OK, from what I've recently found online, The Ken Shawver '78 SS Bird may have been the most competitive Pontiac SS Bird, over a long period of time.
Don't know how many wins it had. But it won class at Indy, many times. Monte Howard was the driver for some of those years.
I mentioned some of this earlier. But I think this car deserves a closer look. Maybe some of you guys can post about races you know that the car won.
So, Ken made the Indy field in '98, '99, & 2000. But he was in the lower half of the field. Didn't see him on the list in '01. But, in '02, he'd apparently come up with more power. He was #38, @ 1.014 under.
https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2002#indextop
In '03 he was 1.089 under for spot #14.
https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2003#indextop
In '04, he was #25 @ 1.102 under.
https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2004#indextop
He was also the SS/LA winner.
https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2004#indextop
AND, how 'bout this. In '05, he was #1 qualifier at Indy ! Let that sink in ! A 1978 Pontiac powered Firebird was the #1 qualifier at Indy. WOW !
He was 1.254 under.
https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2005#indextop
And of course, he won his class.
https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2005#indextop
In '06 he was #4 @ 1.192 under.
https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2006#indextop
Won SS/KA, again.
https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2006#indextop
In '07, Monte Howard was driving. he was #29 @ 1.118 under.
https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2007#indextop
Got the SS/KA win.
https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2007#indextop
In '08, Monte was #24 @ 1.100 under.
https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2008#indextop
In '09 he was #92 @ 1.075 under.
https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2009#indextop
In both '08 & '09 there were 2 quicker cars in his class. But here's a quote fro this year's 1st round loss:
"Big, long wheelstand for Howard. Hodge runs him down on the big end."
In 2010, he was #95, @ only .765 under.
https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2010#indextop
But he won SS/KA.
https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2010#indextop
In 2011, he was #98 @ .718 under.
https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2011#indextop
In 2012, he was #103 @ .794 under.
https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2012#indextop
So, over a 15 year period, the car made the field at almost every US Nats, had 5 class wins, and was #1 qualifier once.
https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2012#indextop
Until this thread, I'd never even heard of this car. Now, it MAY end up being on the top of my list, as the #1 hall of fame SS Pontiac. Hey, I'm glad I came !
Of course, there are other cars to consider. But if this car won lots of races & qualified near the top of lots of qualifying lists, it may be #1. Peter Biondo was a very good driver, & won lots of races. But, the Shawver/Howard car ran for a long time. May still be running. Don't know. Also don't know if it qualified at Indy before 1998.
So, I'd like you guys to help me dig up all the info you can on this car. Lets try to give it the recognition it deserves.
The pic below is what I have for Monte Howard. If this is not the car I've been talkin about in this post, somebody let me know.