Everybody loves the underdog – the #32 qualifier upsetting the number-one qualifier – the bottom feeder team making the playoffs and going all the way-type stories.

In drag racing, there are many classes where certain combinations are favored. Let’s face it, most team owners are going to seek out the most horsepower to have at their disposal. A 2.0 liter, four-cylinder engine packing a little 76mm single turbocharger with an automatic transmission is probably not at the top of your list for engine combinations with maximum horsepower. CDub Racing looked at that combination and stuffed it into a solid chassis and rolled north to Great Lakes Dragaway for King Of The Streets XIV, better known as KOTS. In the interview found on the video above, the driver states they are pushing 60 PSI of boost through this little 2.0-liter engine!

Packed with carbon fiber and a sleek slammed stance, this hot rod was ready for the Gangster class at KOTS.

CDub Racing was entered in the Gangster Class for KOTS competition and rolled up in the first round against a clean Fox Body Mustang. Side bets and wagers are what makes KOTS what it is – it gets the fans involved in the race and adds a sense of competition on the sidelines as well. If you see an import rolling to the line against a Mustang, most of the time you’re going to go with the Mustang, just based on looks.

In this instance, you’d be paying up to the person who took their shot on the underdog! As his opponent has traction issues and drifts out of the groove, our turbocharged four-cylinder raced away to a round win. In Round Two, CDub Racing faced off with KOTS legend and well-known street racer, Heyyo Steve and his turbocharged Trans Am.

Many people saw the taillights of this 2.0L import, including Heyyo Steve!

Steve runs into issues at the 60-foot mark and off to the races goes the high winding 2.0 liter engine, pushing to max boost numbers and lighting the win light to move on another round against the big cubic inch V8 terrors. Round Three, another Mustang, another bet lost….. the underdog moves on to the semi-finals!

In the semi-finals, our underdog 2.0-liter hot rod ran into Gino Cavallo’s X275 turbocharged Ford Mustang, converted to KOTS no-prep trim with slicks and other changes. Both cars got off the line smooth, Gino pedaled and that big V8 horsepower started pulling away on the top end of the racetrack and ended our underdog’s quest to put a four-cylinder in the finals of the KOTS Gangster class.

If you’ve only learned one thing from this article, you’ve learned this …. don’t judge a car by its combination!

Video Credit: 1320Video