A Potent Cadillac Station Wagon Build Aims for the Sevens!
One of the great things about drag racing is so many different avenues exist to participate in it. Different series and classes, stand-alone events, even weekly test and tunes and grudge nights can satisfy the “need for speed” and fun times with friends.
In the case of former NHRA Junior Dragster racer Danny Allen, this build of a Cadillac station wagon will mark his next step in the drag-and-drive world, and he’s doing it with good friends along the way.
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Starting in 1992, the NHRA Junior Dragster classes give kids a chance to participate in the arena of drag racing alongside parents and friends.
That would be Danny’s introduction to the sport, and he did well along the way. “In 1996, I won the 8–9-year-old divisional race,” said Danny. That win came with a NHRA Wally, a coveted trophy amongst hundreds of thousands of racing enthusiasts.
After racing junior dragsters was over, Danny got to a point where he wanted a change. “I got bored with having to trailer the car to the track,” he said. “I decided if I was going to have a fast car, it needed to be able to drive to the track.
In 2016 I had heard about Hot Rod Drag Week, and it happened to be starting at my home track National Trail Raceway. After that event, I was hooked!” Danny has participated in several drag-and-drive events since then with a Chevy II wagon known as the ‘Crusty Wagon.’
But July of 2023 brought some changes, as the Nova got a new owner, and Danny had ideas of a Cadillac wagon on steroids for future drag-and-drive action.
To put the plan in action, a 2010 Cadillac CTS Wagon was procured, and a 25.5-spec 7.50-et legal roll cage is being built by Danny and good friend Vance Cooper.
To get the wagon to quicker elapsed times, Danny selected a TKM Performance 427 cubic inch LS-based powerplant. Sporting Wiseco pistons, Boostline connecting rods and Manley billet crankshaft, the mill will get additional air from an On3 Performance 98-millimeter turbocharger.
A Turner Racing Transmissions 4L80 overdrive automatic sends the power to a Skyview Racecars bolt-in 9-inch rear end housing to complement their 4-link rear suspension and front bolt-in subframe. A Holley Dominator ECU and Rife Sensors will oversee the data, and Bob Morrison will handle the tuning.
“The car will be debuted at Rocky Mountain Race Week 2.0 2024, and compete in the Ultimate Radial Class,” said Danny, who plans to do the event with two co-pilots and friends, Vance Cooper and Aubrey Hanson.
“Biggest challenge of a drag-and-drive event to me is being prepared for the drives without going overkill. Bringing what you need and organized in a manner in which you can find things in a timely fashion when things go badly, I’m bringing along Vance and Aubrey.”
“We have made a great team,” Danny continued. “I bring them along for their great comic relief when needed, and their willingness to jump straight into any obstacle we face. Either it being to replace a pushed rear main seal at the track or fixing an alternator that vibrated loose or rebuilding a torque converter on the road in between tracks, these two are always there ready to go and help keep me calm in the lanes before a pass, we have plenty of laughs after the stressful repairs as we head to our next checkpoint as we get to the next track.”
Written by Derek Putnam. Photos courtesy of Danny Allen.
If you have thoughts / feedback / ideas, please e-mail us at derek@sickthemagazine.com