February 1968
Chrysler announced that the 'Special 9' would get their hands on the
1968 BO29 Race Hemi Barracuda.
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1} Ronnie Sox and Buddy Martin {Burlington, North Carolina}
Chrysler Factory-backed Racers since 1965, the Sox & Martin Team
campaigned '3' Super Stock Plymouths in 1967;
* 1967 GTX '426 Hemi' {SS/B}
* 1967 RO23 Belvedere II '426 Hemi' {SS/B}
* 1967 GTX 440 {SS/E}
Key Highlights
* 1967 'Champion' Springnationals Super/Stock
* 1967 'Runner-Up' Super Stock Magazine Nationals
* 1968 Winternationals 'Class Champion' {SS/F}
* 1968 Winternationals 'Class Champion' {E/SA}
* 1968 Winternationals 'Runner-Up' Stock Eliminator
For 1968, the Team were already campaigning the following;
* 1967 GTX '426 Hemi' {SS/D}
* 1968 GTX '426 Hemi' {SS/D}
* 1968 GTX 440 {SS/F}
* 1968 Barracuda 340 {E/SA}
* 1968 Road Runner '426 Hemi' {NHRA = A/MP} and {AHRA = Super/Stock Eliminator}
The Sox & Martin Team were 'salaried' employee's of Chrysler
Racing.
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2} Jack Werst {Morrisville, Pennsylvania}
"Mr. 5 & 50"
Chrysler Factory-backed since 1965, Jack campaigned a 1965
A-990 426 Race Hemi Belvedere {Automatic} in SS/AA.
Jack was a consistent winner in the Northeast {NED 1}
Super Stock Meets.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
3} Ed Miller {Rochester, New York}
Ed Miller and race-partner Kip Guenther campaigned a 1965
A-990 '426 Race Hemi' Belvedere {4-Speed} in SS/A.
Ed was sponsored by the 'Syracuse Region Plymouth Dealers'.
Key Highlights
* 1967 Winternationals 'Class Champion' {SS/A}
* 1967 Winternationals 'Runner-Up' in Super Stock Eliminator
* 1967 NHRA World Champion
* 1968 Winternationals 'Class Champion' {SS/B}
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4} Arlen Vanke {Akron, Ohio}
Chrysler Factory-backed since 1966, Arlen had campaigned '2'
Mopars in 1966;
* 1966 Satellite '426 Hemi' {Automatic} in A/SA
* 1963 Sport Fury - 361/265 HP in G/SA
Key Highlights
* 1966 Springnationals 'Junior Stock Champion'
Arlen also designed the 1967 426 Hemi Super Stock {RO/WO} Intake Manifold, which had a modified plenum and smoothed runners.
Also, Arlen designed the 'pretzel-shaped' Exhaust Manifold
for the driver-side of the 1967 A-Body 383 cars.
For 1967, Arlen had an incredible '5' Super/Stock Plymouths
in his stable;
* 1967 RO23 Belvedere II '426 Hemi' {SS/B}
* 1967 RO23 Belvedere II '426 Hemi' {SS/BA}
* 1967 GTX 440 {SS/E}
* 1967 GTX 440 {SS/EA}
* 1963 Savoy '426 Max-Wedge' {SS/CA}
In 1967, Arlen also campaigned his Daily Driver {1963 Sport Fury 361/265 HP}, now classed in F/SA.
Arlen had a 'sweetheart deal' with the Factory.
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5} John Hagen {St. Paul, Minnesota}
Chrysler Factory-backed since 1966, John campaigned a 1965
A990 Belvedere '426 Race Hemi' Belvedere {4-Speed} in SS/A.
John was also an {off-site} Factory-Certified Race Engine builder
for Chrysler.
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6} Wiley Cossey {Pomona, California}
Wiley was a Top Stock west-coast drag racer. Wiley was the
1966 Winternationals 'Super Stock Champion'.
In 1967, Wiley switched over to Chrysler and got a 'sweetheart deal'
with a 1967 RO23 Belvedere II '426 Hemi' SS/B car.
Wiley was also sponsored by Casler Tires and Hooker Headers.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
7} Don Grotheer {Oklahoma City, Oklahoma}
Don campaigned Mopars since 1963, with Max-Wedge cars.
In 1966, Don switched to a 1966 Satellite '426 Hemi' in A/S.
Don also ran that car in AA/S in early 1967 with much success.
Don also received a 1967 Belvedere II RO23 '426 Hemi' and
campaigned in SS/B.
Don was sponsored by 'Cable Chrysler-Plymouth' out of Oklahoma City.
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8} Joe Smith {Lubbock, Texas}
Joe was the Race Car driver for 'Fenner-Tubbs Chrysler-Plymouth'.
In 1964, Joe campaigned a 1964 Belvedere '426 Hemi' and set
the S/SA National Record.
In 1965, Joe campaigned a 1965 A990 Belvedere '426 Hemi', and
again set the S/SA National Record.
During that time-span, Joe had won virtually every Major
Super Stock Event in the South-Central {Division 4}.
Joe campaigned the 1965 A990 Belvedere in both 1966 and 1967,
where he maintained his status as the 'top' SS/AA car in the
South-Central area.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
9} Robert Nance {Ringgold, Georgia}
Robert, who went by the moniker of "Mister Plymouth" was a
Chrysler Factory-backed racer since 1965.
Robert campaigned a 1965 A990 Belvedere '426 Hemi' in S/SA.
Robert was the 'Top Dog' in Super Stock in the South Eastern
Division for 3-Years.
