Drag Race USA

Mike Ferderer is as professional a sportsman racer you’ll find. Mike’s been racing for 28-years and has amassed quite a few wins including three World Championships!

Greatly feared yet respected by his competitors, Ferderer races a state-of-the-art Rick Jones built race car. His 2004 Pontiac Grand Am competes in NHRA’s Super Gas class, but is capable of dipping into the mid-seven second range. The all tube chassis was built from the ground up at RJ Race Cars of Galesburg, Illinois and features a 105-inch wheelbase. A Ford 9-inch housing is fitted with a Richmond 4:30 gear set, Strange axles and spool and is mounted via a 4-link suspension. Strange coil over shocks are used on the rear with Strange struts up front. The disc-brakes are also from Strange Engineering.
The power plant is a GM 454 punched out to 565 cubic-inches. The crankshaft is from Callies with rods by MGP, mounted with high-compression JE Pistons and rings. Mike uses a Crane roller cam (secret specs) as well as roller lifters and roller rockers also from Crane. Since this is an all-out race motor a Jesel belt drive is utilized for peak horsepower and reliability. A Titan oil pump keeps the C&A bearings well lubricated. The cylinder heads are aluminum Brodix stuffed with titanium valves. Air flows into a K&N air filter then into a Holley 1050 cfm carburetor and into the engine through a Brodix Big Duke manifold. The fuel flow comes from a trunk-mounted Mallory fuel pump. The machine work credit goes to the Cope Brothers. The engine relies on ARP studs and fasteners to keep everything together. Spark comes from a Crane Fireball ignition box, Mallory distributor with coil and wires from Crane. The exhaust flows through a set of 2-inch primary Hedman Hustler Hedders and quieted by Borla mufflers.
Mike trusted Marv Ripes of A1 Transmissions to provide the highest quality 2-speed Powerglide transmission and torque converter available. This set-up allows Mike to leave the line at 6500rpm with shifting done by a B&M Pro Bandit shifter. Power is sent trough the driveshaft built by Inland Empire Drive Line Service of Ontario, California, to the CenterLine wheels which are mounted with Hoosier tires.
The engine’s vitals are monitored by Auto Meter gauges and a RacePak data acquisition system. The electronics consist of an ARC control panel, twin 16-volt Turbo Start batteries and a Dedenbear Command Center.
Though this car was built in 2002, it has been updated to the 2004 Grand Am body style. The beautiful paint and body work was handled by Marion & Dave Custom Paint of Tacoma Washington. Mike wishes to thank K&N High-Flow Air Filters, Pontiac, Pennzoil as well as his numerous other sponsors for all their help in keeping his dream alive for his love of the sport of drag racing!