lets have fun...who is the best Jr. stocker of all time?
 

We asked the best Super stocker, how about the class that so many greats started in. Jr. Stock... I guess you know my vote my dad Jimmy Waibel and the "fugitive"
what do yall think.


Jeremy Waibel
K&N B/SA 69 camaro
2231

Spyder Spanakos, MONSTER MASH. He's the only one still running and one of the most interesting people you'll have the privilage to sit down and talk with.
ATCO Qualifying;
62. 1009 P/SA Bill Spanakos, Christiana PA, '65 Chevelle 12.840 13.75 -0.910

I second that. Great to talk to had the privlege again at atco this
weekend.

Dennis Chapman
BF/S 1904

Dave Lebrun

I MAY BE WRONG BUT I THINK THAT BOB DENNIS WAS IN THAT ERA ALSO WITH HIS BANANA TRADEMARK STOCKERS. AND BOB IS DIFINITELY STILL ACTIVE.

Allen Lambert

I would have to say from hearing what my father always said. Jimmy Waibel was the king of the junior stocks, also Jerry Halman from Alabama did quite well during that time..

Robert Simpson

Robert S.

Again in no certian order....Could not narrow it down to one, but here are several that are on the top of my list 1. The father of stock in all areas Mr. Woodrow Josey, from mid 60's thru present era. 2. Dave Boertman, 3. Bobby Warren, 4 Bob Shaw-Master of the "out of the box combo",.5. Larry Lombardo-Later of Pro stock fan, 6. Dave Bensick-of west coast Buick fame, 7. Don McElroy, 8. And another Buick Master was Mr. Dick Baker-Stock and Super Stock. Just a few that come to mind. Myron Stutes

MYRONARL1119

Jr. Stock really lasted only about 3 or 4 years. Here on the east coast Jr. Stock was very strong. Who won the most and was the most famous or best known? In that era winning a National event really meant something since there were very few events so anyone who won one was a big name. I don't remeber anyone as being the best....just a lot of real good racers that had some success. I could name a lot of people that won big races but nobody was dominant..........

JR. STOCK LASTED A LOT MORE THAN 3 OR 4 YEARS .AND THERE WERE DEFINITELY DOMINANT PEOPLE.

Paul Dilcher

Jr.Stock 1965-1971, known as stock eliminator after 1966.

Someone needs to get you young farts together (Woodrow, Smedly, Dilcher, etc.,) or interview everyone that was a "been there done that," and get some stories and pics for a book.
It could take a couple of years but we need to archive while we can.

Maybe someone could start a website where you guys could start placing stories. That'd make it easier for some. And a blast to read.





Sometimes the best substitue for brains is silence.

I nominate Li'l George Cureton.

Mark Yacavone
Blue Streak Promotions
Old and In The Way

My vote is Ron Garey. Oldsmobiles finest.....

Paul, my point was that Jr. Stock was a term only used a few years. Many racers did very well on a regular basis but no one won a lot of events, especially Nat'l events. Now there were some very famous guys due to magazine articles. We had a lot of publications that featured these cars so they became well know maybe setting records and running fast........

I am a little old and fuzzy, but seems i remember a guy that was not dominant at National Events------Dave Boertman oh and World Champ too.

Paul Dilcher

How about Joe Allred, Tim Neja, John Dianna , Jesel Bros. Many colorful racers of the era. A Book on this subject would be great!
Jeff Ross

Paul, Boertman won regularly...your right about that for sure but that was after what I would consider the Jr.Stock era of the mid 60's

Went to my very first BIG TIME divisional race in Division 3 at St. Thomas Dragway in 1966....After winning class I drove to the staging lanes for what was then, random pairing for Jr. Stock eliminator. I was amazed by all the awesome, well prepped cars that pulled in around me. Just then a beautiful, white 1960 Buick conv. pulled up right next to me. I realized my baptismal to the big time would come from `Big Daddy` Russ Matthews from Layfayette, Indiana........His G/SA had about a hundred win stickers on it and had ` NHRA national record holder` proudly displayed on the side.. When the lane director pulled us out i got a reprieve. He paired me with a plain looking, blue 59 Chevy behind me..I breathed a sigh of relief knowing that I might have an even chance against another little guy....He beat me and went on to win the whole deal....I believe that was the first race that Dave Boertman won....For that and many other reasons he is my choice for King of the Jr. Stocks............

I hate to show my ignorance. I started going to the drags in 1981 and know nothing about the Jr. Stockers. Can anyone give me a condensed readers digest version of the rules of the class. I bet I would have liked it, I would rather watch a Pinto, Vega,or a 1950 Olds rocket 88 stocker make a "slow" pass than watch a nitro car go 330mph. Don Jackson

Basically, stock elim rules, but ,a BIT, stricter.
It was more of an "Era" thing than the rules
It was the era of pre 1960 cars that were outlawed in NHRAs 1972 edict.

