Barracuda Buzz!

The deep tradition of Plymouth’s classic Barracuda body styling continues to stand up to the test of time. The 2008 drag racing season has produced more fantastic examples of its on-going popularity.

Words and Photos: Bruce Biegler

Most Vicious Barracuda Yet

In a very high-level season development, West Virginia’s Bucky Hess, regarded as one of the premier racers within drag racing’s spectacular SS/AH class, is now armed with his most vicious Barracuda yet.

Hess and his son, Travis, have been very busy over the past six months. The result of their efforts is a new 1968 HEMI® Barracuda, the 4th in a line of Barracudas that Hess has campaigned in his career.

Built by California’s Phil Mandella to 25:5 chassis specifications and featuring a potent HEMI engine program by Joe Clark, Hess is optimistic that this new car can keep him at the performance forefront for the category.

“Because of this car’s capability we have had it built to the next level of specification, including a full Funny Car type roll cage,” Bucky revealed. “We ran a (still standing) record 8.463 secs at 156.60 mph with our previous car. With this, depending on the conditions, we could run in the eight thirties.”

Hess acquired his newest car from Louisiana’s Joe Teuton last summer. It is in fact an original A990 car. He began assembly during January of this season and the car hit the track for the first time in June.

“The body on this car is about as cherry as I’ve ever seen,” he continued. “The sheet metal is just like it came off the assembly line back in 1968. In my opinion Phil Mandella is the best chassis builder out there and Joe Clark is by far the best engine builder. In my mind we have produced the perfect storm.”

The car’s final finish is yet another story and a true testament to the artistic skills of his son Travis (affectionately known as “Tookie”). The all new Barracuda took Travis 160 hours to prepare and paint and is a stunning reflection back to the period correct Funny Car look of the later 1960s and early 1970s.

Dennis Radford Roars

Oregon’s Dennis Radford has also been pleasing legions of Mopar® drag racing fans this season with his totally unique stock influenced Pro Modified 1970 Barracuda.

Radford, who has been a long time Mopar racing proponent, campaigns his machine within the fledging and fast expanding new ADRL (American Drag Racing League), in their Pro Nitrous category.

Radford’s creation features a specialty built 800 cid billet Mopar engine, which is nestled within a Jeffers Pro Cars chassis. The car, which in fact made its public debut late in 2007, is very stock looking, which is something Radford was meticulous and careful with during preparation.

“When I was growing up I had a friend who had a brand new AAR 1970 Barracuda,” Radford revealed. “He and I terrorized Southern California with that car and those memories have stuck with me. So once I heard that Jeffers was building these bodies I started working towards it and immediately a replica Barracuda came to mind. That was a very unique car— I believe they only made about 2,700 AAR versions. We have period correct paint and trim and even a vinyl top and reproduction hood pins.”

The fan reaction to Radford’s Barracuda is, as should be expected, pretty well over the top.

Radford’s drag racing campaign is a continuing and very successful partnership with another popular and long time Mopar brand drag racer, Kentucky’s Billy Harper, who runs an equally spectacular Dodge Viper, also within the ADRL Pro Nitrous category. Together they have been dominant on the ADRL scene, winning events and leading the championship points.