Wheelstanding Super Stockers at the 2019 Dodge Hemi Challenge – Hot Rod

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The NHRA Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals is the premiere event for NHRA Stock Eliminator and Super Stock Sportsman racers. A class win at Indy is a pinnacle achievement for these racers who are strictly governed by the NHRA rule book. Stock Eliminator cars must run 9-inch slicks, mildly modified stock suspensions, OEM cam lift, OEM intake manifolds, OEM carburetors, and OEM non-ported cylinder heads. Stockers are placed in various classes based on weight of the car, plus the driver, divided by the NHRA horsepower rating for a listed engine combination. Super Stockers are permitted more extensive chassis modifications, big tires and more engine modifications. But Super Stock racers are also placed in classes based on horsepower to weight ratios.

Jimmy Daniels qualified in the No. 1 spot with an 8.473 at 156.66 mph driving the Ray Barton 1968 Dart. This first qualifying run had Jimmy pulling a crowd-pleasing wheelstand.

The gathering of Stock and Super Stock racers at the 2019 NHRA Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals was again highlighted by the Dodge Hemi Challenge. Special thanks to Dodge for posting the $15,000 purse for the winner of the SS/AH Super Stock 1968 Hemi Barracudas and Hemi Darts. The eliminations proved to be filled with surprising, even shocking wins and losses. But in the end, there was nothing but smiles and cheers over in the Jimmy Daniels camp. For the fourth consecutive year, Jimmy Daniels piloted his Ray Barton powered 1968 Dart to win the Dodge Hemi Challenge.

Qualifying for the SS/AH Hemi cars proved exciting. Clearly, a number of racers have stepped up their game over the past year. The Barton team remained well prepared for battle, with Jimmy Daniels and Gary Wolkowitz claiming the No. 1 and No. 3 qualifying spots. The Westcott-powered entry of Steve Comella had him at the No. 2 qualifying spot, just 0.007 second slower than the No. 1 qualifier, Jimmy Daniels. Wendell Howes and Bucky Hess rounded out the top 5 qualifiers, running an 8.551 and an 8.556, respectively. To put it mildly, the field was tight among the Top 5 qualifiers.

Eliminations in the running of the Dodge Hemi Challenge made for great racing. Red lights, bad lights, and broken parts combined to put the spotlight on hard-working, lesser-known Hemi racers. The 2019 Dodge Hemi Challenge lived up to the hype from both the racers’ and the fans’ perspective. Congrats to 4-Time Dodge Hemi Challenge Champion Jimmy Daniels, the Daniels family, Ray and David Barton, and teammate Gary Wolkwitz on another successful year at Indy!



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