For those that are interested here is an exclusive on the build up photos of Whitfield Racing's new GM Cobalt, along with an interview with the man, Jason Whitfield himself.









Article: http://www.tunerzine.com/articles.php?id=168

 

wow, the take over begins..

I like the car though..

 

Very informative article. And very good arguments for the GM Ecotec platform!

 

Can you order that engine from Summit yet?

 

Not yet, but you can order it right from GM/Roush.

 

go where the money and r&D is at. niiice car!

 

Why is there such a contreversy over the trans used in the Cobalts?

Nice looking car by the way, those dont look half bad if done right.

Now I just need to persuade my father-in-law to let me play with his Saturn Ion.

 

NHRA is scared that the cars will dominate SFWD. I could see it being a concern, but on the 24.5" tires and at the weight these cars are at, I highly doubt that it would happen. Sad part is that the top competitors like Keller(161 MPH), Ferguson (9.68 ET), etc. welcome the cars running with them and are not scared to run them at all. Hopefully they will change their minds eventually.

p.s. Jason the car looks nice, can't wait to run with you

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by XXXRacing &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">NHRA is scared that the cars will dominate SFWD. I could see it being a concern, but on the 24.5" tires and at the weight these cars are at, I highly doubt that it would happen. Sad part is that the top competitors like Keller(161 MPH), Ferguson (9.68 ET), etc. welcome the cars running with them and are not scared to run them at all. Hopefully they will change their minds eventually.

p.s. Jason the car looks nice, can't wait to run with you </TD></TR></TABLE>

I can understand why they are scared. Look what it did to the other classes. In the end it is working out, and those classes are evolving and turning around, but if you guys come out and start running 8.90s is NHRA going to have 16-20 cars trying to qualify for SFWD? Probably not. Its a high 9 - mid 10 class and it is REALLY healthy right now.

They may think differently if you guys put an H pattern box in there like everyone else runs.

 

I can't wait to see what these guys put out...They are gonna have some crazy cars...

 

Is that Cobalt AT?

Cause if it is, a good reliable AT trans will always be better than a MT any day of the week. Much easier to put the power down than with a MT car.

 

Brian and Jason,

Great cars you guys both have. Best of luck to you two in the 2006 season.

If you get a chance, talk to Russ, last I was talking to him he was trying to do something with the 4T45E Trans so NHRA could not "bitch" about the tranny anymore since you guys would be using a tranny which came with the car to begin with. About 1 year ago or so Russ was saying they were working to make the 4T45E a stronger tranny so it could be able to hold down alot more power and be used in the clases which you could not run the stronger 4t65 trans.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by mononctsi &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Is that Cobalt AT?

Cause if it is, a good reliable AT trans will always be better than a MT any day of the week. Much easier to put the power down than with a MT car.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Both Brian and Jason are running the 4T65 trans which comes out of the GTP but is heavily modified.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 4piston &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

I can understand why they are scared. Look what it did to the other classes. In the end it is working out, and those classes are evolving and turning around, but if you guys come out and start running 8.90s is NHRA going to have 16-20 cars trying to qualify for SFWD? Probably not. Its a high 9 - mid 10 class and it is REALLY healthy right now.

They may think differently if you guys put an H pattern box in there like everyone else runs.

</TD></TR></TABLE>

Well there is a neon in our area that runs an auto, and once he gets all of his bugs worked out, watch out. So you feel it is ok that they don't allow the cars to run but it's fine with you that a car ran 161 MPH in the class? You don't think that keller's car is going to run sub 9.50s on the 24.5s? I think you are kidding yourself if you don't. And for the record, besides Cali and Vegas, I have never seen more than 8-12 cars qualifying for SFWD on the east coast, and I've been to most of them.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by XXXRacing &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Well there is a neon in our area that runs an auto, and once he gets all of his bugs worked out, watch out. So you feel it is ok that they don't allow the cars to run but it's fine with you that a car ran 161 MPH in the class? You don't think that keller's car is going to run sub 9.50s on the 24.5s? I think you are kidding yourself if you don't. And for the record, besides Cali and Vegas, I have never seen more than 8-12 cars qualifying for SFWD on the east coast, and I've been to most of them.</TD></TR></TABLE>

It's OK if a Honda does it Brian, duh

The problem is, everyone for some odd reason views that a class of racing should be reserved for Hondas and the introduction of GMs is the worse thing for sport compact racing. I think the introduction of the Cobalts has been great for SC racing. Bergenholtz loves it I am sure, and it really brings out the best of competition. Makes everyone step up.

If people want to race, they'll race - it doesn't matter who or what's in the competition. 161mph has always set a whole new mark on Sport FWD, the introduction of Cobalts is not going to hurt the class in my opinion.

 

looks good chris and jason good luck with the car

 

Man, sure does take alot of work to make one of those things look good!! haha. Good job guys!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by XXXRacing &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Well there is a neon in our area that runs an auto, and once he gets all of his bugs worked out, watch out. So you feel it is ok that they don't allow the cars to run but it's fine with you that a car ran 161 MPH in the class? You don't think that keller's car is going to run sub 9.50s on the 24.5s? I think you are kidding yourself if you don't. And for the record, besides Cali and Vegas, I have never seen more than 8-12 cars qualifying for SFWD on the east coast, and I've been to most of them.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Brian I never said that I felt any way about it. I was commenting on why NHRA may be afraid of your cars.

 

I never thought i would say this but a cobalt in t4 trim is such a good looking car and it looks like gm's plan to get the grass roots guys to use their cars is finally begining to pay off.

 

I wouldn't be afraid until they actually come out and run a number!!

2 NHRA races gone, and 1 NDRA race gone and no cobalts running any numbers in SPFWD/Turbo Street. I dont see why there is so much talk about them coming out and dominating??? Maybe someone will shut me up this weekend though!!!lol

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by boostedh22a &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I wouldn't be afraid until they actually come out and run a number!!

2 NHRA races gone, and 1 NDRA race gone and no cobalts running any numbers in SPFWD/Turbo Street. I dont see why there is so much talk about them coming out and dominating??? Maybe someone will shut me up this weekend though!!!lol</TD></TR></TABLE>
Just wait till they come out. They will run a #. The engine is proven and so is the tranny. Just because they havent run doesnt mean they wont run. When CSI comes out its show time.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by matz03 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I never thought i would say this but a cobalt in t4 trim is such a good looking car and it looks like gm's plan to get the grass roots guys to use their cars is finally begining to pay off.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Grass Roots? Has anyone seen one run that does not have sponcership? Try and hit the track at least 3 times a month and I think I have seen one SS That was pretty stock. I see 100 times more SRT-4's.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Corey G &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Grass Roots? Has anyone seen one run that does not have sponcership? Try and hit the track at least 3 times a month and I think I have seen one SS That was pretty stock. I see 100 times more SRT-4's. </TD></TR></TABLE>There are 100 times more srt4 because they've been around since 03, the cobalt came out in 05 i think and the change from a cavalier to a cobalt will have alot to do with people building them.

 

What out this weekend~you will see what its ALL about

 

Thank you guys for all the love here - this car is really close to completion. This build is going to top all the other cars both Chris and I have done over the years. We can't wait to finish it and show you all how nice it can be.

Jason Whitfield
Whitfield Racong Inc