Doorslammer Legend Jason Scruggs Can Turn First NHRA Pro Mod Final Into First Win At U.S. Nats|

Jason Scruggs' legacy as one of the well-nigh successful names in doorslammer racing is secure, no matter how his time in NHRA Pro Mod turns out.

But the veteran now has a prime number opportunity to put an impressive cherry on top of his standout career. Despite dreadful racing conditions for his blown "Mississippi Missile" '20 Camaro from Jerry Bickel Race Cars, Scruggs advanced to his first NHRA Pro Mod terminal round final weekend at the NHRA Summernationals at Indy, doing so in but his seventh career outset in the class.

The final against Chad Greenish was postponed to the U.Southward. Nationals due to pelting, but it did let Scruggs to reflect on what he achieved this weekend, leaving him on the verge of a possible first NHRA Pro Mod win.

"This racing bargain in this course, everybody is so tough and is then practiced, information technology all has to come together," Scruggs said. "If information technology'due south your 24-hour interval, it's your day, and everything kind of cruel into place for united states of america. We won some close races and that'south what y'all have to do at this level.

"Getting a win has been our goal from solar day ane when nosotros came NHRA racing. Nosotros're trying to accept a good fourth dimension and not get too defenseless up in information technology. We're not caught up trying to win a title and that'south never even crossed my listen. Our goal is to have fun, make certain they know i'm there and it would exist nice to pull out a Wally before we're washed."

Scruggs is close to doing that, feeling content and happy with his place in the sport and Pro Mod racing.

Once driven by records and world championships — and accomplishing those in yard fashion – Scruggs has moved to the next chapter in his career, doing so gracefully and showing he hasn't slowed downward a bit.

With business keeping him as decorated as ever, Scruggs has embraced being a function-fourth dimension race in the NHRA Pro Modern ranks, with the goal to race 4-6 times a year. He raced four times in 2019, qualifying twice, but has made big strides in 2020, which is especially noteworthy because he's not out in that location total-fourth dimension.

"That's what this stage in my career is. I got to the point where I was also caught up in all of information technology — not missing a race and trying to win a championship," Scruggs said. "Now I don't accept to worry nigh that. I know when I need to exist at work I can stay here. That'due south what inverse in my racing the last few years. I'm wanting to do it just for the fun of it because that's how information technology started in my career."

Scruggs appears to exist enjoying himself to the fullest these days, and his performance in 90-plus caste weather in Indy was impressive.

He led the fashion in testing, running a 5.79 before qualifying seventh with a run of 5.859-seconds at 247.11 mph. With conditions far from optimal for blower cars, Scruggs was methodical in eliminations, beating Bo Butner with a 5.835 at 246.eighty in the first round and following with a 5.836 at 246.66 to beat Mike Castellana.

Scruggs' weekend-best 5.829 at 246.48 sent him to the last circular confronting Green, who ran an event-best five.807 at 250.xiii in the semifinals. A get-go-fourth dimension winner in the class will be decided in early September at Indy, and Scruggs was pleased with how his squad responded when it counted.

"Nosotros were happy to go some rounds. We knew we could run with them, so nosotros were glad we could testify that," Scruggs said. "Information technology's a different deal running quarter-mile, but at the terminate of the day we've got a skilful motorcar. That race at that place was pretty tough for blower cars.

"It's about the worst conditions you lot can have for a blower car, and it'due south difficult to make power when the air is that bad, just to get out and run decent in about every bit bad of weather y'all have can in a blower car, it tells you the car is responding."

It's been doing that all yr. After making some changes to the car during testing in Orlando way dorsum in January, the team has fabricated considerable steps. They qualified second at the Drag Illustrated World Doorslammer Nationals at Orlando in March, running a career-best 5.656 at 254.86 and winning a circular.

Scruggs didn't run again until testing on Friday in Indy, only the motorcar seemed to pick up correct where the team left off in March.

"We changed the mode we were running the car and now we're able to run with them," Scruggs said. "We knew it would be hard and a new challenge, but it'southward turned out pretty adept and we've got proficient help."

Scruggs will attempt to pause through at the U.S. Nationals, but at that place'southward a hazard he could actually win before that. He plans to race at the next NHRA Pro Mod race, which over again takes place at Indy Aug. 6-9, and with the style Scruggs is performing, putting together four winning rounds is well within reach for the doorslammer legend.

"All in all, we're pretty happy," Scruggs said. "We're a function-fourth dimension team, but we skilful stuff and good people who assistance us."