Drag Week 2013: Dave Ahokas on Pro Mods Versus Steel Cars in the Unlimited Class

As Drag Week enters its ninth year, the big talk is about Pro-Mod-style "street" cars versus real steel OE cars in the Unlimited class. For 9 years, Unlimited has had no rules. For five years, Larry Larson has won with a production-based, full-tube-chassis '66 Nova. Dave Ahokas has run a Jerry Bickel-chassis Pro Mod car in Unlimited for two years and has not been able to survive the 1,000-plus-mile drive required by Drag Week, but he became a focus of attention just before the 2013 event when he ran 6.97 at 200 mph in the quarter mile in testing at Beech Bend Raceway on the day before Drag Week began at the same track. That 6.87 is quicker than any known pass from a former Drag Week contender. The question is, will the car be able to survive a week on the road? And the bigger question on many fans' minds is, should Pro Mod cars converted to street cars continue to be allowed at Drag Week? In this video, HOT ROD's Elana Scherr interviews Dave Ahokas before the start of competition at Drag Week 2013 so we can hear his views on why he's at the center of the controversy. Drag Week 2013 is presented by Gear Vendors and co-sponsored by Pep Boys Speed Shop. See more at HOTROD.com