1967 Chevelle Race Car - Best Damn Street Stock

The car is beginning to look more like a Chevelle instead of a rusted hulk.

Tommy and Sonny Ray of Ray’s Automotive in Memphis completed all of the interior and bodywork. Here, Tommy lays down a coat of primer before applying the familiar black and gold paint scheme.

The engine is 360 cubic inches but, per the rules, is topped with a two-barrel carb.

Another view of the motor shows that Tucker fabricated a pan around the air cleaner to help feed air from the cowl to the motor. It’s reminiscent of the handbuilt unit Smokey had on the original car.

While the gauges are definitely updated and the car has the bars for a dirt screen, the crossbar right above the steering column is vintage Smokey.

Another view of the finished cockpit shows the seat and wheel.

Just sitting still it looks aggressive. You can almost imagine Smokey looking down and smiling on it.

Tucker and the boys at Ray’s had some fun with Smokey’s traditional saying.

Steve Tucker ready to take some laps.

The crew from left to right: Angelo Martino, a 70-year-old architect who has assisted in designing the local Ronald McDonald house pro bono; Lynn Irwin, Technician Extraordinaire; Art Sprague, owner of Art and Larry Automotive; Sonny Ray, co-owner Ray’s Automotive; Tommy Ray, co-owner Ray’s Automotive; Steve Tucker, car owner.

The side view of the car shows some of the companies that helped Tucker along in his quest.