That will class id and his number for the day or season
That pic is from the late 50's or early 60's. The class is B/Competition Coupe or Sedan. The amount of engine set back and body modifications determine that it is in the Competition class. The "B" incicates that the engine size and car weight are in a specified bracket of "pounds per cubic inch".
Drag racing classifications change alot over the years, sometimes from one year to the next. I have searched the net for an archive of old rule books but have not found such. There were several different sanctioning organizations [NHRA,AHRA,IHRA, ECT] and each had MANY different classes. It was confusing and still is today and i think one of the reasons drag racing is not very popular with the general public. Most drag race spectators are actually racers with the day off.
Here is a link to a incomplete but very good explanation through the years of the Gasser Class. Not Comp Class, but it'll give you an idea of how things constantly evolved. Even if it's not what your after, it's a interesting read.
http://gassermadness.com/Gas_Classes/index.htm
As Bob W said, it's a B/Competion Coupe. The "B" is a class breakdown of weight to cubic inch ratio. The number is just the competitor number as assigned by the sanctioning body. Every competitor had a different number. The cars in this class eventually morphed into long dragsters with a body over the drivers compartment. Look in the right column about half way down the page of this scan. This should also provide some information on other class designations.
Note that the Oldsmobile in the upper left of the page is a gasser. Many mordern day gasser know it alls would argue with you if you were to tell them that car was a class legal gasser.
Gastrick - what year is that info?
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