The Class Racing Podcast with Aaron and Chuck

33. George Cureton – “Tokyo Rose” NHRA 1967 World Champ

1967 was the golden era of Junior Stock racing. And it was a great year for George Cureton. With the help and guidance of Alex Jarrell, one of the sharpest racers and builders on the East Coast, George built his “Tokyo Rose” 1956 Chevy Sedan Delivery to race in the hotbed of Stocker country, The east coast. Powered by a Jenkins Competition engine, the car ran 2 tenths of a second under the national record on its first run at Cecil County Drag-O-Way. At his first National event, the Springnationals at Bristol, George won class and wading through a tough field to make it to the final where he was runner up. A third-place finish in Division 1 points qualified George for the World Finals. After qualifying #1, he advanced thru the field to become the Stock Eliminator World Champion just as a thunderstorm drenched the strip at Tulsa. George surrounded himself with some of the sharpest racers and mechanical experts in the Tri-State area like the Jarrell Family, Fred Borcherdt, Shallcross Brothers, Wheatly Brothers, John Thropp, Bill Jenkins and many more of the “Who’s Who” of East Coast Stocker racing. These were fun times for George and his friends who usually raced three times a week at different tracks in the area. George wanted the best, and he sought out the best race cars that were proven winners. He bought Bobby Warrens 69 Nova just hours after it won the World Finals. He later bought Garley Daniels’ Super Stock/O 1966 Nova. This connection to these legendary North Carolina racers made George even more competitive. To this day, George remains as the youngest ever NHRA World Champion as he was just 21 when he won that title back in 1967.

32. Will we race again in 2020 and Allstar team fun!

Aaron and Chuck discuess the Covid-19 pandemic and how it has affected the racing world. They give predictions on start dates and possible changes for the series. They also pick Stk/SS Allstar teams in response to the ESPN hit documentary series The Last Dance.

31. Al Corda Indy Winner and 2 Time World Champ

With a racing career spanning 52 years and 20 different race cars, Al Corda remains one of the toughest competitors that any racer could find in the other lane. Als’ Stock eliminator win at the NHRA 1971 Indianapolis Nationals put him on a path that would deliver 2 NHRA World Championships and 14 NHRA National Event wins. Al is not your stereotypical drag racer. He’s a mechanical engineer with a graduate business degree that decided early in life that to make it big he needed to control his own destiny. That plan led him to buy his own drag strip in Wisconsin in the mid-70s. Al started his racing career with a succession of Max Wedge Mopars and used a Hemi powered Challenger to win his first World Championship in 1986. Always one to have an eye for the most competitive combination, Al made the leap to modern fuel injected GM Firebirds in 2000 and continues to race an LS powered COPO today.

30. Dave Boertman 5 Time World Champ

Dave Boertman was one of the first touring professional Sportsman Racers. He is a 5 time NHRA World Champion with 17 NHRA National Event wins and 17 IHRA National Event wins. Dave was elected to the Car Craft All Star Team 5 times in both the Stock and Super Stock categories. Dave starting following the NHRA circuit in 1966 with a K/S 59 Chevy powered by and 283 2 barrel combination. That car took Dave to the NHRA Stock World Championship Title in 1968. After Dave's early success as World Champion in '68 and after winning the Division 3 Stock Eliminator championship in 1969 & 1970, along with national event wins at York, Pennsylvania and Indy, he caught the attention of Gil Kirk who owned "The Rod Shop" who was putting together a "Super Team" to go racing with the Dodge Division of Chrysler Corporation. In his first year in the Rod Shop Team in 1971 Dave had his best year ever when he won more races than he lost. After winning the 1977 World Finals in the Rod Shop Challenger, Dave took some time off from his frantic racing schedule. Gil Kirk Called again in 1985 to invite Dave to come back to the Rod Shop Team this time driving and Pontiac Firebird Super Stocker. And in 1985 Dave won his fifth NHRA World Championship title. Dave has a great outlook on his racing. For him it wasn’t so much about the money but instead the recognition of what he accomplished – as he puts it ...."it was the pat on the back that made the difference".

29. Cal Method, West Coast Legend Part #2

In this episode of the Legends of Sportsman Drag Racing, the Cal Method interview continues and he recounts his racing experience that dates back to the early 60s. Cal and his wife Maryanne are likely the most successful husband and wife team in all of sportsman drag racing. In his own words, Cal has been obsessed with Stock and SS racing since the mid 1960’s. It was his experience at the 1966 Winternationals that created that obsession ………….and from that point on…he was completely focused on Stock and SS racing. Cal knew he could outwork and out-think his competitors. And that showed in his racing program. Collectively Mary Ann and Cal have raced in 72 NHRA National and Division final rounds and have set over 200 national records. This is a two episode series packed with great stories from Cal. We hope you enjoy these.