IHRA Champion Profile: Bo Upton - Quick Rod

Bo Upton

To Bo Upton and his family, he was already a champion before he ever left the house – at least according to his son.

Days before Upton packed up and headed north to Rockingham Dragway for the running of the Tournament of Champions earlier this month, his son made a prediction that proved remarkably accurate. While getting his children ready for school the day before the race, Upton’s youngest son came running into the room screaming “daddy, daddy – you are a world champion.” 

Upton sat his son down and explained to him that the race wasn’t for another day, but little did he know at the time his son’s power to see into the future.

 “I told my boy Thursday morning we were running for the championship and I got up before I left and I got them ready for school and my youngest told me I was the world champ. I told him I am not a champion yet, but he just kept saying it. I guess that was a good omen,” Upton said.

And just as his son predicted the day before Upton, of Taylor, S.C,, roared past Matt Weston and a host of others to claim his first World Championship in Quick Rod at Rockingham Dragway capping an incredible year with his first career IHRA Championship.

 “This deal IHRA has going is phenomenal. We had a good year, didn’t tear anything up, we won some races and now here we are, champions,” Upton said.

Upton hit a solid 8.906 to Weston’s 8.895 in the final while also claiming wins over Jacob Elrod, Tony Helms and Allen Constantine on his way to the win.

“I have raced for a long time and I didn’t get to travel a lot to run for the world title so to have a system like this, I don’t know how anybody could have anything bad to say. It is amazing,” Upton said. “I drove well all day and had a heck of a run in the finals. I know everybody struggled up here last year, but the track was perfect. This was the best of the best and I was able to perform.”

Upton qualified for the Tournament of Champions thanks to a championship In Division 2 on the Summit Pro-Am Tour. Upton edged Tony Helms – whom he met on race day – to claim the Division 2 crown.

“I had a good ’09. I started out strong, made three finals and won the division. I went to Darlington and all I had to do was win one round to win the division and we lost first round. Thankfully we were able to hold on for the championship,” Upton said.

On race day Upton received a first round bye thanks to his Summit Pro-Am championship before eliminating Constantine with a near perfect light, followed by a double-breakout win over Helms and another incredible light in the semifinals to defeat Elrod.

Quick Rod Final: Matt Weston (near) vs. Bo Upton

“I put the nerves aside because, like any other race, you just bare down and typically you have to have a lucky break. Everybody always has a lucky break and mine came in the third round,” Upton said. “The car picked way up and I didn’t know it. I actually started backing out and let Tony back by me and I just had to dump him off before coming back and picking it up. That was my lucky run of the day and once that happened I just dialed the car perfect the rest of the day. We were fortunate.”

Luck or not, Upton managed to survive the weekend and can now add World Champion to his resume.

“I want to thank my dad. This is his stuff and he supports me 100 percent. He has given me a car since I was 15 years old and I am super excited he was here,” Upton said. “I wish my wife and kids could have been here. My wife Jackie and my oldest boy Bo Henry and Tucker. This is all very exciting.”