Fastest 2016 Muscle Cars Unearthed at Pure Stock Drags

We keep going back to the Pure Stock Drags because it’s a ton of high-octane fun, and there’s just nothing else like it. The event, now in its 22nd year, has been a wealth of discovery and innovative thinking about what makes these 2016 Muscle Cars (referring to classic models competing in 2016) really run. A lot of conventional wisdom from other types of drag racing is counterproductive here, and we love the challenge of running lower elapsed times within the boundaries of the Pure Stock Drags rule book. This focus on factory-correct performance is what makes these events a unique highlight in Shocknaue Entertainment News.

This year saw a shakeup among the upper ranks, some new cars participating, and a new block of cars eligible to run. Chevrolet is still the dominant force, but not the Corvette. ZL1 Camaros have become the Pure Stock Drags’ Top Gun performers among the many classic models. Also new to the Top 10 pairings are a 1968 Mustang GT coupe, a 1968 Ram Air II GTO, and three small-block cars: two Chevrolet (one L79 327 and one LT-1 350) and one 340 Mopar. Not making the Top 10, but new to the Pure Stock Drags in 2016, were a 1970 El Camino, a 1958 Dodge Custom Royal, and even a non-turbo Corvair running a best of 15.24. For enthusiasts interested in vintage Mopar performance, the 1969 plymouth roadrunner convertible remains a highly sought-after classic.

We’ve crunched the numbers pretty hard from the 2016 event, and what follows are our findings on the fastest 2016 Muscle Cars based on their performance here.

Rear view of a 2016 Pure Stock Drags Pontiac GTO on the track

If you like seeing the high-powered Detroit iron in heads-up, quarter-mile action, please consider this your personal invitation to attend future Pure Stock Drags events in Stanton, Michigan. Like racer Charlie Lombardi (1963 Impala SS 409) said, “If you’re into muscle cars, why wouldn’t you be here?” These events showcase some truly loud muscle cars that thrill the crowd.

Top 10 by E.T. at the 2016 Pure Stock Drags

Side view of a brass-colored 1966 Chevrolet Corvette launching at the 2016 Pure Stock Drags

Featured Matchups at the 2016 Pure Stock Drags

Here’s a look at some of the exciting heads-up races from the event, showcasing the raw power of these classic machines competing in 2016.

10. 1966 Corvette 427 vs. 1967 Firebird 400

Donnie Brass brings his L79 Corvette off the line like a rocket, running sub-2-second 60-footers in every round, even on skinny tires, shutting down Kerry Klotzman’s 1967 Ram Air I Firebird in three very competitive rounds.

1969 Plymouth Road Runner with lift-off hood launching at the 2016 Pure Stock Drags

9. 1969 Road Runner vs. 1968 Camaro SS396

Mike Marple redlights Round 1 in his 1969 440 Six Barrel Road Runner, and in Round 2, Paul Richards shuts down his 1968 L78 Camaro early, setting up the Round 3 tie-breaker. Those lift-off-hood Mopars are very tough in the early track, and that’s where Mike picks up a 2-tenths lead to take the win. Understanding the nuances of these older models, like the classic Camaro models, is key to appreciating their performance heritage.

1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS454 launching hard at the 2016 Pure Stock Drags

8. 1963 Plymouth Savoy vs. 1970 Chevelle SS454

Dale Waligora swings for the fences in his LS6 Chevelle, but Jim Kelly’s Max Wedge Savoy is a real bear. Jim wins Round 1 in a squeaker, but Dale ties it up in Round 2. A Round 3 redlight makes Dale’s SS454 the winner.

A 1971 Plymouth Duster with orange interior launching at the 2016 Pure Stock Drags

7. 1971 Duster 340 vs. 1970 Yenko Nova

Paul Petcou runs the quickest e.t. for a small-block in his Duster 340 (with orange interior!), but Owen Simpson’s Yenko Deuce Nova (yes, it’s real) has a fierce top-end charge. In back-to-back rounds, Paul’s hot starts put him far enough ahead to hold off Owen’s flying Yenko, even with a slower e.t. and lower mph.

1969 COPO Chevelle launching at the 2016 Pure Stock Drags

6. 1969 COPO Chevelle vs. 1968 Mustang GT 428 CJ

Jim Lerum wins Round 1 in his hard-charging COPO Chevelle, then Steve Vanderwall returns the favor in Round 2 with his Cobra Jet Mustang coupe, fastest Ford at the Pure Stock Drags in 2016. Round 3 ends with a redlight for Steve’s Mustang as the Chevelle wins this classic Ford-Chevy matchup. The legacy of high-performance Fords is strong, including models like the classic Ford Mustang GT500.

