The Dawn of Pro Stock

Pro Stock is a unique class of racing, and one that has changed considerably over the years. In its early years, Pro Stock was similar to the Super Stock era from a decade before, in that it featured cars that seemed to be a lot like a hot rod version of what people were driving on the street. While the engines were a little bigger and nastier than most street versions, they were not that far removed, and fans could really relate to cars like 'Cudas, Mustangs, Camaros, Mavericks, and Vegas going at it on Sunday afternoon. These mostly stock-bodied cars were, after all, what most fans wanted their own street version to be.

Over the years, as always seems to happen in racing, the original vision morphs into something completely different, and in the case of Pro Stock, that meant tube frames and flip-up fiberglass bodies that resemble nothing seen on the street. And in that, there becomes a little bit of a disconnect with the fans, whose interest in Pro Stock originated in the relative stock appearance of the cars. For this reason The Dawn of Pro Stock by Steve Reyes is a celebration of the early years, when fans could really connect with the cars, and brand rivalries were intense.

Legendary drag racing photographer Reyes was trackside at the biggest and best NHRA events from the mid 1960s throughout the 1990s. He had a unique perspective on the development of Pro Stock, as he was able to document the evolution of both the cars and drivers as he observed them throughout the season. For a genuine insider's view, Steve has gotten together his very best shots and supplemented them with some great images from his contemporaries to offer this new collection. Steve's own observations punctuate the outstanding images to give the reader a trackside view of Pro Stock's early days unlike any offered before.

Throughout the 1960s, the Stock and Super Stock drag racing classes showcased the performance potential of factory-built passenger cars. The best and brightest of the Super Stock teams were pushing the limits of the rules as far as they could, and there was a need for a special class to run these stock-bodied cars with radical modifications hiding beneath them.

When the Pro Stock class was born, a new era of drag racing came with it. Luckily, photographer Steve Reyes was there, and he documented the birth and growth of Pro Stock. The legends of the Super Stock era all stepped up and built some of the greatest drag cars to ever wear muscle car–era sheet metal. This book documents the launch, growth, and eventual parity battle Pro Stock went through, and tells some of the great stories behind the big names and fast cars of the time. The book also includes racers from the early 1980s, such as Bob Glidden, Warren Johnson, Lee Sheperd, and Frank Iaconio.

Author Steve Reyes is recognized as the best drag racing photographer of the late 1960s and early 1970s. He was at every major event and many of the minor ones as well. He’s combed through his extensive archives to put this outstanding collection together, and shares his personal recollection of the times as well. This is a must-have book for fans of muscle cars and vintage drag racing.