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Drag Video: Watch Charlie Westcott Jr Make A Blazing Pass In His Famed “War Fish” Hemi Super Stock Barracuda


Drag Video: Watch Charlie Westcott Jr Make A Blazing Pass In His Famed “War Fish” Hemi Super Stock Barracuda

Of all the cars that you’ll see at a typical NHRA national event or divisional event, SS/AH or Super Stock A-Hemi machines are in a literal class by themselves. Their numbers are relatively few, but every drag racing fan worth their salt knows the history behind the original cars. The Hurst Hemi Darts and Barracudas were mighty in their day and through the evolution of engine technology continue to be some of the greatest strip blazers in the super stock ranks. Among the elite in the crowd are names like Barton and Westcott.

Charlie Westcott Jr is a noted Hemi engine builder for these cars and the family’s “War Fish” Barracudas have long been dominant forces on the “Hemi Shootout” trail of events that happen across the country and most notably at the NHRA US Nationals each year. The “parade of the elephants” down the return road before qualifying begins is one of Indy’s great spectacles. We’ve heard pretty good arguments over the last week that these cars are more entertaining than modern pro stockers and it is hard to argue against that. With highly modified 426-style Chrysler Hemi engines fed by dual carbs on a “cross ram” style manifold, a manual transmission, and personality in spades, these cars are magnificent.

This video was taken at the Mid-Michigan Motorplex in Stanton, Michigan by BangShift reader Jeff Lee. We especially dig it because it shows Westcott Jr on a solo pass so the awesome song of the modified Hemi can be heard with no other “noise” watering it down. The car goes 8.50 at more than 150 mph and Westcott is driving it the entire way. This is the stuff that drag racing fantasies are made of.

PRESS PLAY BELOW TO HEAR THE MIGHTY SS/AH KNOWN AS “WAR FISH” ATTACK THE QUARTER MILE IN ANGER!


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19 thoughts on “Drag Video: Watch Charlie Westcott Jr Make A Blazing Pass In His Famed “War Fish” Hemi Super Stock Barracuda

    1. Charlie Westcott Jr.

      Actually a super stock car is a long way from a tube chassis. Stock floor pans, full interior, sock sheet metal. There are alot of things wrong with NHRA, but I dont think this is one of them.

  1. Michael Jones

    Gary, The Stock, Super Stock, and Comp classes are the only glimmer of what is right with NHRA that is left. The purses are wrong, but so are the purses for the bottom 8 of all the pro classes. These cars are only back half cars, with stock pans, and only stock or NOS body panels are permitted. Hell, most of them have more complete interiors than the street cars I ran in the 80’s.

  2. jack pine

    The spirit that runs through the SS/AH ranks is amazing. I saw Charlie at Indy a few years ago… he hurt a motor but still had a chance to come back for the final round. He and his buddies swapped a motor (a borrowed motor, if I recall) in the pits, using some other guys trailer.

    I have also personally seen how the crews of the Pro teams hold the SS/AH guys in high esteem. They know how hard it is to flex a chassis, trans, motor that hard and go rounds, even with a professional crew. Dudes like Charlie do it on a shoestring budget with volunteer help.

    If NHRA can channel that kind of passion, enthusiasm and character somehow into Pro, the future of Pro drag racing will never be in doubt

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