Chrysler announced that the 'Special 9' would get their hands on the
1968 BO29 Race Hemi Barracuda.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1} Ronnie Sox and Buddy Martin {Burlington, North Carolina}
Chrysler Factory-backed Racers since 1965, the Sox & Martin Team
campaigned '3' Super Stock Plymouths in 1967;
* 1967 GTX '426 Hemi' {SS/B}
* 1967 RO23 Belvedere II '426 Hemi' {SS/B}
* 1967 GTX 440 {SS/E}
Key Highlights
* 1967 'Champion' Springnationals Super/Stock
* 1967 'Runner-Up' Super Stock Magazine Nationals
* 1968 Winternationals 'Class Champion' {SS/F}
* 1968 Winternationals 'Class Champion' {E/SA}
* 1968 Winternationals 'Runner-Up' Stock Eliminator
For 1968, the Team were already campaigning the following;
* 1967 GTX '426 Hemi' {SS/D}
* 1968 GTX '426 Hemi' {SS/D}
* 1968 GTX 440 {SS/F}
* 1968 Barracuda 340 {E/SA}
* 1968 Road Runner '426 Hemi' {NHRA = A/MP} and {AHRA = Super/Stock Eliminator}
The Sox & Martin Team were 'salaried' employee's of Chrysler
Racing.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
2} Jack Werst {Morrisville, Pennsylvania}
"Mr. 5 & 50"
Chrysler Factory-backed since 1965, Jack campaigned a 1965
A-990 426 Race Hemi Belvedere {Automatic} in SS/AA.
Jack was a consistent winner in the Northeast {NED 1}
Super Stock Meets.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
3} Ed Miller {Rochester, New York}
Ed Miller and race-partner Kip Guenther campaigned a 1965
A-990 '426 Race Hemi' Belvedere {4-Speed} in SS/A.
Ed was sponsored by the 'Syracuse Region Plymouth Dealers'.
Key Highlights
* 1967 Winternationals 'Class Champion' {SS/A}
* 1967 Winternationals 'Runner-Up' in Super Stock Eliminator
* 1967 NHRA World Champion
* 1968 Winternationals 'Class Champion' {SS/B}
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
4} Arlen Vanke {Akron, Ohio}
Chrysler Factory-backed since 1966, Arlen had campaigned '2'
Mopars in 1966;
* 1966 Satellite '426 Hemi' {Automatic} in A/SA
* 1963 Sport Fury - 361/265 HP in G/SA
Key Highlights
* 1966 Springnationals 'Junior Stock Champion'
Arlen also designed the 1967 426 Hemi Super Stock {RO/WO} Intake Manifold, which had a modified plenum and smoothed runners.
Also, Arlen designed the 'pretzel-shaped' Exhaust Manifold
for the driver-side of the 1967 A-Body 383 cars.
For 1967, Arlen had an incredible '5' Super/Stock Plymouths
in his stable;
* 1967 RO23 Belvedere II '426 Hemi' {SS/B}
* 1967 RO23 Belvedere II '426 Hemi' {SS/BA}
* 1967 GTX 440 {SS/E}
* 1967 GTX 440 {SS/EA}
* 1963 Savoy '426 Max-Wedge' {SS/CA}
In 1967, Arlen also campaigned his Daily Driver {1963 Sport Fury 361/265 HP}, now classed in F/SA.
Arlen had a 'sweetheart deal' with the Factory.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
5} John Hagen {St. Paul, Minnesota}
Chrysler Factory-backed since 1966, John campaigned a 1965
A990 Belvedere '426 Race Hemi' Belvedere {4-Speed} in SS/A.
John was also an {off-site} Factory-Certified Race Engine builder
for Chrysler.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
6} Wiley Cossey {Pomona, California}
Wiley was a Top Stock west-coast drag racer. Wiley was the
1966 Winternationals 'Super Stock Champion'.
In 1967, Wiley switched over to Chrysler and got a 'sweetheart deal'
with a 1967 RO23 Belvedere II '426 Hemi' SS/B car.
Wiley was also sponsored by Casler Tires and Hooker Headers.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
7} Don Grotheer {Oklahoma City, Oklahoma}
Don campaigned Mopars since 1963, with Max-Wedge cars.
In 1966, Don switched to a 1966 Satellite '426 Hemi' in A/S.
Don also ran that car in AA/S in early 1967 with much success.
Don also received a 1967 Belvedere II RO23 '426 Hemi' and
campaigned in SS/B.
Don was sponsored by 'Cable Chrysler-Plymouth' out of Oklahoma City.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
8} Joe Smith {Lubbock, Texas}
Joe was the Race Car driver for 'Fenner-Tubbs Chrysler-Plymouth'.
In 1964, Joe campaigned a 1964 Belvedere '426 Hemi' and set
the S/SA National Record.
In 1965, Joe campaigned a 1965 A990 Belvedere '426 Hemi', and
again set the S/SA National Record.
During that time-span, Joe had won virtually every Major
Super Stock Event in the South-Central {Division 4}.
Joe campaigned the 1965 A990 Belvedere in both 1966 and 1967,
where he maintained his status as the 'top' SS/AA car in the
South-Central area.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
9} Robert Nance {Ringgold, Georgia}
Robert, who went by the moniker of "Mister Plymouth" was a
Chrysler Factory-backed racer since 1965.
Robert campaigned a 1965 A990 Belvedere '426 Hemi' in S/SA.
Robert was the 'Top Dog' in Super Stock in the South Eastern
Division for 3-Years.