Bill Jenkins (drag racer)
Engine builder and drag racer known as the Father of Pro Stock.
William Tyler Jenkins (December 22, 1930 – March 29, 2012), known as "Grumpy" or "The Grump," was an engine builder and drag racer who won thirteen NHRA events between 1965 and 1975. He is considered the "Father of Pro Stock" and was inducted into multiple motorsports halls of fame for his innovations in the NHRA Pro Stock class, including the first kickout oil pans, Pro Stock strut-style front suspension, and dry sump oiling system.
Quick Facts
- Born
- December 22, 1930
- Died
- March 29, 2012
- Nickname
- Grumpy or The Grump
- Nhra event wins
- 13 (1965–1975)
- Education
- Three years of mechanical engineering at Cornell University (no degree)
- Inducted into international motorsports
- 2008
Facts from the source article.
Career
Jenkins was born in Philadelphia and grew up in Malvern, Pennsylvania, where he began working on a neighbor's tractor engine. He started drag racing in a 1955 Chevrolet convertible at Berwyn, Pennsylvania before attending Cornell University for engineering, leaving in his third year. He gained national recognition after helping build 30 cars that set national records. In the early 1960s, he became known as the engine builder for Dave Strickler, and together they won Little Eliminator at the 1963 Nationals with an A/FX 427 Chevy. In 1964, he and Strickler traveled to England as part of the U.S. Drag Racing team for the First International Drag Festival. Jenkins won the A/MP class in a 1965 Plymouth gasser at the 1965 NHRA Nationals with an 11.11-second pass at 130.24 mph, and also won S/SA at the 1965 Winternationals in a hemi-powered Plymouth named Black Arrow. Unable to agree on terms with Chrysler for 1966, he ran a Chevy independently, developing his first Grumpy's Toy, a 327 cubic inch/350 horsepower Chevy II. He set a class record with an 11.66-second pass and joined Chevrolet's team in 1967. After his Super Stock victory at the 1967 Nationals, he became known as the premiere normally aspirated drag race engine builder. When NHRA started Pro Stock in 1970, he won the first two events of the year (the Winternationals and Gatornationals) in a 1968 Chevrolet Camaro, taking the national title. His first car built specifically for Pro Stock, a 1970½ Camaro, was the first of the class to appear on the cover of Hot Rod magazine.
Car owner and engine builder
Jenkins retired as a driver and hired Larry Lombardo and Ken Dondero to drive his cars, allowing him to focus on research and development. Lombardo replaced Jenkins for the second race of the 1976 NHRA season and won that season's NHRA Winston Pro Stock championship despite the late start; Dondero won the AHRA title. Lombardo raced for Jenkins until 1979, finishing third in 1977 points, second in 1978, and seventh in 1979. Jenkins reduced the team's match races in the early 1980s and ended his tenure as a team owner in 1983. Joe Lepone won the 1985 Winternationals with a Jenkins Pro Stock engine. Jenkins's main focus shifted to Comp engines, used by national event winners including Garley Daniels, Steve Johns, and Bob Kaiser. He led development of GM's new splay-valved cylinder heads for the Chevrolet small block V8 engines, used in the new Pro Stock Truck category in 1998. He fitted these heads in a 358 CID engine used by Larry Kopp to win the 1998 Winston drag championship, and by other 1998 national event winners. Jenkins-built engines continued to be used; Dave Connolly used one to win the 2005 Winternationals, and Jim Yates announced a testing program with a Jenkins motor in 2006. Jenkins also built the engine Donnie Allison used to take the pole position in the 1975 Daytona 500, and Mike Swaim used a Jenkins motor for the pole in the 1987 Busch Series race at Daytona.
Halls of Fame / Awards
Jenkins earned spots in three major halls of fame: the Don Garlits International Drag Racing Hall of Fame in 1993, the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 1996, and the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2008. He placed eighth on the NHRA's all-time top drivers list in 2001. A 21-time Car Craft all-star, he also took home the "Man of the Year" and "Ollie Award."
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