Races won by the 348 and 409

[jim_ss409]

I recently read that Junior Johnson won the 1960 Daytona 500 with a 348 powered Chevy. I dodn't know that. It got me to wondering if there was a list of wins by 348-409 cars. If not, maybe we should start one. Here's a few that I've heard about but I can't say 100 percent that I'm right about these...

1960... Junior Johnson wins the Daytona 500
1961... Ned Jarrett wins the Nascar Championship
1961... Frank Saunders wins Super Stock at the Winternationals
1961... Don Nicholson wins Stock Eliminator at the Winternationals
1962... Don Nicholson wins Stock Eliminator at the Winternationals again
1962... Hayden Proffitt wins Stock Eliminator at Indianapolis
1962... Dave Strickler wins SS/S at the US Nationals

I also remember reading somewhere that a 348 or 409 powered car won it's class at Pikes Peak

If anybody knows of other wins or can make any corrections to this list please post them. Maybe we can compile a complete list.



EDIT...
I recently came across a few more wins posted by NASCAR FAN that weren't in this thread so I'll add them here. I'll also give a more complete list using info gathered from this thread...

1960... Junior Johnson wins the Daytona 500

1960... Rex White was the NASCAR Champion driving his 1960 348 Chevrolet Bel Airs

1961... Bill Patterson was the NHRA A Stock class Champion at the '61 Winternationals with his 348 1960 Impala.

1961... Ned Jarrett wins the Nascar Championship

1961... Frank Saunders wins Super Stock at the Winternationals

1961... Don Nicholson wins Stock Eliminator at the Winternationals

1962... Don Nicholson wins Stock Eliminator at the Winternationals again

1962... Hayden Proffitt wins Stock Eliminator at Indianapolis

1962... Dave Strickler wins SS/S at the US Nationals

1962... Winternationals B/Stock Terry Prince 60 348

1963... Winternationals A/Stock Strickler/Jenkins 62 409

1963... Winternationals L/P Franks Sanders 63 Z-11

1963... Winternationals B/FX Dick Harrell 62 409 w/z-11 top

1963... AHRA Winternat. S/S Dick Harrell 63 Z-11

1963... Summernationals A/FX & Strickler/Jenkins 63 Z-11
Little Eliminator

Also, sometime in the 60's, Wiley Cossey won a Stock Class
at the Summernationals with a 59 El Camino w/348.

Here's another group of winners I copied from a thread posted by Mark, (oil4kids)

