Some race cars disappear after their time on the track. But Larry Nelson’s 1955 Chevy 150 Utility Sedan wasn’t one of them. This car only ran one season, but it made an impact. 52 Years Later, it’s back and running the same elapsed times.

Back in 1972, Nelson drove this Super Stock T-class machine to the NHRA Summernationals Super Stock Eliminator victory. That win was just the beginning—he “racked up many other wins during the 1972 season.” With a 265 cubic-inch small-block Chevy and three-speed manual transmission, Nelson not only took home multiple victories but also “set the Super Stock ‘T’ record.”

After just one season, he moved the drivetrain into a two-door station wagon, putting him into SS/U. The ’55 Chevy was sold off, eventually landing with Joe and Paul Smith. Nelson tried to buy it back multiple times but “never had any luck with the Smith Bros.” Then one day, “it popped up for sale,” and after nearly 50 years, Nelson “was able to get his old car back.”

But he didn’t just want to own it—he wanted to race it. He put together “a KILLER Stock Eliminator 265ci package”, bringing the car back to its winning ways. Then, in 2024, “he WON the first big race he entered.” Even better? “He won at the same track he won at 52 years previously in this awesome car.”

The moment was a full-circle victory, proving that time hadn’t slowed down either Nelson or his Chevy. The car still had what it took to win, and Nelson was just as determined as ever. With each pass down the track, he was reliving a legacy built over five decades.

After 50 years at JEGS, Nelson has officially retired—but he’s far from done. “Now, he has retired, and plans to beat on the ol’ 55 even more in 2025.” The car that dominated one season in 1972 is back, proving that some legends never fade, they just keep winning.