Backbone of Drag and Drive Part 4: Larry Armstrong, a 1939 Ford Coupe, and the Fight for 14.00 Class Wins
Usually there are some common themes that can be found in the telling of how most of us became car guys and gals. There is often a relative or friend that shows up with some automotive inspiration that makes an indelible impression. That one person in high school, or in your neighborhood, or family that had a cool car. And when the opportunity and availability of cash presents itself, you take it.
For Larry Armstrong that opportunity looked like a 66 impala SS.
And like many stories that start this way, it wasn’t long before the performance of that Impala was being tested in every context. And thus began a journey eventually leading to a week long adventure where three generations of Armstrong men were battling it out for 14.0 class dominance. I would bet that Larry would love to have something faster. Maybe running in the 10’s. In fact he does. But I would venture to say that he wouldn’t exchange that week of 14 sec passes for all the fast cars in the world. When it comes down to it, these moments come and go quickly whether you are in a “fast” car or not. But man! Memories like that last a lifetime.
His consistent involvement with this community, and his success in 14.0 class are why we are highlighting Larry Armstrong
Where are you from/live
Jefferson City Missouri
What made you start racing?
Dad did all of the maintenance on his cars and I was there with him holding the light in the wrong place from a young age. 😂I grew to like getting more performance from them.
Who inspired you to build a hot rod?
Dad, Friends and magazines.
First Race and Where?
First was from a stop light. Then on a popular stretch of two lane road. First on a drag strip was a Nostalgia Drags at the old Mid America Raceway in Wentzville Mo.
What was your first car?
66 Impala SS
Bucketlist Race or Event?
I have a lot of places I would like to go but I guess Sick Week in Florida when all the tracks in the Midwest are closed for the winter.
What's your PB and how/when did that happen?
10:40’s in my 40 Willys truck during 2017 Drag Week.
Unlimited budget..what are you building?
The list is long but probably a bad to the bone 55 Chevy Gasser.
Favorite car movie?
American Graffiti
Favorite music for cruising?
Mostly 60’s, 70’s & 80’s rock and roll.
Favorite Roadsnack?
My wife’s homemade chocolate chip or monster cookies & beef jerky.
First drag and drive event?
Drag Week 2014. Threw together an engine and trans last minute from a bunch of parts from my and friends stash. Didn’t work out so well. When we got back to Tulsa we had changed the engine trans and rear end gears.
For the story, tell us about your best/favorite event?
Rocky Mountain Race Week 2018, 19 & 20 Won the 14.0 all three years. But the most favorite was 2022 when Our son, grandson and I were all in the 14.0 class. They all finished better than I did.
Event Average:
2018, 14.017, I had 65 time slips in the glove box at the end of this event plus the 5 I turned in at each track. Was in second place all week until the last day. The three brothers that I chased all week are some of the best friends I’ve made from DnD and I look forward to seeing them and their families every year.
Behind the Story: In 2018, the Rocky Mountain Race Week 14.00 Index Class was TIGHT and ripe with competition.
For Day One, Larry left Great Bend, KS (SRCA) in Second by just 0.001 behind Sandon Slaubaugh’s 14.017, with Michael Babcock on their heels at 14.024.
Day Two, after a several hundred mile drive to Topeka, KS, Larry had his hands full, finishing the day with 4th Quickest Pass of the Class at 14.029. Michael would be quickest of the day with a 14.01, Sandon submitting a 14.011 timeslip, with Andrew Melton providing a 14.025 slip.
Day Three saw a new driver hop into the mix with Greg Jones’ 14.004 to be the Quickest of the Day (and the third quickest pass of the class for the week). Larry would again be the 4th quickest of the day with a 14.015, preceded by Greg’s 14.004, Andrew’s 14.006 and Sandon’s 14.009 - That is insanely TIGHT. Day Three was hosted at Ozark Raceway Park in Springfield, MO, more than 300 miles from Topeka, KS…..
