Drag Racing Know How(e)

The sport of NHRA Drag Racing has so many classes it boggles the mind. Having said that there is no doubt that NHRA Super Stock is one category that is just about everyone’s favorite.

Maybe it’s because of the giant “bumper scraping” wheelstands? Maybe because of the close competition? Or, the variety of machinery within the category? Could it be the qualifying “gamesmanship” between the competitors? Whatever the case, Gary Howe’s classic 55 Chevy “shoebox” is one car that people love to watch perform.

(Photo credit: Jim Doyle-See It Imagery)

Originally the car was built by Carl Downard and his son Scott to compete in Super Stock. The father/son team’s attention to detail resulted in a car that could win at any car show in the country.

Carl drove the car to an NHRA National Record and a Best Appearing Car Award at a Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at his home track Firebird Raceway in Boise, ID.

After watching this award winning 55 at various races throughout the northwest, Gary Howe eventually approached Carl about purchasing the iconic 55 Chevrolet. A deal was struck between Howe and Downard and the rest as they say “is history”… The two became good friends and traveled to numerous events together…. With Howe setting two NHRA National Records and winning the NHRA Northwest National Open Series in 2010.

Howe campaigned the car as originally built by the Downard’swhich included a 4-link/coilover rear suspension system with 10.5” wide tires. Most of the original chassis work was done by Dennis Blackstone. This setup worked well as long as the prevailing track conditions allowed the high RPM Small Block Chevrolet and 4 Speed transmission to transmit power to the ground. To be honest, at times it was a challenge…
Due to the cars somewhat inconstant “performance” tractionwise, Gary made the executive decision to modify the car to allow the use of much larger 14” Drag Slicks in place of the inadequate 10.5” versions.

To stay NHRA Super Stock legal, modifications to the trunk floor, wheelwells and frame are somewhat limited and care must be taken to stay in accordance with the guidelines set forth by the NHRA Rulebook. After much deliberation, Gary chose Ron Pircey Enterprises to perform the needed modifications. Ron worked with Gary to formulate a plan that closely aligned with the rules while allowing the desired stance and wider tires.

Here are a couple of “before” photos to show what the car looked like before the modifications get underway:

It was decided that to stay in accordance with the rules, the original steel wheelwells would be “widened” instead of simply replacing them. And that any material removed from the trunk area would be replaced with the same gauge steel material.

It all began with the removal of portions of the stock rear wheelwells and some of the trunk floor.

The “rear section” of the existing frame was removed and set up on a jig table so that it could be narrowed to fit the much wider rear rubber. Care was taken to keep everything in proper alignment.

The newly modified rear frame section was then mounted back into the body of the car, along with additional trimming of the stock trunk floor.

A new 9” Ford Housing with a backbrace was built to match the newly relocated suspension mounts and the narrower rear frame section. The last photo of this group shows the “alignment bar” that keeps the housing straight throughout the welding process.

The rear down tubes of the Roll Cage had to be relocated to attach to the now narrower rear frame.

The final steps included the construction of new steel tin work to close in the modifications that were made to the rear floorpan.

The car was then reassembled and put back on its feet.

Gary’s newly modified car made its NHRA Divisional Event debut at the Seattle Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series this year and promptly won the prestigious “Best Engineered Car Award” as determined by the NHRA Technical Staff!!