Best Pontiac Powered Stockers

[oldskool]

At the Beech Bend div 3 race, 2 of the 10 sec Bird Stockers qualified #17 & #18. They were driven by Chris Stephenson & Julie Biermann.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...er=30#indextop

Need to ask a question here. On that list, #72 is Travis Buth, listed driving a '70 GTO. The only '70 GTO Stocker I know of has been driven mostly by Todd Kuhn & Allen Hollingsworth. So, is this the same car ? And, who actually owns this car ?

Just trying to get all the facts straight.

[oldskool]

Just discovered this. Don't think it's been included in this thread. But, if so, once again I'll stand corrected.

I thought the only '74 GTO Stocker in div 5 was the one that Brad Koivisto drives. But, this Q-list from last year's Lucas Oil Nats also shows a '74 GTO which is driven by Denny Nelson. Brad's '74 GTO is on the same list & the 2 cars are running different classes.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2019#indextop

What triggered me searching for this was that while searching a Pontiac forum for something else, I ran across this link to a Class Racer thread, which mentions several '74 GTO's.

http://classracer.com/classforum/sho...t=46501&page=4

The original owner of the car Denny Nelson has, said he bought the car new, raced it 'til '92, then sold it to Larry Maxwell. It was the car I covered named "Git-Go".

I thought the thread was very interesting, since it mentioned several '74 GTO's.

https://autoimagery.photoshelter.com...IX1JjU-&GI_ID=

https://autoimagery.photoshelter.com...IX1JjU-&GI_ID=

https://autoimagery.photoshelter.com...IX1JjU-&GI_ID=

[oldskool]

Since it's US Nats time again, there are some Pontiac names that come to my mind, from the early days. Some are: Jim Wangers, Lloyd & Carol Cox, Mickey Thompson, Don Gay, Mary Ann Foss, Truman Fields, Al Vanis, Rock Running, Roy & Mike McKinney, the White bros, John Clegg, & Mick Leiferman, among others.

https://www.sema.org/sema-news/2010/...liminator-1960

[oldskool]

Posted a pic of this Weidner Pontiac '68 Ram Air II Bird.

While searching for something else, I just ran across this statement. If I've already posted it, just forgive & move on.

"...Special ordered by Weidner Pontiac in Mansfield, Ohio and campaigned by the dealership owner’s son, Pete Weidner Jr. in NHRA’s B/Stock Automatic class during the 1968 drag racing season. It was raced for only one season..."

I've noticed that since they moved these Pontiac threads to the Nostalgia section, I get very few answers to any questions. For most questions, it's total crickets.

It's like very few guys ever even look in this section. Maybe the powers that be got tired of seeing these Pontiac threads keep popping back to the top, in the Stock/SS section.

Oh well, I enjoyed lookin up all the info & learned a LOT I didn't know, from guys who actually saw these old Pontiacs race, & from some who actually raced 'em.

So, to all who have contributed to these Pontiac threads, THANKS ! I really appreciate it !

[oldskool]

The Biondo '77-'78 Firebird Stocker has been around for quite a few years now. I know for sure that Peter & Sal both drove it some. Don't have a clue how many different drivers the car has had.

But, this past weekend, Dylan Biondo was the driver. He had a pretty good weekend. He was R/U in the 2nd chance race, & on Sunday, he won the bounty for eliminating Saturday's race winner.

Maybe Dylan will be the next Biondo driving star.

Also noticed that "Hatari!" is on the Bird. So, I assume that Phil Monteith had a hand with the engine in the car.

[Alan Nyhus]

Norm Warling was running the 421-405 combo in E/SA last weekend at the MCR event in Kearney, Ne.

[oldskool]

Some videos were posted in the Stock/SS section. They feature mostly Ford, Mopar & Chevy. BUT, I'm glad I scanned 'em. There are some Pontiac Stockers, which I don't think I've seen in action.

This 1st one is from the Spring Vegas race, in 2002. The 1st pair of cars on it includes the Mulry/Aceves '74 Formula, with Bob Mulry driving. As I've mentioned, this car was a record holder in 3 different classes. It was #1 qualifier at lots of races, & ran more than 1.5 sec under, at several races.

At about the 7:35 point, there is a black '67 Bird. It was driven by Rod Keeney. IIRC, this is the same car that Randi Lyn Shipp has been driving, for several years now.



This 2nd video is from that same race. @ about the 2:55 point is Larry Maxwell driving his '72 Formy. @ about the 3:57 point is Rod Keeney's '67 Bird again. @ about 14:06 is Larry Maxwell again.



Here's the Stock Q-list from that race.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2002#indextop

This 3rd video is from the 2003 Summit Nats. @ the 1:56 point is Rod Keeney again.

@ the 9:41 point is John Schloe driving his '69 Bird. As far as I know, it's the only '69 Bird Stocker still active, today.



Here's the DRC Q-list from that race. There were several Pontiacs on the list.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2003#indextop

Here's one from the 2001 Summit Nats. @ the 10:34 point is Scott Burton blasting off, in his early 2nd gen Bird. He ran this car as several different year models. The last, of course, was a 1970, which became the quickest Pontiac powered Stocker, ever.



@ this race he was running it as a '73 model, in G/SA.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2001#indextop