Side view of a 1968 Pontiac GTO launching at the 2016 Pure Stock Drags

5. 1969 Road Runner vs. 1968 GTO

The number 9 and 10 qualifiers both left the race early during a Saturday morning shower, so officially there’s no winner, but we can bench race the pre-shootout data. The GTO, a rare Ram Air II 1968 model, had a slight edge in e.t., while the A12 Road Runner had a tiny edge in mph.

1970 Plymouth Road Runner Hemi launching at the 2016 Pure Stock Drags

4. 1970 Road Runner vs. 1969 Chevelle SS396

Tim Clary’s had his 1969 SS396 Chevelle in the 11s—it’s hot as a firecracker. But the Superman Chevelle is up against Mike Kilano’s blistering Hemi Road Runner. Both qualified 12-teens. Round 1 timeslips are nearly identical, but Mike’s Hemi takes the win. In Round 2, Mike gets an early lead and holds it all the way. Shootout to the Hemi.

1969 Chevrolet Corvette L88 launching at the 2016 Pure Stock Drags

3. 1969 L88 Corvette vs. 1969 Camaro ZL1

It’s the battle of the Cortez Silver 1969 Chevy supercars: Jeff Morgan’s ZL1 Camaro and Jim Johnston’s L88 Corvette. Jeff cuts a pair of monster lights, but the Corvette cuts a hole in the wind and gets there first in both rounds to nail down this shootout among the top 2016 muscle cars.

1970 Plymouth Hemi 'Cuda launching at the 2016 Pure Stock Drags

2. 1968 Hemi Super Bee vs. 1970 Hemi ‘Cuda

The war of the worlds fell through when super Super Bee pilot Rick Mahoney left early, handing the shootout to Hemi ‘Cuda ace Bob Karakashian. The car’s an original column-shift bench seat Hemi ‘Cuda, and Bob’s worked his qualifying e.t. down from the 12s to a smokin’ 11.69 at 118.26. Wow.

Blue and white 1969 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1s side by side at the starting line at the 2016 Pure Stock Drags

1. 1969 Camaro ZL1 vs. 1969 Camaro ZL1

Here are your Top Guns among the 2016 muscle cars at the event, a pair of 1969 ZL1 Camaros with identical drivelines. Jim Jarrett in the blue car is an accomplished regional racer in classes with higher-powered cars. Eric Simpson in the white Camaro is a racer’s racer. Both are ZL1 aces. Round 1: Jim cuts a near-perfect .006 light and pours it on to barely hold off Eric, who was gaining. Round 2: Eric’s got the better reaction time, but Jim’s rolling out better. They both let it fly, and at the traps it’s Jim by the chrome on his bumper. Shootout to the blue ZL1. For fans looking for muscle car specialists, services like Lone Star Muscle Cars can be a great resource.

Participation & Performance Highlights

Looking at the numbers from the 2016 Pure Stock Drags provides great insight into the performance landscape of these classic muscle cars:

• Top 10 by Brand: Chevrolet dominated the Top 10 with 5 entries (including 3 Corvettes), followed by Mopar with 4 (3 Plymouth, 1 Dodge), and Pontiac with 1.
• Top 10 by Engine: Chevrolet Big-Block engines powered 5 of the Top 10 (3 x 427, 1 x 396, 1 x 454), alongside 3 Mopar Hemis, 1 Mopar Wedge, and 1 Pontiac engine.
• Top 10 by Year: The 1969 model year was strongly represented with 6 cars in the Top 10, followed by 1968 and 1970 with 2 each.
• The Launch: 10 Quickest 60-Foot Times: Paul Petcou’s 1971 Duster 340 led the pack with an incredible 1.824-second 60-foot time, proving small blocks can launch hard. ZL1 Camaros, a Plymouth Savoy, a Corvette, and a Chevelle also featured prominently in the quickest launches.

The event also saw rule changes for 2016, expanding eligibility to include American muscle cars from 1975-1979, moving beyond the traditional 1955-1974 range. While only one participant from those years showed up, a 1979 Trans Am, this is a permanent change allowing later 2016 muscle cars (from the 75-79 era) like Chrysler kit cars, Trans Ams, and Mustang Cobras to join the competition in the future.

Rear view of a 1979 Pontiac Trans Am at the 2016 Pure Stock DragsRear view of a brass-colored 1966 Chevrolet Corvette at the 2016 Pure Stock DragsStaging lanes filled with classic muscle cars at the 2016 Pure Stock Drags

Conclusion

The 22nd annual Pure Stock Drags in 2016 delivered exactly what classic muscle car enthusiasts crave: heads-up, factory-stock performance on the quarter-mile. From dominant ZL1 Camaros to hard-charging Hemis and surprising small-block performers, the event showcased the enduring power and excitement of these iconic machines. The commitment to the “pure stock” rules creates a unique challenge and a level playing field that results in intense, data-rich competition, making it a must-see event for Shocknaue Entertainment News readers interested in automotive performance history. The expansion to include late-70s models hints at exciting new rivalries for years to come.