A/S Ed Strick '58 - 90 mph
San Gabriel, CA. 12/29/57 - AA/S Larry Head '58 - 15.21 @ 91
Pomona, CA. 1/5/58 - S/S Bill Palri '58 280hp - 15.26 @ 99
A/S Roger Westberg '59 15.90@ 93
B/S Ed Pearcy '58 15.20@ 97
Westhampton, N.Y. 5/24/59 S/S Ralph Ezzo '59 93 mph
A/S Toky Toormino '58 90 mph
Union Grove, WI. 5/24/59 A/SS C. Fionvanti '59 14.97@ 96
A/S T. McKaliffe '58 15.70@ 91
B/SS R. Reese '59 15.13@ 95
Gary, IN. 5/24/59 O/SS Dan Hargus '59 15.01@ 98
Chandler, AZ. 5/24/59 S/S D. Dockery '59 15.23@ 95
Wichita, KA. 5/24/59 A/S B. Holley '59 15.05@ 90
Gary, IN. 5/24/59 O/SS Dan Hargis '59 15.01@ 98
Cotati, CA. 5/30/59 S/S John Parslow '59 14.07@ 97
A/S Dan Dobbins '58 14.86@ 93
San Antonio, TX. 5/31/59 A/S Clyde Finch '59 91 mph
Santa Ana, CA. 5/31/59 AA/S Perf. Assic. '59 15.31@ 94
S/S Delvaux Bros. '59 14.58@ 97
B/SP H. Proffitt '57 13.50@105
Santa Ana, CA. 6/7/59 S/S St. Sweepers '59 14.20@100
San Gabriel, CA. 12/28/59 S/S Perf. Assoc '58 315hp 13.94 @ 101
F/S James Gray '58 280 hp 14.53 @ 97
Houston, TX. 4/17/60 C/S A. Hartkoph '60 13.23 @ 100
Long Beach, CA 7/13/60 B/S T. Sturm '60 13.12 @ 108
Pomona, CA. 7/23/60 S/S AA Sales '60 13.89 @ 100
Fontana, CA. 7/30/60 S/S E. Westbrook '60 13.80 @ 103
Oswego. ILL. 7/30/60 A/SS J. Harverly '60 14.33 @ 102
York, PA 6/17/61 A/SS Strickler & Jenkins '61 13.30 @ 109
Pomona, CA 6/17/61 A/S C. Stevens '61 13.72 @ 105
C/S B. Allen '60 14.38 @ 99
Colton, CA 6/24/61 S/S Wild One '61 13.99 @ 100
Cordova, IL. 6/24/61 S/S B. Cherrington '61 14.16 @ 100
Little Rock, AR. 7/1/61 S/S C. Mitchell '61 13.58 @ 104
York, PA. 7/9/61 S/SS Strickler & Jenkins '61 409 13.22 @ 108
Pomona, CA. 7/15/61 B/S Prince/Nicholson '60 13.80 @ 104
Indy, IN. 9/2/61 S/SS Don Nicholson '61 409 2x4 13.38 @ 109
Long Beach, CA 11/7/61 U/S P. Petre '61 409 2x4 13.30 @ 108
S/S E. Olsen '60 14.52 @ 96
York, PA. 11/7/61 U/S Strickler/Jenkins '61 409 13.09 @ 114
San Gabriel, CA. 11/7/61 A/S Perf. Assoc. '61 13.44 @ 104
B/S Prince/Nicholson '60 13.73 @ 103
Fontana, CA. 6/30/62 U/S G. Hanney '62 409 13.14 @ 111
Union Grove, WI. 6/30/62 U/S W. Nugent '62 409 13.63 @105
Phoenix, AZ. 7/14/62 A/S F. Sanders '62 409 13.21 @107
Oswego, IL. 7/14/62 U/S Dan Hargis '62 409 12.88 @110
A/S Bud Richter '58 14.02 @102
Fontana, CA. 7/14/62 U/S Jack Bayer '62 Z11 12.80 @114
Fontana, CA. 7/21/62 S/P H. Proffitt '62 Z11 13.05 @115
San Gabriel, CA. 7/28/62 A/FX H. Proffitt '62 Z11 12.40 @113
B/FX Cone Chev. 409 13.19 @110
Pomona, CA. 8/11/62 S/SS Butch Leal '62 409 12.57 @111
Long Beach, CA. 8/18/62 F/X H. Proffitt '62 Z11 12.22 @117
Indianapolis, IN. 9/2/62 S/SS H. Proffitt '62 Z11 12.83 @ 113
Emporia, VA. 10/6/62 S/SS D. Strickler '62 Z11 12.05 @ 120
Tampa, FL. 11/25/62 F/X Hubert Platt '62 Z11 11.69 @ 117
Long Beach, CA. 12/1/62 F/X H. Proffitt '62 Z11 11.75 @ 117
Long Beach, CA. 12/8/62 S/SS Butch Leal '62 Z11 12.26 @ 115
Long Beach, CA. 4/27/63 F/X F. Sanders '63 Z11 11.93 @ 120
Long Beach, CA. 4/21/63 A/S T. Lacobson '62 409 13.11 @ 109
F/X J. Bayer '63 Z11 11.92 @ 121
Henderson, NV. 4/21/63 U/S Vans Autos '62 Z11 12.88 @ 114
C/S S. Greigo 348 14.36 @ 95
C/SP D. Marion '61 (327) 13.98 @ 102
Oswego, IL. 4/14/63 U/S Bures Hall '63 Z11 13.08 @ 109
San Angelo, TX. 4/21/63 A/S Byran Teal 409 12.98 @ 112
B/S Mel Schooler 348 14.31 @ 98
Long Beach, CA. 5/4/63 U/S Bourgois & Wade Z11 12.15 @ 118
U/S Terry Prince Z11 12.15@ 115
York, PA. 6/1/63 B/S Joe Gardner 409 12.69@ 112
Hobbs, N.M. 6/2/63 A/S C. Therwhanger 409 13.05@ 109
Oswego, IL. 6/8/63 B/S Bud Richter '58 348 14.15@ 101
Wichita, KS. 6/8/63 S/S Bill Clay 409 12.81@ 110
C/S Bob Coussil 348 13.67@ 101
Des Moines, IA. 6/9/63 U/S Vince Draper '63 Z11 12.30 @115
Long Beach, CA. 6/9/63 A/S T. Jacobson '62 Z11 12.43 @112
Tampa, FL. 6/9/63 S/S Bob Tucker '63 Z11 12.00 @115
Bayview, MD. 6/16/63 S/S Don Nicholson '63 Z11 11.83 @119
York, PA. 6/22/63 S/S Ronnie Sox '63 Z11 11.82 @117
San Angelo, TX. 11/9/63 S/S Dick Harrell '63 Z11 12.29@ 116
Houston, TX. 5/24/64 F/X Dan Dean '64 Z11 Chevelle 12.18@117

