Late Model Racecraft set to defend LSX Shootout Drag Radial title
The crew at Late Model Racecraft in Houston, Texas were the victors in the GM Performance Parts LSX Shootout Drag Radial class in 2008 with their ‘02 Camaro. They will return this year to defend their title with a new ’02 Firebird, owned by Dave Lewis and piloted by Steven Fereday.
Lewis took his previously street-driven, modified ’95 Firehawk to LMR, requesting it be transformed into an outlaw drag radial car. The 25.2 chassis and suspension work was fabricated at Madman and Company in Prairieville, Louisiana, while the rest of the build – including the conversion to an ’02 Trans Am using an updated nose and hood – are being completed by LMR.
Power will come from a twin-turbocharged, 408 cubic inch, LSX-based powerplant, utilizing six-bolt cylinder heads from ET Performance, and topped with a Big Stuff 3 fuel injection system with 16-pound injectors. As per the LSX Shootout rules, the car will be outfitted with twin 76mm Precison turbos fed through an air-to-water intercooler at Memphis, while running 88mm’s at outlaw radial tire events. A Rossler-built powerglide transmission and Neal Chance converter will transfer the power to the ground.
Along with swapping of the turbos to fit the rulebook, the Firebird will run on Mickey Thompson 295 Radials for the shootout, and 315’s at other events.
The team recently fired the car for the first time, and plans to test both combinations before heading to Memphis Motorsports Park for the all-LSX event, held in conjunction with the NMCA World Street Finals, October 15-18. Their schedule also includes the much-anticipated Outlaw Radial Tire Championship in Bradenton, Florida, October 23-25.
Lewis and LMR are hoping for numbers in the 7.30-7.40-second range, while dipping into the 6.90’s in outlaw trim.
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