As The Radial Turns: Rob Sphar’s RVW Terror Nears Completion

12655937_10205979453751676_2084205103_o
Things are rapidly evolving in the world of drag radial racing,with everyone aiming to be ‘the man to beat.’ For Rob and Lori Sphar, their radial terror is nearing completion and they’re seeking to come out swinging for the top hitters at outlaw events and the traveling National Muscle Car Association (NMCA) circuit.

Taking a look under the hood, Stevens, Jr.'s craftsmanship is nearly unmatched. Check out the tedious bends on the turbo piping.

Taking a look under the hood, Stevens, Jr.’s craftsmanship is nearly unmatched. Check out the tedious bends on the turbo piping.

Carl Stevens, Jr. from Xtreme Race Cars was enlisted to perform the tedious and meticulous job of putting the best chassis possible together to harness all of the horsepower that it takes to sit atop the radial class. As you can tell by most of the photos, Stevens, Jr. is very detail oriented, and virtually every bar has been thought out before ever being welded in.

From the crankshaft centerline to overall ride height, Stevens and the team at Xtreme Race Cars set the entire car up for optimum traction on the small 315 drag radials that are required in the Radial vs. The World/Pro Drag Radial categories. Taking a glance into the driver’s compartment, Sphar and Stevens opened for extensive use of carbon fiber panels to keep the weight at a minimum. With the chassis work completed and a lightweight platform in front of the team, Stevens, Jr.’s engine shop, Xtreme Racing Engines, was also tabbed to supply the horsepower for the project.

 

Stevens, Jr. specified a 489 cubic inch HEMI to stuff between the framerails, packing a Turbo By Garrett twin turbocharged punch. To provide context about the power potential at work here, Stevens, Jr. is well known for being the first PDRA Pro Extreme racer to break the 230 miles per hour barrier in 1/8-mile competition with his very own HEMI combination, and with a very similar setup intended for Sphar’s Mustang, there should be plenty of power on tap.

The backlight of the Racepak IQ3 will illuminate the driver's compartment for Carlyle to see all the data.

The backlight of the Racepak IQ3 will illuminate the driver’s compartment for Carlyle to see all the data.

M&M Transmission supplied a two-speed transmission to withstand the high boost numbers delivering punishment through the driveline, a custom EV1 torque converter from Pro Torque was bolted in, and a fresh driveshaft from The Driveshaft Shop was added, as well.

Sphar has enlisted Patrick Barnhill from PTP Racing to handle all of the tuning duties for the new Mustang, which was actually just fired for the first time on February 3rd. In our talks with Rob, he’s very excited about the new car and it’s possibilities. He also stated that noted LS racer Mark Carlyle will fill the driving shoes and wheel this top-tier radial tire build in 2016.

While it doesn’t appear that the car will be ready for the $50,000 Lights Out 7 showdown in South Georgia, Sphar and team hope to debut the car at the Outlaw Street Car Reunion in Memphis in mid-March and afterward will be a full-on contender in the NMCA ranks in Mickey Thompson Performance Tires and Wheels Radial Wars category. Be on the look out for this hot rod from the Sphar Racing and Xtreme Race Cars camps in 2016 and beyond.

12656191_10205979451591622_357478830_o

Photo Credit: Rob Sphar and Xtreme Race Cars

About the author

Tyler Crossnoe

Tyler has been involved in motorsports from an early age, and has worked at numerous drag racing facilities and now travels the country with a track preparation consulting business. He also spends plenty of time on the racing side with his personal bracket car, and as crew member on Pharris Motorsports’ Drag Radial team. Tyler joined Dragzine in 2014 as a freelance writer.
Read My Articles

Drag Racing in your Inbox.

Build your own custom newsletter with the content you love from Dragzine, directly to your inbox, absolutely FREE!

Free WordPress Themes
Dragzine NEWSLETTER - SIGN UP FREE!

We will safeguard your e-mail and only send content you request.

Dragzine - Drag Racing Magazine

We'll send you the most interesting Dragzine articles, news, car features, and videos every week.

Dragzine - Drag Racing Magazine

Dragzine NEWSLETTER - SIGN UP FREE!

We will safeguard your e-mail and only send content you request.

Dragzine - Drag Racing Magazine

Thank you for your subscription.

Subscribe to more FREE Online Magazines!

We think you might like...


Street Muscle Magazine
Hot Rods & Muscle Cars
Diesel Army
Diesel Army
Engine Labs
Engine Tech

Dragzine - Drag Racing Magazine

Thank you for your subscription.

Subscribe to more FREE Online Magazines!

We think you might like...

  • Streetmuscle Hot Rods & Muscle Cars
  • Diesel Army Diesel Army
  • Engine Labs Engine Tech

Dragzine - Drag Racing Magazine

Dragzine

Thank you for your subscription.

Thank you for your subscription.

Dragzine - Drag Racing Magazine

Thank you for your subscription.

Thank you for your subscription.

Loading