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A blue, red, and white drag racing car, painted with "USA-1" on its side and stars on its roofline, does a burnout on a drag strip, producing a cloud of white smoke from its rear tires. The car is mid-action, with its front wheels slightly off the ground. In the background, there are green trees, a blue sky with white clouds, and spectators watching from the side of the track.
Classic gold muscle car with 'Oden and Son Racing' on the side, launching off the starting line at a drag race event with spectators in the background.
Vintage style drag racing car with 'Chop Shop' branding performing a tire smoke burnout at an outdoor drag strip event.
Southern Rock typography
10K RPM is a Way of Life for the Southeast Gassers
By Tommy Lee Byrd Images by The Author
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he Southeast Gassers Association prides itself with authenticity and a healthy dose of “wow” factor, thanks to a fraternity of like-minded drag racers who battle it out on eighth-mile dragstrips all year long. The racing organization features a championship points series for all six classes, which include A/Gas, B/Gas, C/Gas, H/Gas, A/FX, and Super Stock. Each class has a very strict set of rules to keep the playing field even, while another aspect of the rules focuses on the appearance of the car. The bottom line is that every Southeast Gassers Association race car has a manual transmission, no matter what class it competes in. This, in itself, is enough to draw a crowd, but when you consider the outrageous horsepower these racers are squeezing out of old-school small- and big-block Chevys, it makes for an exhilarating experience, even as a spectator.

We were on hand to photograph the Southeast Gassers Association action at the 2025 Ram Clutches Nationals at Knoxville Dragway. There are plenty of Chevy combinations within each of the classes. You’ll see Tri-Five Chevys, Chevelles, Novas, and there is a flat black 1958 Chevy that gets everyone’s attention. It belongs to Todd Oden of Birmingham, Alabama, and this hefty hot rod runs in the C/Gas class, which requires the cars weigh 10 lb/ci. Todd has had a rough start to the 2025 season and had a long day of wrenching to put his “Double XX” Chevrolet in the winner’s circle. The runner-up in C/Gas was Ernie Smith in the “Saturday Night Special” Nova.

In B/Gas, it was a battle of two Novas. Ken Rainwater put the power to the ground in his bright red Nova, while Ted McKee struggled with clutch issues with his spare engine setup. Either way, it was a head-to-head final round, and another Chevy took home the victory. The top dogs of the Southeast Gassers Association come from the A/Gas category, as these cars weigh 6 lb/ci and make big-time horsepower. It was another all-Chevy final round as Leslie Horne’s 1955 Chevy called “Chick Magnet” outran the USA-1 Chevelle of Chase Howard.

If wheels-up, gear-banging, high-revving action is something you enjoy, then check out southeastgassers.com to find a race near you. There are videos all over the Internet from this racing series, but you must see it in person to get the full experience. This event series is packed with action, so check out some of our highlights from the 2025 Ram Clutch Nationals at Knoxville Dragway.

Red classic muscle car 'Runnin' Down a Dream' doing a burnout at a drag race event, with smoke billowing from its tires.
Classic red and white C1 Chevrolet Corvette modified for drag racing, on a track with its front end lifted slightly, showcasing vintage performance.
Two drag racing cars, a gray 'Iron Eagle' coupe and a red 'Red Wagon' station wagon, racing side-by-side on a track.
Classic two-tone blue and yellow drag racing car with 'Wings Etc.' branding, performing a burnout with its wheelie bars deployed.
White classic drag racing car, 'Cynthia Phillips Racing,' lifting its front wheel off the ground during a race start.
Customized vintage Chevrolet Nova wagon, also known as 'Silver Mine' and 'Stead Makin',' lifting its front wheels on a wet drag strip.
Silver vintage Corvette drag car with an exposed engine scoop, preparing to race on a track with spectators in the background.
Vintage gasser-style drag car named 'Dixie Twister' with 'Huston Platt' and 'C&A Engineering Inc.' branding, smoking its tires at a race event.
Custom black hot rod, car number '69,' with exposed front suspension, performing a wheelie during a drag race.
Vintage Chevrolet Nova drag car, car number '96', with a large hood scoop and custom paint, at a motorsports event.
Vintage muscle car with 'Crimson Clover' painted on its side, at the starting line of an outdoor drag racing event.
Vintage gasser-style red Camaro with a large hood scoop, accelerating down a race track during a drag event.
Red 'Roadside' drag racing car with a large hood scoop, lifting its front wheels on a wet drag strip as spectators watch.
Orange and silver 'Wasted Wages' drag racing car with number 63, speeding down a track with blurred spectators in the background.
Black 'Double XX' drag racing car with 'Oden and Son Racing' branding, lifting its front wheels high off the track during a launch.
Custom built classic American muscle car with bold graphics and a raised front end, performing a wheelie at a drag strip.
Vintage Chevrolet Chevelle gasser-style race car in baby blue with yellow headlights, launching at an outdoor drag event.
Vintage 'Tacky Terry' drag racing car with SS Yard branding, launching from the starting line on a wet drag strip.
Side view of a vintage orange Chevrolet Nova gasser-style race car with a large fish graphic, speeding on a drag strip.
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