IHRA: Billy Glidden gets the job done

Steven Cole Smith (words & image)
It was big news this summer when it was announced that Billy Glidden, drag racing's ultimate loner, was actually teaming up with Harry Hruska and his Precision Turbo/Mickey Thompson Pro Modified Camaro.
Eyebrows were raised. Billy Glidden in a Camaro, instead of his trademark Ford Mustang which, in various forms, has terrorized multiple sanctioning bodies for years? And driving for a team owner? It's always been Glidden and wife Shannon against the world – and you know how drag racing fans love underdogs.
And one more eyebrow-raiser: Pro Mod gives racer the choice of turbocharging, supercharging or nitrous oxide injection. The Gliddens have never raced turbo cars in Pro Mod, though they are considered to the potentially the fastest of the three methods of power-boosting.
But since the name of Hruska's Indiana-based business is Precision Turbo and Engine, you can guess what his car uses for boost. And it has been a steep learning curve for the Gliddens.
"We really didn't get to pick which of the three we wanted," Billy told us. "Harry didn't make that an option."
And while it is a different car to work on, and a different kind of car to drive, Billy Glidden is a fast learner. "Most everything about the car is different," he said. "The power comes in farther down the racetrack" than it does with his old nitrous car, and as fans know, when that turbo power does kick in, it can be like riding a bronco.
A very fast bronco. At the IHRA Northern Nationals at US 131 Motorplex in Martin, Michigan, Glidden notched his first IHRA win, and set a new world speed record of 250.98mph in the Precision Turbo and Engine 2014 Pro Mod Chevrolet Camaro, running on Mickey Thompson ET Drag tires, as Mickey Thompson has long been a Glidden sponsor.
Glidden beat Jason Hamstra in the final round to earn the title.
The last Glidden IHRA win was recorded in 1988 when Bob Glidden, Billy's legendary father who won 10 NHRA Pro Stock championships, took the IHRA Summer Nationals title, and Billy was on his father's crew at the time.
"We are extremely pleased and happy about Billy's first IHRA win this weekend. Billy broke a record and brought home the trophy," said Hruska. "It was the best birthday present I could've gotten."