Archive Image Dave Whitcomb 69 Daytona

[nascarxx29]

What became of it?
http://www.mstrc.com/index.php?showtopic=31842
http://www.wirphotos.net/photos/displayimage.php?pid=3923&fullsize=1

[Richard Cranium]

During the week, the pit crew payed Dixie for race gas money.

[Aero426]

Dave Whitcomb was a Sunoco station operator in Valparaiso Indiana.   He ran the USAC series for quite a few years.  He started building his own car with the help of Nichels parts in 1963.   That car lasted a good long time and reportedly was updated as far as a 68-70 Charger.    

Sometime in 1970, Dave hooked up with Phil Howard who operated a chain of photo processing stores.   They had the Daytona which I believe to be a 68 or newer Nichels car.  Howard owned the car and they raced it through 1971.  

For 1972, Howard decided to hire Lem Blankenship from Iowa to maintain and race the two cars, and Dave went back to driving his own car.   Lem says he moved to Indiana and they rebodied the Daytona as a  '72 Charger and it became the dirt car.    They also bought what they thought was a newer car from Nichels as a speedway car, but it didn't handle, and they later figured out it was a rebuilt car that had been around the block.   Phil Howard was trying to get a deal going with Bank of America and go big time.   That deal fell through and they stopped racing after 1972.    Lem says the cars stayed in Indiana and does not know where they went.   Most likely both cars were raced to oblivion.  

Dave Whitcomb's son Zane is a DSAC member.    Dave passed away a number of years ago.

[Mopar John]

Daves son Zane is a good friend of mine. Dave and Zane helped me build one of my earlier drag car engines. Dave was featured in one of the stockcar racing newspapers and during one of his summer visits he autographed it for me!

[held1823]

one of my favorite old stockers due to its Indiana connection, and ironically the 1/32 vinyl wrapped carrera i missed out on adding to my fleet.
i wonder if his son is the one i lost out to on the auction?

[wingman(22)]

I have a question. I remember talking to Pat McKinney years ago about a Daytona he said was my fathers. It was found in the midwest. He said there was gold on the wing and red on the car when they got below the surface paint. I have never seen a car with the same colors as my dads. Is it possible that the McKinney Daytona was this car? It would be nice to know exaclty where Pat found the car.
Bill

[Aero426]

Bill, I don't think McKinney's car was found in Daytona trim.   What do you remember about that?   Other people have mentioned to me the possibility of mistaken identity on the #22.   Lem Blankenship says the car was retinned as a '72, but if other parts of the car were red and gold, they could be "discovered" years later.

[wingman(22)]

Doug,
It has been a long time since I spoke to Pat. I swear he said he found the car and the wing and nose were not on it. But I thought I remember him saying it was in the barn and not on the car. Does anyone know exactly where his car was found?
Bill

[nascarxx29]

1969 Dodge Daytona Charger NASCAR
This Dodge was found in a barn inn Midwest in the early 90′s by Pat McKinney of Simi Valley, California. When found it was wearing 1970 Charger front sheet metal but all Daytona sheet metal (wing, nose cone, rear window plug, etc.) was with the car. No chassis number could be found, but gold paint was found on the body and wing, therefore it was believed to be the Mario Rossi/Bobby Allison car raced in 1969-1970.

http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z9079/Dodge-Daytona-Charger-NASCAR.aspx


http://www.barrett-jackson.com/application/onlinesubmission/lotdetails.aspx?ln=1335&aid=53&pop=1

[zane]

The # 8 dodge daytona was owned by Phil Howard of Fort Wayne IN.  Dave Whitcomb drove the 1971 season for Howard. In 1972 it was rebodied, but I have no idea as to what happened to the body parts.

[Aero426]

Zane, is it true that the Daytona is a different chassis from the '70 Charger?    I have read that the Charger owned by your dad was rebodied from a much older car.

[wingman(22)]

I hate to ask again but where was the Mckinney car found? And what if the car is proven not to be one of my fathers cars. What does the new owner do?
Bill

[nascarxx29]

Midwest but not certain location given?

[zane]

Zane, is it true that the Daytona is a different chassis from the '70 Charger?    I have read that the Charger owned by your dad was rebodied from a much older car.

The charger owned by my dad was a different car than the Howards photo lab cars. 1 daytona, 1charger 500.
Dad's car started as a belvedere test car for Ray Nichels.

[zane]

one of my favorite old stockers due to its Indiana connection, and ironically the 1/32 vinyl wrapped carrera i missed out on adding to my fleet.
i wonder if his son is the one i lost out to on the auction?

I am in possession of the 1/32 vinyl wrapped carrera bought off ebay. It was a gift from my daughter.

[hemigeno]

When did Goodyear switch over to the large-logo tires?

[Aero426]

When did Goodyear switch over to the large-logo tires?

This was taken April of '70 the weekend of the spring Talladega race, so it has to be starting around this time.

[Mopar John]

Zane, is it true that the Daytona is a different chassis from the '70 Charger?    I have read that the Charger owned by your dad was rebodied from a much older car.

Here is another picture of Dave Whitcomb in action with his 1970 Charger. In the write up it states he finished 7th the year before and thus the number 7 on his car. I am assuming that was with the Howards Photo Lab cars. I have seen several of Daves cars and they always have numbers in the single digits! To me for an independent to finish that well he must have attended most of the USAC races and been a pretty good driver!
Mopar John

[Aero426]

The number 7 Charger was Dave's own car, and it came before the Howards Photo Lab car.   So the 7th in points came in 1969.    The car he ran in 1971 was #8, so he must have been 8th in points in 1970.   I have not been able to look up where he finished in 1971.

[zane]

The number 7 Charger was Dave's own car, and it came before the Howards Photo Lab car.   So the 7th in points came in 1969.    The car he ran in 1971 was #8, so he must have been 8th in points in 1970.   I have not been able to look up where he finished in 1971.

Dave Whitcomb finished 4th in the 1971 USAC points

[Aero426]

If my thinking is correct, the #12 car directly below later became Dave's 1970 Charger.

[zane]

If my thinking is correct, the #12 car directly below later became Dave's 1970 Charger.

You are correct. The # 7 charger is the #12 rebodied.

[Aero426]

This one is from Mosport in Canada, eh?

[FJ5WING]

The 70 Ford is such a great body!

[Aero426]

The 70 Ford is such a great body!

It's not bad.  Here's Jack Bowsher #21 and Roger McCluskey engaged in hand to hand combat at Milwaukee.   These old cars still had some body roll to them.