NASCAR Daily News Headlines * December 21, 2008

Rare Collection To Be Sold

"Many muscle car enthusiasts and car collectors worldwide believe that the Yenko Camaro defined America's appetite for performance in the late 1960s," said Steve Davis, president of Barrett-Jackson. "Road racer and Chevrolet dealer Don Yenko learned how to manipulate the secret factory 'Central Office Production Order' (COPO) to turn the new Camaro into a formidable competitor to the Ford Mustang and Plymouth 'Cuda. The result was a special run of high-performance Yenko Camaros and later, special versions of the Nova, Corvair, Chevelle and Vegas, that ruled the roads. We're pleased that five of these rare muscle cars from a very special Yenko collection will cross the block at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale."

With only a few hundred Yenko cars ever built, they are highly coveted in today's market. Many consider the cars owned by Gary Holub to be among the most original and desirable gathered in one location.

The Daytona Yellow Camaro (Lot #1278), also known as the "Preston and Lawrence Yenko", is one of only three surviving 1969 Camaros personally sold by Don Yenko for use in NHRA drag racing. It has the COPO L72 427/425hp engine, 3-speed automatic transmission, power steering, Hurst shifter, black vinyl roof and COPO 9737 Sports Car Conversion. The car features a special ducted hood, dual exhaust, increased cooling capacity and special suspension. It is heavily documented including Don Yenko's name on the paperwork, original dealer package file, purchase order, Bill of Sale, shipper sheet, and paperwork from COPO Connection and Yenko Chevrolet.

"I've been enamored with Yenkos since I was in high school," explained Gary Holub. "My goal then was to own one in my lifetime, but I've been fortunate enough to own 44 Yenkos throughout the years. The five special cars that will be sold at Barrett-Jackson include unprecedented documentation. The Daytona Yellow Camaro, for instance, includes the original Window Sticker and dealer packet from 1969."

One of 50 Yenkos built under COPO 9560 to qualify for NHRA, the 1969 Camaro ZL-1 COPO coupe (Lot #1277.1) features an aluminum 427 ZL-1 engine, special ducted hood, heavy duty radiator, springs and a 4.10 posi rear. The powerful Yenko is one of only 10 ZL-1's in Fathom Green and is documented with paperwork from GM, Fred Gibb Chevy and COPO Connection.

The other 1969 Yenko Camaro (Lot #1277) is one of 30 built with the 427/425hp engine with an automatic in Fathom Green. The car is equipped with a special hood, dual exhaust, special suspension, 140mph speedometer and larger stabilizer bar. This car is a 10-time show winner and is documented by COPO Connection. It includes the Yenko dealer invoice, judging sheets and owner's registrations.

The final Yenko series built was a Camaro that debuted in 1981 as a Turbo Z. This particular car (Lot #1276) is number 10 of 19 and is the first Camaro to win the prestigious Don Yenko Memorial Award. Yenko Turbo Z #10 is believed to be the only one fitted with a cigarette lighter. This is a 100 percent original car with original tires, spark plugs, turbocharger, paint and interior. It is documented in the Yenko Turbo Z Registry and includes the Window Sticker and Yenko dealer invoice.

The Silver Yenko Nova (Lot #1276.1) is one of 175 built and one of only 25 with a silver exterior. The Nova "Yenko Deuce Coupe" features a LT1 Corvette 350 engine, a Muncie 4-speed manual, F41 sport suspension and a 12-bolt differential with a 4.10:1 posi-traction. Its documentation includes a Don Yenko Inventory List, COPO Connection Certificates, owner's registrations and a portion of the Build Sheet.

"Experts have said that Don Yenko wanted to be Chevrolet's answer to Carroll Shelby," added Davis. "He leveraged his success racing Corvettes and his father's GM relationship to create a series of Chevy super cars that harness some of the most impressive muscle engineering of the time."

