February 2025 Car of the Month: Bradley Richardson

Bradley Richardson wins the DragChamp Pro February Car of the Month contest with his ’64 Chevy II

March 10, 2025 – Bradley Richardson’s iconic 1964 Chevy II Nova won the title of DragChamp’s February Car of the Month, marking another accolade in a career filled with victories and milestones. The Tennessee-based racer’s journey with this classic machine is a story of dedication, family bonds, and relentless improvement.

Richardson’s history with the Chevy II began in the winter of 1996 when he and his father purchased the car — Bradley was just 16 at the time. With minimal racing experience but plenty of ambition, he quickly found himself behind the wheel. Remarkably, the second time Bradley ever attended a dragstrip, he was driving the Nova down the track. That season, the Nova was running 7.50s in the 1/8-mile, and he reached the final round of competition before year’s end.

Over the years, the Nova evolved considerably. Key upgrades included a new roll cage, a re-back half with a 4-link setup, and a front half conversion featuring rack and pinion steering with A-arm suspension. Under the hood, the Nova sports a potent 406ci small block Chevy with Eagle crank and rods, Ross pistons, Dart heads and intake, and a Ken Jones alcohol Dominator carburetor. The drivetrain is completed by a BTE converter, Wayne Franks Powerglide, a 12-bolt rear end, and 14×32 Mickey Thompson slicks.

Despite these improvements, Richardson kept the car’s original character intact — stock floorpan and firewall, glass windows, and functional roll-up windows. This balance of heritage and performance has made the Nova a standout on the bracket racing scene.

Richardson’s racing success is equally impressive. In addition to three track championships — including one in 2023 — he has claimed multiple $5,000 and $2,500 victories, along with a coveted Super Chevy race win at Huntsville Dragway in 2007. One memorable highlight was winning a 64-car Million Weekend entry shootout at Holly Springs in 2009. Adding to his resume, Richardson famously faced off against Scotty Richardson in the final of his first-ever $5K win in 2005.

His versatility as a racer has shone through, competing in top bulb, footbrake, and no-box classes. Richardson has even raced himself in a top bulb final at Ethridge and remarkably put both his Nova and his dragster in separate class finals on the same night — twice.

Although Bradley actively campaigns a dragster alongside the Nova, this Chevy II remains a sentimental favorite — a car steeped in family memories and built through hard work and perseverance. Winning DragChamp’s February Car of the Month award is yet another testament to the Nova’s enduring legacy and Richardson’s skill behind the wheel.

For Richardson, the journey with his Chevy II Nova is more than just racing — it’s a lifelong passion, built on family ties and a love for the sport.

The DragChamp Car of the Month contest is reserved for DragChamp Pro members. Each month our DragChamp Pro members compete for the Car of the Month title with the winner receiving an article on DragChamp along with free DragChamp apparel. To learn more about DragChamp Pro, click here.