Day Three standings are as follows: 1st: Sandon Slaubaugh 14.0123 avg, 2nd: Larry Armstrong 14.0207 avg, 3rd:Andrew Melton 14.0257 avg, 4th: Michael Babcock 14.0273 - 2nd thru 4th is separated by just 0.0066
Day Four, another huge run of more than 350 miles, hosted racers at Thunder Valley Raceway Park in Oklahoma City, OK. Not only are these racers putting up multiple passes each day, they are also more than 1,000 miles into the trip as they pull into the gate at TVRP. Larry would put up the third quickest pass of the class with his 14.02, preceded by second quickest Greg’s 14.005 and Sandon’s 14.003. Day Four Standings: 1st Sandon 14.01 Avg, 2nd Larry 14.0205, 3rd Andrew 14.0338.
After an untold amount of passes, and more than 1200 street miles, Day Five would make all the difference. Larry needed to run anything 0.042 quicker than Sandon to move into First Place, as long as he was no slower than 0.025 slower than Andrew’s pass. He had a 0.067 Second window to either lockup First or slide to Third….
Day Five would see Larry’s best pass of the week at 14.003, a tie for the classes quickest pass of the week as well. This would lock up the Class Win for him, finishing with a 14.017 average. This win would kickoff a Three-Peat for Larry in the 14.00 Index Class. Andrew would put up a 14.007 for the day.
Final Standings: 1st: Larry Armstrong 14.017 avg, 2nd: Andrew Melton 14.028 avg, 3rd: Michael Babcock 14.033 avg, 4th: Sandon Slaubaugh 14.037 avg, 5th: Marten Lawrensen 14.103, Honorable Mention: 6th: Greg Jones 14.139 avg, if he had submitted anything quicker than 14.071 on Day 1 (instead of a 14.6), he would have placed Top Three. - Written by Mike Narx
Tell us about your vehicle:
Year, Make, Model: 1939 Ford Coupe
Powertrain Combo at time of Event:
Engine: 327 Chevy
Transmission: 700r4
Rear Gear: 4:56
Power Adder: My right foot
Tires: ET Streets
Vehicle History:
How long have you had it?
since 1981
How many races have you attended in this vehicle?
Too many to count.
Why did you build this car?
Actually bought it running and driving from a friend that was building another car. A week later the Ford drivetrain was out of it and I was driving it with all Chevy drivetrain.
Any maintenance required from all the passes?
It’s had several engine & trans combos over the years.
What are 1-2 struggles from the week?
One year both spindles on the little trailer broke at the same time crossing the railroad tracks leaving Kearny NB. Both tires crossed two lanes of oncoming morning traffic without hitting anyone!
Plans for 2026 Racing?
Which vehicle?
Probably the 39 coupe
Which class?
One of the true street classes
Goals?
Get more cubic inches and run something faster than the 14.0 class I’ve run every year. This will be my 9th straight year doing RMRW.
Any changes or upgrades planned?
More cubic inches I hope.
Larry is proof that intense competition can come with a “slow car”, and this is one of our favorite things about Rocky Mountain Race Weeks Index Class Formats. They were the first to introduce this style of class in drag and drive and the popularity has proven they had the right idea. The 14.00 Index is typically in the Top 3 of Car Count for the events. And with stories, and racers, like Larry, the competitors better have their game face on if they are signing up for this class.
Drag and Drive is one of the most welcoming automotive hobbies you can participate in because of the cars, racers and promoters that make sure to include every facet of the car culture.
The Rocky Mountain Race Week 14.00 Index has been won with the following AVERAGES
2019 Larry Armstrong: 14.027
2020: Larry Armstrong: 14.043
2021: Jerry Hall: 14.0514
2022: Robert Hall: 14.068
2023: Kyle Calkins: 14.0203
2024: Josh Odom: 14.054
2025: Anthony Watson: 14.0558
I dare you to bring a 14.00 capable car to RMRW and see if you have the chops to take on Larry and the many top racers that come for the slowest class in drag and drive…
Article by: Rodney Reeves and Mike Narx - Photos from Larry Armstrong
