A quick reaction time by Larry Cummings in 1984 changed his life dramatically: One Sunday he was known as a regional bracket racer and IHRA sportsman competitor, and two days later he achieved notoriety as a Super Gas racer committed to running all the NHRA national events.

Responding to an offer by legendary Southern track operator Norman “Moose” Pearah, Cummings, who lives in Hammond, La., became a member of the Budweiser Motorcraft Super Team. Led by Pearah’s good friend Kenny Bernstein, it included Frank Iaconio in Pro Stock, Jim Van Cleve in Competition Eliminator, and Glen Tinsley in Super Stock.

Cummings, now 64, campaigned Pearah’s Ford Thunderbird that had been raced by Rickie Smith in IHRA Pro Stock and changed to S/G with a 512-inch Ford engine and Powerglide. Cummings recalled often going rounds at national and division events, with his best finish in the semifinals at Columbus.

 

A quick reaction time by Larry Cummings in 1984 changed his life dramatically: One Sunday he was known as a regional bracket racer and IHRA sportsman competitor, and two days later he achieved notoriety as a Super Gas racer committed to running all the NHRA national events.

Responding to an offer by legendary Southern track operator Norman “Moose” Pearah, Cummings, who lives in Hammond, La., became a member of the Budweiser Motorcraft Super Team. Led by Pearah’s good friend Kenny Bernstein, it included Frank Iaconio in Pro Stock, Jim Van Cleve in Competition Eliminator, and Glen Tinsley in Super Stock.

Cummings, now 64, campaigned Pearah’s Ford Thunderbird that had been raced by Rickie Smith in IHRA Pro Stock and changed to S/G with a 512-inch Ford engine and Powerglide. Cummings recalled often going rounds at national and division events, with his best finish in the semifinals at Columbus.

“I had to go from bottom-bulb racing to a pro tree,” he said. “Super Gas was a non-technical category back then. I had a transbrake but without any adjustment, and I put a screw in the side of the carburetor as a throttle stop.” The car had 9.00 capability.

While Cummings constantly learned how to make the car perform well on the track, he received another education as a member of the Super Team. He became attuned to proper presentation of himself and his racing operation in the pits and away from the track at Ford dealerships and Budweiser distributorships.

“I learned how to meet fans, do autographs, talk to the public, and take care of sponsors,” Cummings said. “I had to keep stuff clean and presentable.” All team members pitted together at events.

The team disbanded at the end of 1985 when Bernstein switched to Buick for his Funny Car body to complement his new Buick-sponsored NASCAR Cup team. When Cummings started racing full time he resigned his 18-year job delivering bread for Holsum. He did not return there, instead starting a company that stripes, sweeps, and maintains parking lots, and it remains in full operation.

“Once I had a taste of doing things my way (since he had bought out Pearah), I was not going to go to work for anyone else again,” Cummings said. Sons Britt, 43, and Slate, 33, worked for the firm 23 years before three years ago each opened a Bayou Boyz convenience store in Hammond and Ponchatoula, La., respectively. Both are long-time champion racers who were schooled in a high level of professionalism by their father.

Having started racing in 1966, Larry Cummings rarely stopped competing. After the Super Team, he was sponsored 10 years by local Budweiser distributor Joel Champagne. That sponsorship was followed by Parts Pro, and since 2003 Moser Engineering has been on the seven family racecars that are used in NHRA Super Stock, Stock, Top Dragster, and Super Comp.

Cummings’ main goal is for at least one of the cars to carry the number 1. That would make his family team even more super.