Dyno Don also won Stock Eliminator at Indy in 61. His car ran in O/SS,optional
super stock. However, he was later disqualified because he had the new GM valve springs that were not yet approved for use.

 

[oil4kids]

Jim


Dick Harrell won tons of races with his 61 WZ 409, 62 Z11 409, 63 Z11 409, 64 Nova 409 Z11 and 64 Chevelle Z11, the number is too many to count. I have to ask Valerie Harrell for the exact number but Im sure its over 20, the white 63 was th AHRA winternational Champ
Bryan Teal who purchased Harrells White 63 z11 also won many raceas with that car

 

[tripower]

I heard that NASCAR outlawed the 409 in the early 60's. Can someone explain?

 

[Gerry]

409 wins

Dyno Don also won Stock Eliminator at Indy in 61. His car ran in O/SS,optional
super stock. However, he was later disqualified.

 

[jester]

disqualified ?

Dyno Don also won Stock Eliminator at Indy in 61. His car ran in O/SS,optional
super stock. However, he was later disqualified.

Anyone know why?

 

[rstreet]

I heard that NASCAR outlawed the 409 in the early 60's. Can someone explain?

I'm not aware of the 409 banned however certain motors throughout history have been banned. You might be refering to a cubic limit or a multiple carb issue not allowed. I have a couple of old NASCAR books around. Unfortunately most people now consider NASCAR from the mid 70's and don't recognize the early beginngs. I'll make a couple of calls for references on that issue also.
Robert

 

[models916]

TOOOOOOO new

Don's car had the new GM valve springs that were not yet approved for use. Got disqualified. If I remember correctly.

 

[real61ss]

"I heard that NASCAR outlawed the 409 in the early 60's. Can someone explain?"

The 409 was never outlawed by NASCAR.....you're thinking of the Mystery Motor. It was outlawed and for several years thereafter the rulebook stated no 1963 427 motors or parts thereof are allowed.

Actually, in circle track racing, the 409 just wasn't real competive on the larger tracks.

 

[models916]

Believe it

All you need one guy with the right amount of money to buy into it.

 

[jim_ss409]

I've got an article from Chevy Classics and Muscle Machines (spring 1999) than has a replica of the Nalley Chevrolet 62 Belair driven by Rex White. The cars race record is written on the trunk lid...

Starts....... 37
Points....... 5th with 19,424
Wins........ 8
Top 5...... 18
Top 10..... 23
Winnings..36,245.35

It also says that this was the "only 409 to win on a Superspeedway"

I'm guessing these results are from the 62 season only.

I don't know much about racing in those days but I've gathered that Ford and Pontiac did very well on the big oval tracks but it seems like Chevys and Mopars did better on the drag strips. I'm sure the lighter weigh of the Chevys and Mopars gave them an edge on the dragstrip but my guess is that weight isn't quite as important on the Superspeedway. I also read somewhere that the first 409's weren't a lot faster than the 348's on the big oval tracks.

 

[Gerry]

More winners to add to the list:

62 Winternationals B/Stock Terry Prince 60 348

63 Winternationals A/Stock Strickler/Jenkins 62 409

63 Winternationals L/P Franks Sanders 63 Z-11

63 Winternationals B/FX Dick Harrell 62 409 w/z-11 top

63 AHRA Winternat. S/S Dick Harrell 63 Z-11

63 Summernationals A/FX & Strickler/Jenkins 63 Z-11
Little Eliminator

Also, sometime in the 60's, Wiley Cossey won a Stock Class
at the Summernationals with a 59 El Camino w/348.

