Scotty Cannon is the innovator of drag racing

Drag racing

Drag racing is a competition in which specially prepared automobiles or motorcycles compete two at a time to be the first to cross a set finish line, from a standing start, in a straight line, over a measured distance, most commonly a ¼-mile straight track....

 and shaping the Pro Modified

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 the American Drag Racing League .-Overview:...

 class in the International Hot Rod Association

International Hot Rod Association

The International Hot Rod Association, also known as IHRA, is the 2nd largest drag racing sanctioning body after the NHRA.-The Carrier Era:The IHRA was formed in November 1970 by businessman Larry Carrier. Throughout this period the organization was operated primarily in the south-eastern United...

 (IHRA). He currently holds the record for having the most wins in IHRA pro-mod with 27 national event wins. Cannon currently resides at Lyman, South Carolina

Lyman, South Carolina

Lyman is a town in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, United States. It is a suburb of Greer. The population of Lyman was 3,243 at the 2010 census.-History:...

, United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

.

Scotty grew up in an area where most of the people enjoyed oval track racing, but he did not find that type of racing pleasing. He has a unique hairstyle by showing up on race day with a mohawk

Mohawk hairstyle

The mohawk is a hairstyle in which, in the most common variety, both sides of the head are shaven, leaving a strip of noticeably longer hair...

. 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 drag racing

Drag racing

Drag racing is a competition in which specially prepared automobiles or motorcycles compete two at a time to be the first to cross a set finish line, from a standing start, in a straight line, over a measured distance, most commonly a ¼-mile straight track....

, 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

National Hot Rod Association

The National Hot Rod Association is a drag racing governing body, which sets rules in drag racing and host events all over the United States and Canada...

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

Pontiac Firebird

The Pontiac Firebird was built by the Pontiac division of General Motors between 1967 and 2002. The Firebird was introduced the same year as the automaker's platform-sharing model, the Chevrolet Camaro...

Pro Mod, and was the 2007 IHRA World Champion.