Chevrolet Racing at the
U.S. Nationals

By Jeff Romack
DRO file photos

Here are a few facts about Chevrolet's involvement with the U.S. Nationals, along with a few photos from Drag Racing Online's photo library. Bill "Grumpy" Jenkins, seen above in his "Grumpy's Toy V" Nova in 1967, should perhaps be known as Mr. Chevrolet.

- Chevrolet's first U.S. Nationals victory came in 1959 with Harold Ramsey's title in Top Stock eliminator. Ray Allen piloted a Vega to Chevrolet's first Pro Stock championship in 1972. In 1978, Tom "The Mongoose" McEwen drove a Corvette past Don "The Snake" Prudhomme in the finals to give Chevrolet its first U.S. Nationals Funny Car win.

Lee Shepherd has won the most Pro Stock titles at the U.S. Nationals in a Chevrolet driving his Camaro to back-to-back victories in 1980-81. (Jim Bralley Photography)

At last year's U.S. Nationals, Jeg Coughlin Jr. drove his yellow-and-black Cavalier to Chevrolet's first Pro Stock win at the "Big Go" since Frank Iaconio's victory in 1982 in a Camaro (pictured).