 

[ROYALOAK62]

Something a little differnt was the 1961 "Pikes Peak Hill Climb" stock car class, driven by Louis Unser.
Time for the 12.42 mile race was 15 minutes and 06 seconds or 49.32 mph.

Dave

 

[rstreet]

Bob Welborn won the pole position for the start of the first Daytona 500 in 1959 with his '59 Impala 305 horsepower 348.

Rex White was the 1960 NASCAR champ with 40 starts of which 6 were wins, 25 top 5s and 35 top 10s. Rex drove 1960 Belair sport coupes with 320 horsepower 348 engines. I believe this is the best record held by the W engine in NASCAR competition.

I agree that Rex White was the most successful 348 driver. I know Cotton Owens wrenched several cars during that time and I think he did Rex White's 348's
Robert

 

[real61ss]

"I agree that Rex White was the most successful 348 driver. I know Cotton Owens wrenched several cars during that time and I think he did Rex White's 348's"


Robert,
Louis Clements was the wrench on the Rex White cars.......Cotton Owens owned and drove Pontiacs in 1960, then he retired and David Pearson drove his '61 pontiac.

 

[rstreet]

Thanks for the update Tom. I was going from memory but skipped a few cogs
Robert

 

[troublemaker427]

I know it isn't a specific race but, Dave Strickler set the first ever NHRA Super Stock record in O/SS in 1961.

 

[Speed]

Cotton drove in those days.


Rex won Atlanta (surprised a lot of people)
The stats on the beautiful gold,white,red #4 are very impressive.

 

[mike clements]

My name is Mike Clements. My father was Louie Clements. He was the car owner and crew chief for Rex White from 1959 thru 1963.
For the 59 Daytona 500 Louie built a new 58 Pontiac for Cotton Owens to drive. Cotton had the fastest "official" qualifying time for that race at 143.198mph. Bob Welborn started the race from the pole because he was the fastest on the first day of qualifying. Bob had the 320hp 348 engine.
Rex and Louie had also built a new 59 Chevy for Rex to run in the 59 Daytona 500. During the race the distributor locked up and spun, pulling all the plug wires off.

For the 1960 season, Rex and Louie built a 60 Chevy Impala with the 320hp 348. They did a lot of testing at the Mesa Arizona General Motors Proving Grounds with Zora Duntov as the Chevrolet performance engineer.
Along with the 60 Impala, they also used the 59 Impala to help them win the NASCAR Grand National Championship.

In 61 they ran the Bel Air bubble top with the 360hp 409 engine. They finished 2nd in the points to Ned Jarrett by a slim margin.

For 1962 they ran the 380 hp 409 in a 62 Bel Air bubble top. They won 8 races that year with that car. Including the only Super Speedway win ever for the 409 engine. That was the last race of the season at Atlanta.

Rex and Louie were the first guys from NASCAR to run the new 427 Mystery motor. Louie was building that engine before Smokey or Ray Fox ever saw it. Paul Prior and Vince Piggens were the Chevy engineers involved at the time. They substantiate this in several interviews also. As a matter of fact, they built not only their own Grand National car for 63, but they also built the car that Smokey took to the 500 for Johnny Rutherford to drive. Louie built the engines and carried them over to Smokey's shop where they ran them on Smokeys dyno. Those motors showed over 540hp on that dyno.

Rex and Louie were the first to use weight jacks in a race car. Louie was the first guy to build and run cowl induction. Chevy engineer Paul Prior took the cowl induction back to Chevrolet had had it put into production on certain models.

If you go to the history page on my website you can see some more photos of Rex and Louie there. www.heartbeatracingproducts.com
www.clementsracingengines.com

thanks,
Mike Clements

 

[rstreet]

Mike:
Thanks for the piece of history. I have enjoyed NASCAR since probably 1963 to now. Great work and keep us informed of old photos or stories that may come to you. Any other publications available that you recommend detailing your father's era?

Robert

 

[Ronnie Russell]

Mike, Thanks for posting that historical information. As you might guess, we are w-head nuts. Any information you wish to share with us would be greatly appreciated. So glad you are a member here now. Hope you will continue to share some of the important information that you possess. Thanks again,,,,,