While it certainly didn’t begin that way, the lines between Pro Modified and radial tire racing at its most elite levels have become particularly blurred these days — in technology and equipment, in costs, and in performance — and that fact has made competing at doorslammer racing’s pinnacle both an attractive and logical step for many a racer. And in 2017, drag radial standout Daniel Pharris, citing a long-standing desire to compete in Pro Modified, will do just that with the debut of a brand new 2016 Ford Mustang out of the Larry Jeffers Race Cars facility in Pharris’ home state of Missouri.
The 29-year old automotive salvage entrepreneur, already a seasoned drag racing veteran, commissioned Jeffers and his team to construct the new machine earlier this summer, and in turn, placed his prized 1995 Mustang Cobra Radial vs The World car — a machine best known as the one that John Kolivas drove to multiple NMRA world championships in — up for sale. Of course, with so many similarities between Pro Modified and Radial vs the World — after all, a number of its top competitors are bringing Pro Modified-level weaponry to the small-tire world these days — it won’t mean a complete defection from the class that put him on the map.
Pharris’ primary focus in his initial season behind the wheel will be the NMCA’s 1/8-mile Xtreme Pro Mod category and PDRA Pro Boost, with hopes of progressing his program to even greater heights (and venues) in the future. When he’s not competing there, he’ll strap on the familiar 315 Mickey Thompson radials to run with the big boys of Radial vs The World at some of its premier events, doing so in a machine fully capable of radial tire record performances.
Pharris recently sold the Pro Line Racing 481X powerplant from the Cobra and tabbed Eric Dillard and his team to assemble a 548 cubic inch PLR Hemi for the new Mustang, which will be paired with 98 mm turbochargers for NMCA competition and 94’s for Pro Boost (both from Precision), with an M&M Turbo 400 transmission and ProTorque converter combination and a FuelTech engine management system. Jeffers and his team draped the chassis in one of Five Star’s ultra-sleek new S550 model carbon fiber bodies. Underneath are Menscer Motorsports struts and 4-way rear shocks, a custom rear end housing, an all-carbon interior, and a whole host of Strange Engineering driveline components. Pharris will utilize Lucas Oil lubricants, Weld Racing wheels, VP Racing fuels, and Mickey Thompson tires to propel the all-new ride.
World-renowned tuner Josh Ledford, who has handled the crew chief duties on Pharris’ 3.8-second radial tire terror, has overseen the ground-up construction of the new project and its multitude of components, and will continue to serve in that capacity in the new venture.
If all goes to plan, Pharris plans to test before the end of the year.