THE CHEVY II was the second most successful car in the 12-year history of NHRA Modified eliminator. With a total of 13 wins in 110 NHRA national events, the Chevy II (and its Nova successor) was second only to Corvette, which scored 20 victories. Five drivers posted Modified wins with Chevys compact: Cotton Perry (H/MP Chevy II, 6 wins) Garley Daniels (C/SM Chevy II, 2 wins) Buddy Owens (E/MP Nova, 2 wins) Dick St. Peter (F/MP and G/MP Nova, 2 wins) Joe Lemley (J/G Chevy II, 1 win) The little shoebox Chevys were ubiquitous in the Modified staging lanes. The roster of Chevy II Modified racers included Lee Shepherd, Larry Nelson, Rick Houser, Ray Allen, Pete Smith, Steve Nolan, Bennett & Sirianni, and dozens more. Three generations of the Chevy II were represented in the NHRA Modified winners circle. Joe Lemley notched the marques first victory in Modified when he won the 1970 U.S. Nationals with his first-generation (1962-65) J/Gasser. Cotton Perry was the most prolific Modified racer with the second-generation 1966-67 Chevy II, scoring six wins with the Perry & Headrick Pocket Rocket powered by a six-cylinder engine. Garley Daniels was the only driver to win a Modified championship with a Chevy II, taking the title with his victory at the 1979 World Finals. Daniels also won the 1980 Cajun Nationals with his C/SM terror. In 1968, the wheelbase grew to 111 inches and the shell sprouted a subframe that carried the engine and front suspension. The following year, Chevrolet dropped Chevy II and Nova was promoted to the nameplate for the entire third-generation (1968-74) lineup. Buddy Owens posted back-to-back wins at the Gatornationals and Springnationals in 1971 with his unlettered black E/MP 68 Nova. Northwest racer Dick St. Peter drove his heavyweight 68 Nova to wins at the inaugural 1975 Fallnationals (F/MP) and the 1979 Winternationals (G/MP). At first glance, the Chevy II seemed an unlikely candidate for Modified stardom. The early cars were cheap and boxy, with the aerodynamics of a proverbial brick. The early Chevy IIs 110-inch wheelbase was unfashionably longer than the wheelbases in Corvettes and Camaros. The shock towers intruded into the engine compartment and impinged on the headers, while the steering linkage required an oil pan with a front sump for clearance. But the Chevy II had unmistakable charms that made it the car of choice for many Super Stock and Modified competitors. The 1962-67 unibody cars were lightweight and simple, with a high engine location and a long rear overhang that enhanced traction, especially with restricted tire widths in Super Modified. There was room under the engine for a horsepower-enhancing big-box oil pan (providing the drag link was routed through a tube in the pan). The floorpan and trunk could be easily modified to accept wide tires and reinforced with commercially available frame and roll bar kits. The 68 and later cars were virtually a sedan version of the Camaro/Firebird, and could utilize many of the chassis components developed for F-body cars. Chevy demigod Bill Jenkins proved that the Chevy II could be a contender when he campaigned the original Grumpys Toy in A/Stock in 1966. It didnt take long for the Chevy II and Nova to shine in Modified eliminator.
Posted on: Tue, 28 Oct 2014 14:47:42 +0000
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