Drag Racing Action Online  Images: Phil Hutchison

In addition to the NHRA action going on during the 38th annual Pep Boys Nationals, close to a half dozen nostalgia Pro Stock cars were on hand to give the fans a taste of what it used to be.

The West Coast is known for the birthplace of what was to become Top Fuel and later Funny Car, but Pro Stock, an outgrowth of production based Super Stock cars from the late ‘60’s and the Modified Production class was primarily an East Coast phenomenon with racers like Bill Jenkins, Dave Strickler, Dyno Don Nicholson, and Ronnie Sox based east of the Mississippi.

The class caught on big time with the fans and 32 car fields were not uncommon at NHRA events. After a few years of Chrysler domination, the NHRA switched things up starting in 1972 with small block Chevys and Fords competing along side of the Hemis.

Times changed and today’s Pro Stock class has little if no connection of what is available at the dealerships, but in the beginning of the class, all of the major manufacturers were represented at the drag strip and the cars looked like something you could purchase at your local dealer.

At the Grove there was a little bit of everything for the fans and the Mid Atlantic Nostalgia Pro Stock group along with other “Independents” were on hand to put on a show.

The Reher, Morrison, and Shepherd tribute Camaro owned and driven by Mark Pappas was one of the more popular cars on hand for the memory of late driver Lee Shepherd, who was killed in a testing accident, was in the prime of his NHRA career when he was taken from the sport.

Keith and Michelle Bronson had their 1989 Robert Patrick Ford Probe along with Keith Bronson Jr and his wife Lorie with the 1988 Bob Glidden tribute car along with Robert Gillespie’s Ford Racing Team Pinto representing the Ford contingent.

The Bill Jenkins 1974 Vega tribute car owned by Wayne and Judy Meli was another one of the showcase cars that looked and ran like the real thing. Driven by multi time NED winner Kevin Robb and tuned and maintained by Rich Greiner.

Not making a run during the event was the “Greek” Vega owned by Earl Redden Jr . The team really wanted to make a pass in front of the crowd, but engine problems kept the Chevy in the pits.

During Jenkins’ heyday, Maple Grove Dragway, which was close to Jenkins’ home base of Malvern PA, was used to test whatever Bill came up with and during the beginning of the class and his run to the top, Jenkins was trying all sorts of things to get the upper hand on his competition.

All the owners and drivers of these historic cars strive to preserve the legacy of all the racers that made the class so popular back in the day.

Series promoter Wayne Meli said after the event,” The fans loved the Nostalgia Pro Stock cars. Every car had its own manufacturer’s identity. Unfortunately, like NASCAR, today’s cars tend to all look the same. And who ever heard of a Chevy motor in a Mustang body?

“After Jenkins died in 2012, we brought some of the Jenkins and Old Reliable cars of Dave Strickler out to the race to show the fans what it was like and it was a success. Honoring and giving tribute to the owners and drivers that brought the class of Pro Stock to drag racing.”