The IHRA roster featured Warren Johnson, Ronnie Sox, Don Nicholson and Rickie Smith, but Musi said NHRA racers were slow to respect them.
“All I used to hear was, ‘if he comes over here to NHRA, we’ll teach him a lesson,’” Musi recalled. “I turned it around on them, first race — runner-up to [Bob] Glidden. They played it off as us being lucky.”
At Pomona 1981, Musi advanced by beating championship contender Lee Shepherd, who fouled in their second-round matchup. He backed up the win two weeks later in Gainesville by outrunning Shepherd straight-up in eliminations.
Musi being Musi, he even directed a remark at Shepherd’s team owner, David Reher. “Hey, I am ready for that lesson,” Musi told him.
While relationships with rivals improved as the season continued, Musi said Glidden always showed him respect. “There was nothing aftermarket then,” Musi said. “Everything was over the counter, nothing but GM or junkyard blocks. We took a block and shortened the deck. I had a 9-inch deck height block. It was just fast… badass fast.”
Musi began the 1981 campaign in a three-link Camaro built by Don Ness, but realized the car was behind the leaders. After the fourth race, he switched to a four-link chassis also built by Ness, which proved competitive.
The upgrade paid off at Indianapolis, where Musi qualified No. 1 at the U.S. Nationals. “The new four-link Ness car was the ticket,” Musi said.
He also reflected on the financial challenges of Pro Stock racing. “I learned long before I started racing in NHRA Pro Stock that we all put our pants on the same way,” Musi said. “Unfortunately, this sport is built more on money than your knowledge. When the money came in, as well as the 500-inch engines, it put it all a bit out of reach. I call Pro Stock the millionaire’s club, today. They can have it.”
Before his NHRA success, Musi had built a strong reputation in IHRA competition. From 1976 to 1980, he reached six Pro Stock finals and won three times, including back-to-back runner-up finishes in 1977 and 1978.
Musi also qualified for the semifinals at the first IHRA Mountain Motor Pro Stock race in Darlington in 1977. “I’d definitely like to make a run in one,” he said of the Mountain Motor cars.
Now retired from driving in Pro Stock, Pro Street and Pro Modified, Musi remains tied to the sport through his engine business and his family’s racing involvement. But his memories of 1981 and his battles with legends like Glidden and Shepherd continue to stand as a reminder of his driving career.
Oh yeah, and he still has his Pro Stock and Pro Mod license current.
