I had a conversation with my buddy Phil Speno the other day about the old days when we built race cars from junk yard parts and the fun we had going around looking for what we needed . Now like a lot of you old guys like us  you built  something from nothing and had a lot of fun trying new things to make us go faster. So that brought us to the point of how many of todays drivers could build a car from the ground up without buying everything off the shelf ready made ? Now I hear some of the kids telling the crew how the car feels but they don't have the slightest idea how to make it feel like they want. I know cup and Indy guys have engineers telling them what to fix by looking at the computer but they could not pick up a wrench and fix what the engineer told them to fix .

So guys who do you know of todays drivers could build their own car from scratch or get out of the car and make the changes needed to go faster . 

I think Jimmy would be on that list.

I believe he could handle it.

I believe in todays era of drivers that Matt Sheppard could.He knows every nut and bolt on his car, he is pretty cool to watch when he unloads at a track.

There are plenty of good fabricators and car builders that could, not sure I know any drivers that could or has in a very long time.  Jerry Higbie and Eric Mack (DKM) are the only modfied guys I know of.   Horton and Pauch Sr probably could if they had to, buy would bet they would'nt.

I'll bet Frank Cozze, Richie Eurich and Brett Hearn could slap together a winning hot rod from junk yard parts.  In regards to active mechanics in the sport, Tom Carberry and Davey Brown could do it also.  Almost forgot Dick Barney.  Would love to see another red #14 "3window coupe" at Wall.   Scott Ely

I used to work with Phil, Great guy!

Been best friends with Phil since seventh grade . He is the best man I know . You couldn't  fine a kinder and generous man anywhere, he helps everyone he can and expects nothing in return, I am blessed to call him my friend.

I agree, Phil could build a hot rod from the ground up using junk yard parts.  Chic Ronan's R-2 Vega, found on page 154 of 3Wide's 70s section, was re-skinned with a 37 Ford coupe and was ultimately wrecked by yours truly.  Although not from the ground up, Phil rebuilt the former Ronan "R-2" coupe into the R-2 Falcon found on page 152 in 3Wide's 70s section.  Phil rebuilt the chassis from the firewall forward, redesigned the rear suspension, and replaced the 37 Ford coupe with a narrowed Falcon body.  I think Phil did a tremendous job.  Scott Ely 

Off the top, I would say...Horton, Pauch Sr., Donnie Kreitz, Brett, Frank Cozze and Richie Tobias...

kenny brightbill

I find it interesting that most of the names you guys have mentioned are drivers who for the most part have retired with a few exceptions. That proves my point I guess that most drivers couldn't build what they drive. 

Frankie Schnieder built a couple as did Roy pauch Sr..Walt Emery did a few and very nice stuff..How about Tom Hager and Kenny Brightbill...Bob Rossell built alot of cars for the stars back then...Jay Aten did quite a few cars that he raced and Pete Madsen also...Jimmy Horton is probably tops for beauty and performance..Kenny Brightbill just performance..We will shine it up with next body. We are good for now..HtH

Until the car I currently race, I have built or partially built all of my race cars, the last car I put a rear clip on it when I bought it as a bare frame and then again after it got damaged during the season. I build the bumpers and bodies, do the set-ups and build the shocks

Great idea have the screw style jackstands mounted on flywheels.

Ron Frees drives the#43 Yaccarino Motorsports modified at Wall Stadium Speedway. He also maintains it, repairs it, fabricates parts and makes adjustments at the shop and at the track, all on a limited budget.

This would involve steel, a tubing bender, notcher, welder, gas torch, saws, hammers, drills, shears, a lot of time, knowledge, people, than the risk your ideas don't work...forget it, call Bicknell.;  lol

Half the fun of Modified Racing was building something from nothing but matal pieces and some tubing..Then drive it and adjust on it and try to improve each time out...Todays cars are just buy it race it and hope it works better next race...Surely not as much satisfaction. I always wanted to build a street rod but hiway laws are to strick.. I figured if I built a Modified I could have the best of both worlds, make it perfect and drive it fast..HtH

How bout your boy Freddie D??

I'm sure Freddy could build a car as he had in the past, but for what it's worth, the original post at the top of the thread was asking about what "current drivers" could build a car from the ground up.

I forgot what Wall modified driver told my father "I envy you modern stock guys, you build your own cars". He said that they buy theirs. 
Afer stockcars, my father also did street rods and built a Henry J for a guy. He told me that he built it just like a stockcar. I got to drive it when he was done. That was cool. 

Ouch, right you are Joe, got ahead of myself

My original question was how many of todays drivers could build their cars or be able to adjust their own cars . Yes alot of the guys mentioned could and had built the own stuff as they was the only way we got to go racing. It is sure easier to go buy a off the shelf car but it isn't as much fun and it ain't going to be any better the the next look a like piece your parked next to . I always wondered what would happen if during the drivers meeting someone painted all the cars primer who could fined their car when they got back....lol.

Hey DN with todays cars the night would be over before they all found there own cars...Now that is Funny...

..but this is a pic of Art Lentini's 1st BB mod built by himself (with a little help from his friends, right Howie?), at the time a 24 yr old kid with a mig welder and basic hand tools. It can be done if you want to...

Sad times losing Artie... He was so talented and and a perfectionist/artist...His first car was a very nice Vega bodied modified...we had alot of late nights talking about suspensions and how to get more bite/grip...We all will miss him and his great talents and of course his Humor to go with his ideas..We have lost a great friend----RIP Artie..

Pete Bicknell!!!!

We forgot the whole Tobias Family...You had to be a racer to be in that family....