Words by Jeff Burk
Photos by Jeff Burk and Ron Lewis
 
Businessman Roger Burgess really, really loves the NHRA Pro Modified class -- there can be no doubt of that. He rescued the class from oblivion by making a last-second deal with NHRA president Tom Compton when no one could or would step forward to sponsor the exhibition class. Then he managed to negotiate a multi-year contract for the class with the NHRA, which the NHRA had refused to do with any previous series sponsors, and then he parked his Funny Car team and instead devoted all of his efforts into a multiple-car Pro Mod team. He spent the early part of this year learning to drive his own Pro Modified. All of that effort paid off for the multi-millionaire racer/businessman as he won his first Pro Mod Challenge race as a driver at the NHRA Midwest Nationals at Gateway International Raceway.