Drag Racing Action Online

Images Phil Hutchison

Bucky Hess and his son Travis (Tuki) have been painting custom paint jobs for street and race cars for what seems like decades. The Hess’ have grabbed more than their share of Best Appearing awards and they can add the 2024 US Nationals to the list.

Bucky’s ’68 Hemi Barracuda, aptly named Fish Stick was chosen from hundreds of cars at the event and like most of the work they do, it’s not just “All show, no go” as the Cuda with engine builder and three-time NHRA Pro Stock champ Jason Line behind the wheel, qualified for the prestigious Sox and Martin Hemi Challenge in the #3 spot with an 8.461.

Former NHRA champ Jason Line put the “Stick” in the #3 spot with a quick 8.461



“Jason has been building our engines for a while,” Travis said. “When we built the Fish Stick it was built with a four speed. Dad is not as young as he was, and he has been driving an automatic so since Jason has experience with a clutch car in Pro Stock, dad told him to just take the car and get a crew together and race the car at Indy. They work on the car, and it stays down in North Carolina with Line.”


“Dad has been doing great with the automatic, so it remains to be seen if he gets behind the wheel of the 4-speed car. I know he could get the hang of it, but the automatic car has been running quick.”


“The clutch car is a whole lot more maintenance than the automatic. You have to pull the gearbox out between rounds and do the clutch. The Liberty trans is a lot of work and Jason is well acquainted with running that type of gearbox. We excpect the car to really pick up at the Dutch.


A pair of Tuki’s creations blast down the Indy quarter mile during qualifying. Dad in the near lane up against Anthony Rhodes


In addition to painting the Fish Stick, Travis, who channels painting greats Don Kirby and Bill Carter in his works of art, graced his talent on the Kandy Kuda and Karolina Kuda of Anthony Rhodes and Jim Hensler’s Hemi Hillbilly along with his dad’s Psycho Kuda. All were in the Hemi Challenge.




Although Line lost in R2 of the Sox and Martin Hemi Challenge, Bucky took the Psycho Kuda to the finals losing a tough one to Steve Comella.


Tuki uses his trusty BMX to get around the pits at Indy


When asked about the origin of his nickname “Tuki” Travis responded. “It’s kinda silly but when I bought my first house some twenty years ago. I was trying to remember the house and phone # and I use phenomics or letters for numbers and I used Bob Tuki for the phone # and the Tuki name stuck.”


Next up for the team is the upcoming Pennsylvania Dutch Classic at Maple Grove Dragway October 25-27. The track is sponsoring a Hemi Shootout and promoter Kyle Koretsky is hoping to attract close to a dozen of Darts and Barracudas to race for what could be some of the best track conditions of the season.