The Yenkos will join the world's most desirable collector vehicles and automobilia to be sold at the historic Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction. Lifestyle attractions will also return to Barrett-Jackson in January in the form of luxury vendors, galas and fashion shows. Barrett-Jackson's trendy night-spot, "The Garage," will be the site of exclusive gatherings throughout the event.(autoblog.com)

GM Offers Camero In White For Racers

The basic package lists for $7,000 and includes an assembled body structure, including the front fenders, hood, front valance/grille header panel, roof, doors, rear quarters, trunk lid and rear valance. The structure also includes the complete floorpans and chassis rails.

Racer must fill out an online application to be eligible to purchase one. The form is available at www.gmperformanceparts.com. Bodies will be sold on a first-come, first-serve basis. There is no limit to the number an approved racing team can purchase.

"This is the easiest and most cost-effective way to build a race-ready new Camaro," said Dr. Jamie Meyer, of GM Performance Parts. "We envision racers using these bodies for all types of competition, from Pro Street and Competition drag racing to road racing."

The body in white includes only a painted body shell and no additional components or materials. The bodies do not have vehicle identification numbers, so they may only be used as racing vehicles that will never be licensed for street driving.

Racers will add powertrain, fuel system, suspension, interior components and glass (or sanctioning body-approved alternative), and safety equipment, then go racing.

"For the racers who would strip down the entire car and replace most of the components with racing-spec parts, the body in white saves time and money," said Dr. Meyer. "Drag racers, for example, won't have to worry about swapping out for a solid axle – they can just bolt one up and go."

The body in white's unadorned interior also saves time and money by allowing racing teams to eliminate the process of stripping a fully equipment production car in order to reduce weight and prep the chassis for a roll cage.

And when it comes to building up the body in white, GM Performance Parts offers crate engines, engine controllers, high-performance transmissions and hundreds of other parts to help complete the project – including dedicated drag racing engines and engine suited for circle track and road racing competition.(autoblog.com)

Ambrose Austrailian Driver Of The Year

2008 Australian V8 Supercar Champion Jamie Whincup placed second behind Ambrose in the Australian Driver of the Year award with 25 percent of the vote, with Aussie IndyCar driver Ryan Briscoe placing third. The Australian Driver of the Year Award was open to any Australian-born driver racing both internationally or in Australia in 2008.

“The 2008 Auto Action Racer of the Year Awards give Australian motor racing fans the opportunity to have their say on who they think best represented Australia on the world motorsport stage,” said Auto Action Editor Rob Margeit.

“That Marcos Ambrose has been voted Australian Driver of the Year for the second year in a row by Auto Action’s readers highlights that even though he is no longer racing in Australia, he is not forgotten. Ambrose’s second straight award also highlights the increasing popularity of NASCAR in Australia.”

Further highlighting the growth in popularity of NASCAR in Australia, 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion Jimmie Johnson was voted as the second-placed driver in the ‘Racer of the Year Award’, open to the best driver worldwide for the 2008 season. Johnson was also recently featured in the Top 50 Sports Stars of 2008 in the Herald Sun, Australia’s highest circulating newspaper.

“I am very lucky to have such great fans back home in Australia that take a lot of interest in my progress in NASCAR and the sport as a whole,” said Ambrose. When I first moved to the US I really wanted to help Aussie fans learn about NASCAR. The way that NASCAR has taken off in Australia has really exceeded my expectations.

“Coming back here this off-season, there’s been a lot of comments about things like Jimmie Johnson winning three-straight titles, Tony Stewart switching to his own team, Kyle Busch’s hot streak, things like that. It really shows that NASCAR as a whole is growing over here in Australia. It’s on both free-to-air and cable TV and it’s getting a lot more exposure. A big thanks to Auto Action and all of the readers that voted for me. It’s always nice when it’s the fans that cast the votes.”

Ambrose’s 2008 season was highlighted by his first NASCAR victory in the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Watkins Glen in August. Ambrose finished tenth in the 2008 NASCAR Nationwide Series, finishing in the top 10 in the Nationwide Series standings for the second-consecutive season. The Australian also made his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series debut in 2008, with a best result of third place, also at Watkins Glen, after starting from the rear.

Ambrose made 11 starts in the top flight of NASCAR ahead of running a full-time schedule in Sprint Cup next season with JTG Daugherty Racing and major sponsors Little Debbie, Kingsford, Clorox and Bush’s Beans.