The Pro Modifieds returned to Emerald Coast Dragway in Holt, Florida, located in the panhandle of the Sunshine State. The track proved itself one of the quickest eighth mile tracks anywhere in the world with the world's first three second Pro Mod run last year by Alabamian Joey Moore. Qualifying was very intense with blown cars taking the top six spots and the lone two nitrous cars rounding out the field. 

The world's quickest small block 1963 Corvette of Jason Scruggs of Sahillo, MS, was the number one qualifier at a 4.02. Scruggs ran 3.999 at Holt earlier this year with the Scruggs family car out of the family's John Deere dealership. Perry Herring ran a close 4.04 for number two in the Perkins Racing 1994 Corvette. The run was Perry's best ever. R.E. Smith, fresh off a win the previous week at Music City Raceway, ran a good 4.09 in his blown 1953 Studebaker for number three. The former car of Smith was next with backwoods Pro Mod legend Hugh Scott of Red Bay, Alabama, at the wheel for the number four spot. Scott got the popular all black Willys to run a 4.104.

The bottom half of field was lead by long time racer Bill Clanton in his star-spangled Big Money ‘53 Studebaker at a 4.108. Number six was a relative newcomer to the Pro Mod wars, Charles McKay, in his blown ‘96 Camaro with a best ever 4.13. Jeff Ennslin was the fastest nitrous car of the weekend with a 4.26 in the Earthshakers Studebaker out of Florida. On the bump was Dixie Pro Stock racer Mike Pace in the Fanta Z 1996 Corvette with a 4.34.

The ladder was redone before the first round when it was found that R.E. Smth could not show. This bumped the four through eight qualified spots up one spot. This also gave Scruggs a bye into the semi finals. In the wildest race of the first round, number two qualifier Herring ran a 4.10 to squeak by number five McKay's very close 4.13. Number three qualifier Hugh Scott beat number six qualifier Jeff Ennslin next but the win was costly for Hugh as he broke his engine and could not report for the semifinals. Number four qualifier Bill Clanton easily beat number seven qualifier Mike Neal 4.19 to Neal's off pace 4.73.

The semifinals started with Scruggs taking another bye with strong 4.08 when opponent Hugh Scott could not report to race. Perry Herring ran a consistent 4.11 to cover a tire shaking Bill Clanton who ran a slowing 4.73.

The final of the blown Corvettes was anticlimactic when the killer small block of Scruggs broke on the starting line. Perry Herring ran another 4.11 to claim the win for the Alabamian based Perkins Racing team.

Danny White & Darren Woodruff