Pro Modified has a history of producing races that leave competitors shaking their heads long after the win lights come on.
In the category’s NHRA debut in 2001, one driver crashed into another during the burnout, and both racers backed up and made the run as if nothing happened. Years later, three of four racers were disqualified in a Four-Wide final round, creating one of the strangest outcomes in NHRA history.
Then there was what happened Saturday to Jason Collins at the Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals.
Collins entered the quarterfinal round against Travis Harvey needing points, round wins and help from those around him to strengthen his position in the race for a spot in the NHRA Pro Mod playoffs. What followed looked more like a survival test than a championship run.
The steering wheel came off Collins’ Scott Tidwell-owned Camaro during the burnout.
Without steering control, Collins slid into the concrete barrier surrounding the Christmas Tree, damaging the front end and appearing to end his day before the race ever started.
Somehow, it didn’t.
Collins backed the wounded Camaro to the starting line, staged for the race and then accidentally double-bulbed Harvey before the pair launched.
And somehow, it got even stranger.
Harvey drifted toward the centerline and lifted while Collins drove to the win light, completing one of the most improbable quarterfinal victories Bristol Dragway has seen in recent memory.
Even Collins had trouble explaining it afterward.
“This is crazy. I’m really embarrassed to be honest,” Collins said. “The steering wheel came off in the burnout and I can’t blame nobody but myself because I’m the one that had it off and obviously I didn’t lock it on.
“I’ve never had that happen in all my years of racing.”
Collins said the situation escalated immediately once the wheel came free.
“The steering wheel came off in the burnout and all I could do is lock the brakes up,” Collins said. “I couldn’t get the steering wheel back on. I was trying to get it back on and I had to call him on the radio to come over there and help me put the steering wheel back on it.”
he damage only added to the frustration.
“Chris is going to be so mad,” Collins said. “He just fixed this front end from where it was pushing down in the big end. He just fixed it.
“And now I’ve tore it up again. Cam’s over here shaking his head. I’m sorry, Cam, dude. I’m sorry, man.”
Most drivers would have considered themselves fortunate simply to make the starting line.
Instead, Collins found himself advancing.
“Good Lord must be looking out for us today because I can’t believe we won that round,” Collins said.
Then there was the matter of the double-bulb.
The unusual staging sequence quickly sparked questions about whether Collins intentionally rolled in deep. He dismissed that notion as quickly as it surfaced.
“It wasn’t on purpose,” Collins said.
According to Collins, the damaged Camaro continued creeping forward while he fought to hold it in place.
“I was sitting there holding the brake and then it was creeping and I kept mashing it harder,” Collins said. “He took a long time to get in right there on the first one because I was in the first one pretty long time and I thought, well, he’s playing some game over there or whatever.
“When I saw it stuck the second one on, I just grabbed the trans brake. I was like, all I can do is just sit here and do it.”
Collins arrived at Bristol needing a strong weekend to improve his playoff outlook.
He left the quarterfinals with points, a win light and a story that will likely be retold every time Pro Mod racers start discussing the strangest rounds they’ve ever witnessed.
At Bristol, the steering wheel came off, the car hit the wall, the front end got bent, the Camaro double-bulbed its opponent and still won the round.
Only in Pro Modified.