Mark,
I agree with you on ?Lil? George Cureton but I would also have to include the Southern Gentleman, Bobby Warren. Also, there is a very good article on the who?s who of Junior Stock in the August 69 issue of Car Craft.
Bob Rice

Dave won Jr. Stock Elim. in four different cars that i can think of real quick. 1967 - 1971

Paul Dilcher

Anyone ever hear of Ronnie Broadhead,1960 Pontiac?

bowtie I agree 100% with getting the young farts together.... my faimly started a book on my dad's caree. I went to the old time drag racer's reuion for two years and to be able to sit in the bar and listen to people like Jimmy waibel,Randy Payne, joe tuton, Phill bonner, hubert platt was great to hear the old war stories. and if we as a young generation dont work together these stories will be gone for ever.
Lets get ESPN to do a sit down round table with some of the old greats
Like Bobby dennis, woodry josey,bobby warren,al provost,jimmy waibel,sammy pizzalatie,joe tuton,randy payne,and many more. as racer's today we take for granted that what we have is great what about the stories I have heard of eliminations going into the night and everyone took their tow trucks and turned on the head lights so the could have lights. We have already lost alot of the greats so lets figure this out and make it happen me and my wife would be more than happy to be involved to do this.. my email is Waibelcompetition@yahoo.com

Jeremy Waibel
K&N B/SA 69 camaro
2231

It won't sell on ESPN - and it will take a wealthy lover of the sport to make a good film. It would also take a fair amount of money to get someplace where a few of the guys could get together and yak. The most inexpensive way is to do something online. I still think a dedicated site would be a good idea.

Sometimes the best substitue for brains is silence.

How many of you remember racing under Search Lights, One in each lane! oh and don't forget the flagging days, remember the first time you saw a win light, not a flash light! yessss,,,,,,the good ole days!

woodro josey
I miss Buster Couch and Lex Dudas.

I remember Ronnie Broadhead. I think he drove a 60 Pontiac 2-dr. Hard Top. Wasnt he used in a Casler Tire advertisement?

Bowtie,
Jim Amos, http://www.beeonvideo.homestead.com/, has some neat footage of Junior Stockers taken by George Cureton.
Bob Rice

Marv Ripes , and what about Val Hedworth. He was pretty dominant west.. Jere Stahl, Jay Hamilton out west with Pontiac. Rowe. Lambeck and Leal both had Jr. Stock type I believe. So many good racers it was hard for anyone to dominate. Winning was #1 and a lot of hard work done. Who drove Buck Shot? Larry?
When Old stockers were ruled against many didnt bother to change to SS and most were parked.. Panel trucks especially.

Dick Butler 3529

Larry Lombardo drove the Corvette "Buckshot" and won at Indy with it as a teenager around '68. He built an H/S Chevy II that he called "Buckshot II" that was just like what I had and won with that as well. He won 2 points races in 1970 here in Div.1 , I think...... Jenkins must have been impressed with his ability to drive a stickshift. He was good........I watched him in the Chevy II win the Maple Grove points race and he turned some great times.....

Anybody remember Junior Gas?


Michael Beard
<u>Staging Light Graphic Design & Printing</u>
Duck Tape/Loctite Racing
H - I - J/CM '80 Volare 360 Magnum

Jr. Stock is back.

NO, IT IS NOT .

Paul Dilcher

...and then, there was the first Stock racer to win the U.S. Nationals AND the Winternationals at a time when there were only two or three national events per year. He drove a 1962 Plymouth Sport Fury that ran C/SA. Flat towing to Indy from Los Angeles was a challenge all in itself. Dave Kempton was hitting home runs while Junior Stock was still only a gleam in someone else's eye.

I'd have to stick with Bobby Warren. Really enjoyed seeing him out at Orlando a couple of years ago with a stick stocker. He went several rounds smoothly driving through some huge wheelstands. That was an absolute treat - watching one of the all-time greatest SS/S racers at work!

Also had a favorite from So, Fla - "the mean one"; Dempsey Hardy's "Crocagator" Studebaker. I remembered watching him beat Jack Troxell in a final at Miami-Hollywood many years ago. Really like a lot of the choices that others have made too - Cureton, Waibel, Lombardo and others.

My old partner Ray (Tex) Cook. RIP In 1979 he won 3 National events. And in 1980 was in 3 more national event finals. In 1980 he won the W.R. Grace Cup. the only stocker ever to do that

ART LEONG
SOON TO BE FRONT DRIVE SUPERSTOCKER

For the anti -Chevy folks, .....Johnny Bartlett, Salem , Oregon, 54 Buick

.......... Pontiac lovers, Ramon Lowe

Mark Yacavone
Blue Streak Promotions
Old and In The Way

My vote is Ron Garey. Oldsmobiles finest.....I would have to say that everyone on the smothers brothers team was oldsmobile finest.............pete kost, willard wright,loyed woodland,jimmy waibel and ron Garey


Jeremy Waibel
K&N B/SA 69 camaro
2231

How about Hillbilly Duncan? Three cars one engine. I can remember him around 1965-66

mike, did you get my email?
jim