Photos and Story by: Deborah Woodard

In late April of 2007, the old Utley/Grebeck Firebird quietly showed up on the West Coast unannounced. The car was delivered to its new owner Tim Henry at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, a man no one knew or had ever heard of on the Pro Street racing scene.  Pro Stock World Champion Mike Bell was flown in and tested the 1997 Firebird for Henry at the Pacific Street Car Association’s (PSCA) annual Las Vegas Nationals that year. No one really thought much of it at the time or realized the impact it would all have later.

Henry and the car seemed to disappear, at least from mind, for a short time after as the West Coast Pro Street class went on with the usual familiar players. Henry was busy though paying dues by learning to drive his new toy. Henry was also in direct line contact with veteran racer and engine builder Pat Musi. Henry reappeared with the old Utley/Grebeck car, newly named as the Con-Quest Concrete Firebird at the West Coast Hot Rod Association (WCHRA) starting in 2008. With Musi’s help, he nearly pulled off the WCHRA Championship in what was considered his rookie year. He landed the WCHRA’s second place in a very close point’s chase to veteran racer Kelly Bluebaugh who took the 2008 Championship at the Sacramento Raceway.

Henry is among an increasing number of West Coast racers hiring in experts like Musi to fast track their racing programs. Musi and Joe Lapone worked on a very regular basis with Henry moderating progress to Henry’s ability to drive and work with the car. The assistance paid off. By end of season, Henry was turning times in the 6.40’s range with a 6.41 being his best ET of the 2008 season.

In 2009, Henry stepped up his racing program with one of Musi’s 774 cubic inch EFI nitrous engines running the best of 6.33 ET and 228 mph. Now a well known personality among West Coast Racers, Henry competes in the PSCA, WCHRA, and has shown up for West Coast Outlaw Pro Mod events. He is considered stiff competition amongst his peers frequently running his Musi powered Firebird into the 6.30’s range. No one would have ever thought that a Rookie racer could make so much progress so fast. Many teams struggle for years to achieve what Henry has made look easy from all outward appearances.

Henry is currently running in second place with the PSCA and finished third with the WCHRA.

He has recently won the WCHRA’s season final race and the PSCA’s Fall Nationals race in Las Vegas. Henry hopes to finish the season at the Street Car Super Nationals by achieving time in the 6.25- 6.30 ET range and he certainly has the potential to make it happen. He attributes his great success to Musi and of course to the Utley/Grebeck Firebird that has turned out to still be a winner after all these years. Henry forever continues to honor the life and death of Greback with a memoral star on the 97 Firebird that says; “The Rock Star” “ Remember Steve Grebeck”