World Ford Challenge (WFC), otherwise known as the "Super Bowl" of Ford heads-up drag racing, took place over the weekend of May 18th in Madison, Illinois, at Gateway International Raceway. What's the big deal? In only it's fourth year of operation, the WFC has become the largest gathering of Fords from every corner of the country, attracting more than 1,000 racers, 600-plus show car entrants, and over 40,000 spectators anxiously anticipating wheels-up action. Its large success has also caused other racing sanctions to take notice of what big payouts and big-name sponsors can do to propel grassroots drag racing.
This once-a-year extravaganza is produced by World Race Events, and with 11 heads-up classes and $136,000 up for grabs, it's definitely not one to miss. WFC has a little-make that a lot-of everything for everyone from bracket racers to those who drive "Wild Street" cars and the insanely fast Pro Mod 5.0 race cars. The best thing is that it's not just for late-model Mustangs, although they do seem to be dominating all forms of street-legal-style racing these days. And one thing is for certain: These racers won't baby their cars to the finish line. For more information, check out www.worldfordchallenge.com.
Classes at a Glance
Pro Mod 5.0
Seven- and 8-second small-block tube-chassis (Mustang-based) Fords with no rear tire size limits and a single power adder.
Pro Street Outlaw
Seven- and 8-second small- and big-block early Mustangs and '79-and-up Fox-chassis cars limited to 28x10.5-inch tires on stock-style suspension and a single power adder.
Wild Street
Any Ford with functioning lights, horn, signals, and wipers along with valid tags and proof of insurance is allowed. Competitors must do a 30-mile stop-and-go cruise and make three back-to-back qualifying passes with a strict closed-hood policy that will be averaged towards the qualifying ladder. All power-adder combinations are allowed but the cars are limited to DOT-approved tires that do not measure greater than 13 inches across the tread.
We've seen some colossal car shows, but the WFC Auto Show Spectacular took it to a level a
Renegade
Nine- and 10-second electronic fuel-injected small-block Fox-chassis Fords and '96-to-present 4.6L Mustangs with 360ci engines and single power-adder restrictions. The tires are limited to 28x10.5 inches.
Hot Street
Nine- and 10-second naturally aspirated small-block Ford-powered cars and trucks from '55-to-present. Restricted to 440ci engines and 28x10.5 tires.
Pure Street
Eleven- and 12-second naturally aspirated small-block Fox-chassis Fords and '96-to-present 4.6L Mustangs. Restricted to 310ci engines and 26x10.5-inch tires.
If we were smart, we probably would have jumped out of the way as this GT headed towards u
Factory Stock
The 12- and 13-second naturally aspirated small-block Fox-chassis and '96-to-present 4.6L Mustangs. Restricted to 310ci engines with tires limited to DOT-approved radial tires no larger than 275mm.
Open Comp Eliminator
Handicapped, pro-tree starts for all Ford-powered and -bodied cars, along with light-duty trucks running 9.10 and slower. Delay boxes, throttle stops, dragsters, altereds, full-chassis, or back-half race cars are not allowed. Competitors will make three passes and the quickest e.t. will be the racer's competition index.
Modular Street
An open comp format for all Ford-bodied cars with 4.6L and 5.4L modular engines. Full-chassis or back-half race cars are permitted, but delay boxes, throttle stops, and other electronic bracket-racing devices are not.
Pro Lightning
An open comp format for all Ford Lightning trucks running 12.50 and faster. Full chassis or back-half trucks are permitted, along with any electronic e.t. or reaction improving devices.
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Late into the night, Billy Glidden (son of drag racing legend Bob Glidden) pulled his '01
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When Doug Driggers out of Chandler, Arizona, wasn't on the bumper with his '85 Pro Street
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In Wild Street, Willie Figueroa never lost a round with his supercharged '95 GT and ran a
Who says trucks are only for towing? Bob Kowalske and his Street Lightning managed to run
Street Lightning
An open comp format for all Ford Lightning trucks running 11.60 and slower. Full chassis or back-half trucks are not permitted, nor is the use of any electronic device to improve e.t. or reaction time.
A Few Good Rea$on$ to Race
There seems to be an abundance of cash floating around these kind of races. Why not try to get a chunk for yourself? While we didn't list it, if you make it to the semi, quarter, and eighth round, you still get something in your pocket.
| Class | Winner | Runner Up |
| Pro-Mod 5.0 | $35,000 | $15,000 |
| Pro Street Outlaw | 10,000 | 5,000 |
| Wild Street | 3,000 | 1,500 |
| Renegade | 2,000 | 1,000 |
| Hot Street | 2,000 | 1,000 |
| Pure Street | 1,300 | 650 |
| Factory Stock | 1,300 | 650 |
| Modular Street | 1,000 | 500 |
| Pro Lightning | 1,000 | 500 |
| Street Lightning | 500 | 250 |
| Open Comp | 500 | 250 |
| ET-1* | 2,500 | 1,250 |
| ET-2* | 1,500 | 750 |
| ET-3* | 750 | 375 |
| *Bracket classes |
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Craig Zurman of Largo, Florida, with his Paxton-powered '93 Cobra posed a serious threat i
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John Gullet, with his hair-dryer-induced pony, showed the crowd he was here on business. H
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We need to start driving to these events. Just look at all the goodies we could have broug
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Nick Bacalis's '65 coupe was the lone first-generation pony going up against all the late-
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In a freak twist of fate, the final round of racing was suddenly put to a halt by an unexp