BRANDON WILKINSON

National Dragster, Jul 16, 2004

Alvaton, Ky.

Super Stock * '69 Camaro

Those who wonder where the next generation of NHRA Super Stock and Stock racers will come from need look no further than 21-year-old Brandon Wilkerson. For the last few years, the Alvaton, Ky., resident has bracket raced his street car, an '02 Trans Am. In 2004, he got the opportunity to move into NHRA class racing after his grandfather Art purchased Dickie Ogles' SS/B '69 Camaro. Ogles, of nearby Bowling Green, Ky., raced the car for more than two decades, earning a runner-up finish at the 1978 U.S. Nationals with it. The car became available when Ogles decided to switch to a big-block Corvette.

Shortly after the Wilkersons bought the car, they sent it to Gary Wisecarver's chassis shop for an update that included a new roll cage and four-link rear suspension and the switch from a manual transmission to a Rossler-built Turbo 400 three speed with a Munsinger converter.

"I know this car has a lot of history behind it," said Wilkinson, who works at his grandfather's business, a shop that specializes in parts for heavy equipment. "It has been a race car since it was built in. 1969. My grandfather has been going to the races for years, and when he got the opportunity to buy this car, he didn't pass it up. I'm still getting used to driving it, but we're having a lot of fun."

The car features one of the most potent engines GM ever put in a factory car, a 430-horsepower, 427cid big-block with aluminum cylinder heads. NHRA has factored the combination to 476 horsepower, which puts the car in the SS/BA class.

Fellow Super Stock racer Jimmy Bridges built the engine using Grower rods, Venolia pistons, GM cylinder heads, and a set of Davis step headers. Though he has only raced the car a few times, Wilkerson has already run a best of 9.25 on the 10.20 SS/BA index.

As part of its restoration, the Wilkersons sent the car to William Hall, of Paducah, Ky., for paint and bodywork. The car turned out so nice that the Wilkersons have decided against putting contingency decals on it.

"My grandfather likes the way it looks, so he decided to leave it the way it is, at least until someone wants to help us out with parts or a sponsorship," said Wilkerson. "I owe him a lot of thanks for making this happen. The same goes for my dad Brian and my mother Markita."