Inspiration Leads to a Clean Drag-and-Drive Cutlass Build That Debuted at PRI – The 6-Second Potential Ride Will Compete at Sick Week
It’s not uncommon to hear stories from enthusiasts and racing competitors on drawing inspiration from their parents, their friends, and even fellow enthusiasts on why they choose to participate in car activities.
The inspiration for this fresh drag-and-drive build of Steve Haefner came from another Oldsmobile Cutlass, one that had attendees at the Performance and Racing Industry (PRI) show doing a double take.
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Some may know the Cutlass of VP Racing’s Jason Rueckert, a car that has participated in the Limited Drag Radial heads-up radial class for over a decade. The car retains a lot of factory styling, and combined with its performance, has made it a known ride. “I can’t lie; his car is what made me choose the G-body, and specifically the Oldsmobile,” said Haefner.
Although the general stance, color and twin-turbo power are very close, Haefner’s ride has a few noticeable differences. “The wheels and front bumper are the main things people see at a glance that makes it different.”
We first reported on this two-owner Cutlass build about a year ago (READ THE STORY HERE), and the ‘nearly-finished’ result stopped us in our tracks at PRI. Although the car will sport a flat hood when complete, the coated big block engine got lots of eyeballs and finger pointing as we talked with Haefner.
Mike Lough constructed the 540 cubic inch engine on a Brodix aluminum block and cylinder heads, and a pair of Forced Induction 94-millimeter turbos provide the boost.
Haefner choose a Holley Dominator system with a nicely tucked screen into a factory-style dash insert for controlling it all, and backed it with a Hughes Performance Turbo 400, billet bolt-together converter, and Gear Vendors Overdrive unit.
The rear of the car features the work of Hammer Concepts and Designs, with one of their 9-inch rear ends, plus plenty of 4-link rear suspension system bits.
417 Motorsports out of Springfield, Missouri is responsible for the construction of the car, and with a 25.2-SFI spec roll cage, Haefner can legally clock 6-second passes at a 3200-pound maximum weight. This will be need as he ventures into the 2025 edition of Sick Week Presented by Gear Vendors Overdrive to participate in the Modified class.
“Weather permitting, we will get some hits at Mo-Kan Dragway, or get into a test session at South Georgia Motorsports Park or Bradenton Motorsports Park,” Haefner said. “It should run low seven-second runs as long as the driver does his job. Maybe even sixes, but we’ll see.”
Besides Sick Week, the Cutlass will be a party of the IHRA Titan series at tracks near Haefner’s home base of Springfield. He may also participate in Hot Rod Drag Week, depending on what tracks the annual event is based around.
Written by Derek Putnam. Photos courtesy of Steve Haefner.
If you have thoughts / feedback / ideas, please e-mail us at derek@sickthemagazine.com