Scotty Cannon is an innovator of

drag racing Drag racing is a type of motor racing in which automobiles or motorcycles compete, usually two at a time, to be first to cross a set finish line. The race follows a short, straight course from a standing start over a measured distance, mos ...

in the

Pro Modified Pro Modified, also known as Pro Mod, is a class or division in the sport of drag racing used in the NHRA and FIA (quarter-mile) and the Professional Drag Racers Association (PDRA) (eighth-mile). It is similar to the Top Doorslammer class as de ...

class in the

International Hot Rod Association The International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) is the second-largest drag racing sanctioning body in North America after the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA). The Carrier Era 1971-1987 The IHRA was formed in November 1970 by businessman Larr ...

(IHRA). He has won 28

finals, competing in 45. Cannon has the most pro-modified victories at the

Bristol Motor Speedway Bristol Motor Speedway (formerly known as the Bristol International Raceway from 1978 to 1996 and as the Bristol International Speedway from 1961 to 1978) is a oval Oval track racing#Short track, short track in Bristol, Tennessee. The track ha ...

, with four. Scotty grew up in an area where most of the people enjoyed

oval track racing Oval track racing is a form of motorsport that is contested on an oval-shaped race track. An oval track differs from a road course in that the layout resembles an oval with turns in only one direction, and the direction of traffic is almost u ...

, but he did not find that type of racing pleasing. He has a unique hairstyle by showing up on race day with a mohawk. Cannon said, "I have had a Mohawk on and off for years. It started years ago when I would go the beach with my friends and we would Mohawk our hair just to have fun. During the racing seasons, I would Mohawk it and it seemed I would wear it more and more. It kind of stuck on me. I guess you could call it my trademark." He started racing when he was 16. "I always had a natural love for

, going straight and making the cars go as fast as they possibly could go," Cannon stated. Cannon was one of the most popular drag racer in IHRA when pro-mod became a professional category in 1990. He won 6 championships in the pro-mod class. In 1998 cannon switched from IHRA to the

National Hot Rod Association The National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) is a governing body which sets rules in drag racing and hosts events all over the United States and Canada. With over 40,000 drivers in its rosters, the NHRA claims to be the largest motorsport sanction ...

to a nitro-burning funny car. Then in 1999 Cannon was awarded rookie of the year in NHRA. Cannon returned to IHRA Pro Modified in 2004. He currently drives a

Top Fuel Dragster Top Fuel is a type of drag racing whose dragsters are the quickest accelerating racing cars in the world and the fastest sanctioned category of drag racing, with the fastest competitors reaching speeds of and finishing the runs in 3.641 second ...

in IHRA Competition sponsored by Torco Race Fuels. His son, Scott Cannon Jr. drives a 1968

Pontiac Firebird The Pontiac Firebird is an American automobile built and produced by Pontiac (automobile), Pontiac from the 1967 to 2002 model years. Designed as a pony car to compete with the Ford Mustang, it was introduced on February 23, 1967, five months a ...

Pro Mod, and was the 2007 IHRA World Champion.

Notes

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cannon, Scotty Living people Dragster drivers American racing drivers Year of birth missing (living people)