How many 426 Hemi NASCAR/ARCA engines built?

[rustafarian]

Like many others,  I check out the old pix at a couple websites. 
Please don't think I'm trying to redirect traffic for my own gain,  I have nothing to do with either one.

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=289913&page=128
http://www.floridastockcars.com/gallery3/main.php

There sure were a lot of Hemi cars on those tracks back in the day. 
I'm sure only a miniscule percentage survive today,  but how many engines were out there? 
And there's no 440 cars in any pictures,  did they run any in either series?

ARCA drivers,  were they factory sponsored, or were these guys chewing up regular production Hemi cars?

Hope I posted this in the right forum,  move if necessary.

[tan top]

awesome links !! fantastic photos !! thanks for posting the links

[Aero426]

Every major stock car series had factory support from Chrysler to some degree.   Around 1970, the ARCA supported driver was Ramo Stott.   IMCA was Ernie Derr.   USAC was Norm Nelson for Plymouth and the Ray Nichels Dodge of Don White.    I don't think there is any way to say how many Hemi engines were built,  but each of the factory teams wound up with several engines at various states of readiness over time.      The true independents probably had one or two.   But at the time,  parts were plentiful and used parts trickled down to the lesser teams.   Getting an engine, or borrowing one from a competitor wasn't much of a problem if you needed one.   

[hemi68charger]

Thanks for the Florida Link... I pretty much grew up as a toddler at Palm Beach Fairgrounds Speedway....  My Dad raced there........ 

Troy

[nascarxx29]

Didnt come across any totals.But saw this article
http://www.moparmusclemagazine.com/thehistoryof/mopp_0503_nascar_racers_paul_goldsmith_ray_nichels_interview/index.html

[tan top]

Didnt come across any totals.But saw this article
http://www.moparmusclemagazine.com/thehistoryof/mopp_0503_nascar_racers_paul_goldsmith_ray_nichels_interview/index.html

good read , thanks for posting the link    pitty there wern't one book , with all the old grandnational guys , given interviews in 

[nascarxx29]

The only thing I ever found resembling a interview was from this older post
You can hear Cotton Owens Ronnie Householder and Ray Fox on video files just to name a few known people in the wingcar hobby from many years ago.You can play or burn a copy

http://www.checkerstowreckers.com/podcast.html

This book might have additional 426 info
http://www.legendsofnascar.com/Ray_Nichels.htm