Travis ‘The Carolina Kid’ Harvey Set to Make NHRA Pro Mod Debut at Carolina Nationals as Fill-in Driver for Khalid Al Balooshi
Multi-talented wheelman Travis “The Carolina Kid” Harvey is set to take on yet another new challenge, as he’s been tapped to fill in for past series champion Khalid Al Balooshi in the Congruity HR NHRA Pro Mod Series presented by Learn EV+ portion of this weekend’s NHRA Carolina Nationals at zMAX Dragway. It will be the NHRA Pro Mod debut for Harvey, whose accomplishments in the last couple years include victories in PDRA Pro Boost, big-money grudge racing, and Piedmont Dragway’s Big Dog Shootout Series.
“I actually got a call from Jeffrey Barker yesterday asking if I had my NHRA license and if I’d be able to drive for the Bahrain 1 team this weekend, then I got a call from Balooshi and we talked over a few things,” Harvey said. “He texted me this morning and said to go ahead and head down to Rockingham to get a few laps in the car. It was kind of a last-minute deal. I was caught off guard to get a call from him. I’m thankful and blessed to be a part of it.”
Harvey was an obvious choice for Al Balooshi, who recently won the SRI Performance Pro Mod Showdown at the 70th annual Toyota NHRA U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis over Labor Day weekend. Harvey will join Al Balooshi’s Bahrain 1 Racing teammates, Justin Bond, Jordan Lazic, and Kris Thorne.
Khalid Al Balooshi
“Travis is a very talented driver and a new face to the NHRA,” said Al Balooshi, the 2011 NHRA Pro Mod champion. “He’s going to be the new kid on the block, and he deserves the chance to shine under the Bahrain 1 colors. He’s a great driver and he’ll help us continue to build the Bahrain 1 image alongside Sheikh Abdulla.”
It’s fitting that the driver known as “The Carolina Kid” will make his NHRA Pro Mod debut at the Carolina Nationals. Based in Burlington, North Carolina, Harvey will have a sizeable cheering section at zMAX Dragway, just outside Charlotte.
“It’s like an hour away from me, so it’s a home track race,” Harvey said. “I’m sure a lot of fans will be there and some family is going to come watch me. It’s pretty awesome to be able to debut in Charlotte.”
Harvey spent Wednesday testing with the Bahrain 1 team at Rockingham Dragway, driving the team’s two screw-blown ’17 Camaros usually driven by Al Balooshi and Lazic. He fit better in Lazic’s car so he could end up racing that one, but he will earn points for Al Balooshi.
Harvey has held an NHRA Pro Mod license off and on for years, and he’s competed in NHRA events in a few different sportsman classes, but this will be a new endeavor for the seasoned driver. He’s ready to make the most of the opportunity to compete on one of doorslammer drag racing’s biggest stages. With Bahrain 1’s team members and race cars at his disposal, Harvey will have a real chance too. Bond, Al Balooshi, and Lazic qualified No. 1, 2, and 4, respectively, at the U.S. Nationals just a couple weeks ago.
“My goal is just to qualify at my first race,” said Harvey, who thanked Al Balooshi and Bahrain 1 Racing. “The Bahrain 1 team has an arsenal of badass race cars. If we get in the show and qualify – and I think we will – I think we have a good shot at winning. My goal is just to qualify, but I don’t go to a race just to qualify. If I got a shot, I’m gonna take advantage of it.”
This story was originally published on September 18, 2024.
The post Travis ‘The Carolina Kid’ Harvey Set to Make NHRA Pro Mod Debut at Carolina Nationals as Fill-in Driver for Khalid Al Balooshi first appeared on Drag Illustrated.
