Leicester Cannon Review

Cannon Adds Another "Oscar" To His Collection

LEICESTER, NY-- If drag racing can be deemed a "he who laughs last, laughs loudest" affair, then Pro Modified's winningest driver Scotty Cannon is getting himself a healthy chuckle now. The 5-time world champion evened a score that was staged eight years ago at Leicester as he ran low elapsed time of the IHRA Empire Nationals to beat Fred Hahn in Jim Oddy's 1938 Chevy. Cannon's winning lap was a 6.45/217.35.

"Anytime that you can come into a man's backyard and beat him, it makes you feel great," explained Cannon. "I'm gonna give Fred plenty of credit, he's a good racer and Jim Oddy is a good engine man. We have a big rivalry that has been brewing over the years, but inside of that rivalry, there remains a great deal of respect."

The score that Cannon had to settle was a final round that dates back to 1990, when the Cable TV Magazine sponsored driver reached the finals of his first-ever IHRA Pro Modified final. Hahn won that event handily and nearly went on to capture the world championship that season.

In competition this year between the two of them, Cannon holds a three elimination win to none record versus Hahn.