Wiley Cossey

[Paul Ceasrine]

Wiley Cossey

A 'Plymouth Factory-backed' Super Stock 'west coast' drag racer 1967 thru 1969.

Sponsored by; Casler Tires, and Southern California Hooker Headers.

April 11, 1968 - Plymouth announced that Wiley Cossey would be acing a 1968 Hmei Barracuda
in NHRA SS/B Class, and that the California resident would be one of '10' other factory-sponsored
Plymouth Barracuda drag racers who would be holding 'Performance Clinics' thoughout 1968 and
1969.

Here at OCIR, California in mid-1968

SS/B Record at the time...........10.72.

[Paul Ceasrine]

By August 1968,

Wiley Cossey had won '4' Super Stock Eliminator Events in California
with his new '68 SS/B Hemi Barracuda.

Including;

AHRA Points Meet at Freemont Dragstrip
(June 29)

AHRA Super Stock Nationals at Freemont Dragstrip.
(August 2, 3 and 4)

Wiley Cossey ran a 10.73 @ 132.34 MPH in the Finals, knocking off
another 68' Super Stock Hemi car, that of Harry Holton in the 68' Dart
'Hemi Countdown'.



.

[Paul Ceasrine]

Sunday, September 1, 1968

NHRA Indy Nationals

Wiley Cossey captured the SS/B Class Trophy, when his opponent
Ronnie Sox 'Red-Lighted' and left too early on the starting line.

The Pomona, California Drag Racer took an easy Sunday Drive, as
he 'cruised' to the finish line with his 1968 Hemi Barracuda with an
Elapsed Time of {12.30}.

The winning time should not reflect what Wiley Cossey had run previously,
as he ran consistent {10.70's} with his car on both Saturday and Sunday.

Wiley now qualifies as the #1 Super Stock Entrant for the Eliminator
Event to be held on Monday with 32 other Super Stock cars.

Ronnie Sox in the 'Sox & Martin' 68' Hemi Barracuda had previously run
the Low E.T in the SS/B Class at {10.46}, but it appeared that Ronnie
purposely fouled, allowing Wiley Cossey to win the Class.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j...luaU62_xUfc6Qg

[mopar68]

Cudas are nice but B-bodies are more my style.

M68

[Paul Ceasrine]

Wiley Cossey was 'very' successful with is 67' 'RO' 426 Hemi Belvedere.

1967 ... SS/B
1968 ... SS/D
1969 ... SS/E

In January 1968 - Wiley won a 'Big $$' Super Stock Eliminator Event at
Freemont Dragstrip in Northern California.

Participants,
* Dick Landy.............68' SS/D.......426 Hemi Dodge Charger
* Harry Holton...........67' SS/D........426 Hemi Plymouth RO Belvedere
* Shirley Shahan......67' SS/DA.... 426 Hemi Plymouth RO Belvedere
* Ed Terry.................68' SS/E....... 428 Ford Cobra-Jet Mustang
* Bill Ireland..............68' SS/E........428 Ford Cobra-Jet Mustang
* Betty Walker..........65' SS/E....... 396 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu SS396
* Carol Wray............64' SS/DA.....426 Max-Wedge Dodge #330

[DeuceCoupe]

Hey all, I wish Paul were here but perhaps one of you has the answer to this. I'm trying to find out what Wiley Cossey drove BEFORE he switched to Mopar. I have:
* 1966: 1966 Biscayne L72 in W/P=8.70 class
* 1964-65: 1959 El Camino 348/315-6v in W/P=11.90 class
* 1962:
This is the mystery. The old sheets show Cossey with wins & records in the W/P=11.90 class, driving a "1962 Chevy". I figure if true, that had to be a 1962 Impala 4ds with W/P=11.93 and an overrated 327/300 under the hood. That combo doesn't seem very competitive, especially before cheater/fat cams.


I'd figure maybe it was a typo and his 1962 Indy winner & record holder was really the same 1959 El Camino, but it's pretty hard to confuse those cars, and it says "62 Chevy" on 3 different sheets.


Did Cossey really run a 1962 Impala 4ds, 327/300 back in 1962?

[Rat Patrol]

Originally Posted by Paul Ceasrine

Sunday, September 1, 1968

NHRA Indy Nationals

Wiley Cossey captured the SS/B Class Trophy, when his opponent
Ronnie Sox 'Red-Lighted' and left too early on the starting line.

The Pomona, California Drag Racer took an easy Sunday Drive, as
he 'cruised' to the finish line with his 1968 Hemi Barracuda with an
Elapsed Time of {12.30}.

The winning time should not reflect what Wiley Cossey had run previously,
as he ran consistent {10.70's} with his car on both Saturday and Sunday.

Wiley now qualifies as the #1 Super Stock Entrant for the Eliminator
Event to be held on Monday with 32 other Super Stock cars.

Ronnie Sox in the 'Sox & Martin' 68' Hemi Barracuda had previously run
the Low E.T in the SS/B Class at {10.46}, but it appeared that Ronnie
purposely fouled, allowing Wiley Cossey to win the Class.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j...luaU62_xUfc6Qg

It has since come to light that Chrysler instructed Ron Sox to lose the final to Cossey. Still unsure as to why however it is reported Sox was not happy.

[dc1320Fan]

In answer to the above post: Indy 1968 revealed some of the behind the scene political maneuvering between racers, manufacturers and NHRA. The next year (1969) at Indy Chrysler had a "team meeting" of their contract racers three days prior at Hamilton Ohio now known as "The Chrysler Mini-Nationals" to determine class by performance. Ronnie did NOT take any of this well. NHRA was not amused either. Following the race NHRA was presented a proposal from the Superstock racers to outline a future Pro/Stock eliminator. See Car Craft Nov 1969 and CC 11/68. Also Larry Davis Super Stock book pages 193-194.

[Rat Patrol]

Originally Posted by dc1320Fan

In answer to the above post: Indy 1968 revealed some of the behind the scene political maneuvering between racers, manufacturers and NHRA. The next year (1969) at Indy Chrysler had a "team meeting" of their contract racers three days prior at Hamilton Ohio now known as "The Chrysler Mini-Nationals" to determine class by performance. Ronnie did NOT take any of this well. NHRA was not amused either. Following the race NHRA was presented a proposal from the Superstock racers to outline a future Pro/Stock eliminator. See Car Craft Nov 1969 and CC 11/68. Also Larry Davis Super Stock book pages 193-194.

Great info. Thank you!