Texas Speedzone - Scotty Cannon's Top Fuel Debut @ Amalie Oil Texas Nationals

Scotty Cannon’s IHRA Top Fuel debut,
from heap of parts to top of the heap in first day qualifying.

A little over a month ago, multi-time Pro Modified champion, Scotty Cannon began to put all the pieces together for his new IHRA Top Fuel race team, literally. “A month ago we just got all the parts, the car wasn’t even together yet,” said Cannon. “It’s nobody’s fault. Just getting all the stuff together, putting it together and getting the crew ready. It’s just a miracle. The guys have worked real hard, it impresses me. The worst thing to see is something breaking early, fall off during the burn out or something stupid. It embarrassing, there’s no excuse for it and it’s intolerable. If the car breaks or blows up, that’s ok. When you go up to the starting the fans didn’t come to see you be a jerk , and I’m hard on my guys about that. They have to double check everything. If you think it’s loose, tighten it again. I have take my hat off to them.”

“I haven’t driven a Pro Mod in two years or been in a fuel car for four years,” added the flamboyant Cannon. “Once you get back in one it feels weird, like you’re scared to get in it, but once they start the motor everything comes back to you. Maybe it’s because I’ve done this for so long. I’m not bragging, but I’ve been lucky and my crew’s done a good job. We’ve had good parts and have yet to abort a run in the three runs to get my license or here. That’s pretty good for a team that only has me, Todd Blakley and Jimbo Ermalovich. That’s only one small team, all the rest of the guys work on cars in dealerships and we’re trying to train everybody. It makes me feel good. If you watch these cars, it’s just a job to get to the starting line and make a pass. My hats off to my guys and my sponsors.”

“My mom passed away last week and this weekend is dedicated to her. Thanks to Evan(Knoll), he’s the one that dedicated it to her. The stars and moon can line up every once in a while in my life. I said I’d be happy if I just qualified, but I probably lied to myself, I’d be happy if I won now.”

Cannon made his first ever attempt early in Top Fuel qualifying and laid down a sound and stable 4.851 @ 299.00mph pass to grab the number one qualifying spot. Favorites, Doug Foley and Bruce Litton were yet to make their runs and both would have trouble. Foley saw his hopes erupt at the hit of pedal off the starting line. Litton was on a good run but had problems and fell off on the top end, leaving Cannon holding the top spot after the first day. “Number one won’t stay at .85, I’m sure,” replied Cannon. “We had her backed down pretty soft. We’re going to see what we can do tomorrow. We’ll have to get after it. Both Doug(Foley and Bruce(Litton) have excellent equipment. I watched them run and they just had stuff go wrong. I would almost say they were trying to run faster than an .85. I would have been if we had a few more runs. Jimbo and I talked and we tried to imitate what we did getting my license again. Just try to go from A to B, with nothing happening. The good Lord Blessed us and it happened. I don’t know what to say. I feel good about it. An .85 is good, but not real good, but it went from A to B. It’s all good right now, that’s all I can say. I hate to brag. If it went a .50 flat I’d be doing back flips right now. I just need some more laps, I know I do. I haven’t driven in a while. I’m ready for race day mentally , but it will take a few laps before I can start executing and trying win races.”

“Watching my boy makes me more nervous that trying to make my first run. Once I get in the car, I’m not nervous. I feel like I’m at home, I’m relaxed. Then when I get I’m nervous and shaking, I don’t know what it is. Watching him is ten times worse than anything I do. I think I’m getting better now. Last year I wore out three pairs of shoes at the beginning of the year, and did better at the end.”