CARPENTER'S "WORLD'S FASTEST '55" REBORN

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (July 10, 2004) – The birth announcement would read 16 feet, 2450 pounds. A rather large baby, but that is because this announcement is for the 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air Pro Mod owned by Charles Carpenter.

A "torn up" Chevy

Nine weeks ago, to the day, Carpenter wrecked his “World’s Fastest ‘55” at a Quick 8 race at Coastal Plains Dragway in Jacksonville, N.C. It was his first accident in 28 years. Since then, a lot of people have worked nonstop to get Carpenter back on the drag strip, and their diligence is nearly ready to pay off.

“I’m really happy to have my car back,” Carpenter said. “The shop looked really empty with the car out for repair and I’ve been in a grouchy mood since the accident. I’m happy today, though. The only way I would be happier is if they didn’t take all my money (to fix the car),” he joked.

Though the car is currently sitting in Carpenter’s Charlotte, N.C., shop, he still has a weeks worth of work before it will be completely race-ready since the front-end and right side were almost completely demolished.

Carpenter confessed, “I had to call in a lot of favors and the guys at Embee Performance jumped in and got a lot of the pistons and engine parts done quickly. Tommy Mauney Race Cars repaired the chassis, and Performance Auto Crafters was able to get the painting done in record time.

“It (the car) looks like it did before, just not torn up,” Carpenter said.

Carpenter was uninjured in the accident which occurred during first round eliminations. Near the 300-foot mark Carpenter hit the wall hard, punching a hole nearly 25 feet long in the barrier. His vehicle then slid across the track into the left lane and sustained heavy damage in the incident; the front end and right side door were torn off and both right side tires went flat.

A week away from being race-ready again

Racing a schedule which includes both IHRA national events and Quick 8 races throughout the Carolinas, Carpenter intends to return to competition at the July 17 Quick 8 race at Mooresville (N.C.) Dragway. His IHRA return will come at the23rd Annual IHRA Northern Nationals in Grand Rapids, Mich., starting August 12.

“All my racing budget went to repairing the car, but I’ll be back next week,” Carpenter promised. “I owe it to Embee Performance and Pat Doherty Motorsports, new sponsors who came aboard this year, and for Custom AutoSound and Buddy’s Automotive who have been with me for several seasons.

“I’ve got to thank so many people and companies who rallied behind me when I really needed the help,” he continued. “Without Ronnie Santhuff, Pro Glass, Mr. Gasket Corp., Bryan Knight, and Mike Carpenter I would likely still be on the sidelines.”

Carpenter has been racing for 30 years, all in a 1955 Chevy dubbed “The World’s Fastest ’55.”

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