Drag racing is one of the oldest forms of motorsports activities. Mechanics, engineers, and drivers alike were testing the capabilities of their automobiles and motorcycles side by side on a straight line, which originated one of the very first forms of road racing.
Drag racing as a discipline shaped up in the 1940-s – 1950-s with the involvement of the WWII veterans who used decommissioned aircraft bases with landing strips that became a perfect spot for such activities.
While cars and technologies have drastically changed since the last century, the concept of this simple form of racing remained pretty much untouched – two cars side by side decide which one of them is faster on a straight line.
“Modern drag racing went so much further and evolved into a technologically advanced discipline with a widely derived system of vehicle classes and tracks”
Modern drag racing went so much further and evolved into a technologically advanced discipline with a widely derived system of vehicle classes and tracks that allows amateur drivers and professional teams of all sorts to compete with equal rivals and set records in their own category.
Felicia Cherisse Smith is a great Drag Racing fan from Oklahoma City and the owner of this clean-looking 2009 Cadillac CTS-V, which she works on and maintains together with her loving husband Aaron Smith, who also happens to be a crew chief and master mechanic.
“Don’t get fooled by the stock-looking exterior of this CTS-V, as it’s hiding some mind-blowing upgrades under the hood and gives out about 1200whp at the DYNO”
Don’t get fooled by the stock-looking exterior of this CTS-V, as it’s hiding some mind-blowing upgrades under the hood and gives out about 1200whp at the DYNO, which totally explains the car’s nickname “4Door Rocket”. Read on to find out more about this remarkable vehicle and the background of the build in the interview section below!
How did you get into the muscle car scene?
– I have always enjoyed cars. I actually started with imports but fell in love with the deep-cammed sound a V8 produces. There is no other sound in the world like it.
Why did you choose a Cadillac CTS-V?
– I sat in a CTSV in 2013 and fell in love with it. I wanted fast but luxurious.
What inspired you to choose this modification style?
– LSAs are very easy to modify and not extremely expensive.
What challenges did you face while putting it together?
– Oh man, what challenges did we not face? My husband and I built and still currently maintain the car in our garage. Working on the floor is hard. In the beginning, it was a nightmare because the car was my daily so any modifications we did had to be done within that weekend so I could go back to work the following Monday. I think I switched the wheels and tires from stock to drag pack and vice versa at least 5 times a week.
What do you love about your car?
– I love that it is a fast race car, a fun street car, a comfortable ride, and so much more.
Is it your daily or a weekend ride?
– It is now a weekend toy.
Do you take it to local car shows or a race track?
– Both, more track than anything.
Specs – 2009 Cadillac CTS-V
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- 427 Dart from Thompson Motorsports
- Custom cam from Cammotioncams
- F310 Series heads from @thefrankensteined
- ZL1 lid with reinforced brick from @dedicated.motorsports
- Johnson lifters from @ct_performance
- Stock 1.9 LSA blower ported by Rick Crawford
- 2.38 upper/10.0 lower.
- @radiumengineering fuel rails and regulator
- @circlespeedspecialties converter
- Stock6L90 with upgraded clutches and billet intermediate shaft done in the garage with circle D trans parts
- @nitrousexpress kit maximizer 5
- Trunk tank and heat exchanger for cooling
- 1 piece driveshaft by @dinamicdrivelines
- Stock axles
- Stock rearend
- Stock rear suspension
- Front coilovers by @a.hobbs
- Alky meth kit
- @dsxtuning E85 flex fuel kit
- @fuelinjectionconnection 1700s injectors
- @deatschwerks DW300 fuel pumps and AEM Electronics 400 aux pump
- Datadriven Performance air intake paired with Greenfilter
- MM Solutions catch can with dual hoses thanks to @rhpracing
- 17375DR2 Hoosier tires
- 15” Forgestar F14 rims
- Trailing arms and Baer brakes from @t_r_z_motorsports
- All tuned through HP tuners by @rickcrawford_rcrvmax
- All factory components are still on the car including power steering, heated seats, AC.
- Weight: 4400lbs with the driver
What are your future plans for your CTS-V?
– Become more consistent, win more races!
Watch the progress and find out more about this Cadillac CTS-V project by visiting the Instagram profile of the owner: @4drrckt!
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