by Rich Talbert

After winning the IHRA Pro Mod crown, the 1954 Summit 'Vette
might be a trade-in for 2001. Photo by Bryan Epps

With their first IHRA Pro Modified championship in hand, driver Fred Hahn and team owner Jim Oddy are looking to the future. The "For Sale" sign on the 1954 Corvette at the CARQUEST Autumn Nationals in Rockingham, NC, and the classified ad in National Dragster point to a change for 2001.

"You'll have to ask the owner," Hahn said about the replacement car. "We have to evaluate and see where we are. If the IHRA keeps the rules as they are, then we'll see. If Bader runs the rules like a roulette wheel, then all bets are off."

When Oddy was pressed, he responded, "Well, we have to see if we can sell our car first. We have some ideas we'd like to try. The 1954 Summit Racing Corvette has been a very good car for us." It certainly has. The racecar holds both ends of the IHRA Pro Mod record.

Rumors are swirling around about a 2-car team--one blower car and one nitrous. There's also the possibility of sticking with one or the other. Either way, both men are reluctant to tip off other teams in one of the most competitive classes in pro drag racing.

"Technology changes, so you have to stay on the cutting edge," Hahn noted. "We made the ‘Vette into something respectable. Jim isn't afraid to get his feet wet by trying something new. If we run a nitrous car, it will be different than every other one out there. Everyone has a set way of using nitrous. We know of a better way that is still within the rules."

"It'll be a ‘Vette," Oddy revealed. "Maybe old, maybe new."

Perhaps no one will know for sure until they wheel it out of the trailer in Rockingham on March 29, 2001.

For more information about Fred Hahn, check out www.SummitRacing.com.