Drag Illustrated Issue 157, June 2020 | Page 53

DIALED IN Level Playing Field MICHAEL WHITE WSC 4.90 Outlaws series offers even competition for sub-5-second door cars By Van Abernethy PHOTOGRAPHS BY VAN ABERNETHY If ever there was a racing club that’s brimming with stiff competition and tons of diversity, not to mention dedicated members who thoroughly love racing together and ultimately just hanging out together, then look no further than the WSC 4.90 Outlaws. The name of their game from a racing standpoint is pretty straight-forward: see how close you can make your car run to 4.90 seconds in the eighth mile without going quicker, all while leaving the starting line by way of a fan-pleasing, five-tenths Pro tree. The ladder of eliminations is based on a 16-car field, but in reality it’s an all-run program so that no one who comes to race is left out. Average car count per event is around 18 skilled drivers, piloting some of the most diverse race cars you could imagine on the same property, all striving to run the 4.90 index. Fords, Dodges and Chevys are all represented, along with a few other rarer model vehicles. As long as your entry has doors, you’re welcome to participate with this group. “It’s really wide open and the possibilities are endless,” says Dan Whisnant, the man who’s widely regarded as the group’s leader, as well as a disciplined 4.90 racer in his own right. “Just don’t show up with a dragster with doors cut out...we’d have to shut that deal down,” he laughs, insisting that this is exclusively a “door car” club. “But hey, if a guy showed up with a pick-up truck and wanted to race, we’d love to have him, just as we’d welcome someone with an import car, but we’d certainly take a close look at what he had,” laughs Whisnant. Gender lines are also erased within this club. “We’ve got a lady in Kentucky who’s building a car right now and says she wants to race with us, and she’ll certainly be welcomed.” The performance rules for achieving the 4.90 index are very few, but some do exist. “We don’t June 2020 DragIllustrated.com | Drag Illustrated | 53