Nashville, TN, (May 15, 2018)…One of today’s most exciting classes in drag racing has become the Pro Mod series, such as the National Muscle Car Association sponsored by E3 Spark Plugs. Pro Modified is the only one that allows multiple makes of cars, builders and engines to compete on a level playing field. This combination is now drawing ever increasing throngs of fans to each city that Pro Mod races. The 2018 season is shaping up yet again, as a special one with barely hundredths-of-a-second continually dividing winners and runners up.
One of the competing racers is Billy Harper, from Paducah, KY. Billy has been racing for 58 years. Harper says, “As long as my health and my crew chief will let me, I’ll keep driving!”
Harper recalls how he got his start; “When I was in high school I visited an old airstrip that was converted into a drag strip. That was in the days of flags, they classified every car, and it was way before brackets. The bug bit me and I’ve been drag racing ever since.” Harper grew from driving his Mom and Dad’s car at the drag strip, to eventually running super stock. He says he drove an A automatic, then drove a D automatic car for a while. Then in 1990 he looked at the Pro Mod class and he loved it. “I wasn’t happy with the breakouts and the crazy index stuff they were putting in super stock,” claims Harper. “When Pro Mod hit the ground, I knew that was my class. We built the car in ‘90, and 1991 we went pro mod racing. We struggled for a bit just learning how to race on a low dollar budget, but then started winning some races. Enough to keep me coming back, anyway.”
Harper says, “What makes Pro Mod fun, is that there is some room for creativity. I always thought it was tough just to compete with the blowers and nitrous, and then ya add turbos in and it’s really gotten complex. This last 4-wide NHRA race shows how much creativity there can be. Now with electronics and sophisticated technology, the intellectual property and the rules may challenge separation. But that’s all what makes it fun.” He says that others like Pro Stock and NASCAR, everyone is running the same with throttle down. “Pro Mod is pretty wild and crazy!”
To stay in the “wild and crazy” race, Harper commands the pilot seat in his jet black, Jerry Bickel-built, nitrous-powered Dodge Viper with an electronic fuel injected Sonny’s 903. “I drove a ‘68 Barracuda in the 90s, and then in 2000, switched to the Viper,” says the 73 year-young racer.
Harper fills his trophy room with quite a few accolades from along the way. We won the IHRA Championship 2016,” says Harper. “During that year, we also set a new track record at Maple Grove Raceway with a lap time of 5.859 @ 244. Our first IHRA win was back in 2002, and we also took home an ADRL Championship in 2008. I thought I was gonna win ADRL last year but they changed the rules on us middle of the season. Other than that we have won a few races here and there, but generally beat who we can when we have enough to compete.” Harper claims his top speed in the ¼ = 5.80 @ 246 MPH, and a 3.80 @ 202 MPH 1/8 mile hit. He plans to challenge those personal records in 2018 running the full season of NMCA races as well as several appearances in the Northeast Pro Mod series. When asked about any others, Harper claims, “NHRA is always a possibility. Depends if we can become competitive or not, and depends on what happens with rules.”
Of all the time spent at the track, Harper recalls his favorite personal memory In 2008, the second ADRL race of the year. “Our car broke out a .10 faster than anybody else; just every lap was on the rail,” recalls Harper. “It was one of those races you dream about, where you can’t even see the other guy. That night had everybody at the track all stirred up because we ran so fast. That makes it fun when you’re the guy winning!”
Ask Harper his favorite motorsports hero and he’ll tell you adamantly, Garlits. “I’ve met Don and got to know him. I very much appreciate him as a person, and everybody knows what his great accomplishments were in racing. I think he’s a great guy to have as an idol.” Harper says, ”In fact, after he was racing and started commentaries and announcing, he actually covered a race in Shreveport, that we won.”
Harper’s operation is mostly independent, carrying their own team costs; pretty much supported by their own businesses. Harper says, “his Crew Chief’s trucking company, and our own construction companies, Morsey Constructors, IFC, LLC and Harper Industries are the one’s keeping us at the race track.” His of which, Harper is still full-time employed and continues at the helm.
When he is not at the helm of a business or a race car, Harper says he enjoys playing racquetball in the mornings. That he likes to stay busy and trying to stay in shape. When it comes to a fun fact that many may not know, or perhaps they do says Harper, “the biggest thing now is becoming my age, how I can still be doing this at 73. Most of the announcers seem to have fun with that.” But more so, Harper values being actively involved in the community, politics, education, and business among others. “I actually ran for governor of Kentucky, about 10 years ago,” he says. “I lost, but I certainly have the right to complain now. I got out there and got involved.”
Billy Harper has built a formidable career over the years and he says that he appreciates E3 getting involved with the sport. He says “we appreciate any companies that support drag racing, and anything helping get fans to the racetrack.”
Just like Billy Harper, E3 appreciates the support from the racers/teams/participants competing in the E3 Spark Plug Pro Mod class of the NMCA and we are excited for the 2018 season. ?Rob Fisher, E3 Director of Motorsports says, “We are very thankful for everyone in the sport and everyone in the stands!”
For more information about E3 spark plugs and performance ignition products, visit www.e3sparkplugs.com. For the latest company and product news follow E3 on Facebook, Twitter, Google +, Instagram, or subscribe to E3’s You Tube Channel.
ABOUT E3
E3 is a true high-performance aftermarket manufacturer providing high-performance spark plugs and ignitions systems for drag racing, off-road, late model, street rod and muscle car, tuner, sports car, marine, lawn and garden and powersports. E3 Spark Plugs are the product of years of fundamental research in the combustion field. The unique patented electrode configuration of the new E3 spark plugs increases the amount of combustion pressure created during each power stroke of an engine, which results in a marked increase in power output, fuel economy, and reduced emissions in gasoline engines.
