If you’re going to run with the best in the drag racing business, you better not bring a knife to the gun fight. And that’s exactly the situation Tom Urbik is working to avoid.

After running in the grudge and no prep world for years, Urbik earned his stripes as a killer wheelman, and gained the knowledge to run with the best of them. With the help of Fast Forward Race Cars and the Plimpton family, Urbik is bring a cannon to the Radial vs The World game in the form of this 1979 Corvette.

Urbik, a marine engineer by trade, has faced pirates during his day job and run against some of the best competition the racing world has to offer, including the boys from Street Outlaws at one of the famous Cash Days events. In 2012, Urbik and his Corvette tagged the wall at a King of the Street no prep race, and like any dedicated racer, he’s bringing the car back better than ever — this time to do some grudge and major league class racing.

The new and improved Corvette has been built to run in both Outlaw 10.5 and Radial vs The World by Fast Forward Race Cars. Under the hood is a Hemi-based, 526 cubic inch TFX block engine that will be topped with a pair of Brad Anderson 6 cylinder heads.

Carl Stevens Jr. and Xtreme Racing Engines spec’ed out a camshaft and constructed a custom intake manifold to match the engine. Stevens will also be helping Urbik out with getting handle on the tune. For boost, a pair of either 98 or 102mm Precision Pro Mod turbochargers are plumbed up under the hood.

The Plimpton family, who campaign the famous “Fearmont” in X275, will help Urbik get a handle on the car and class racing, since this will be a departure from the no prep and grudge world for him. Right now, the plan is to shake the car down at a few no-time shootouts before jumping into the Radial vs The World fight. With the level of craftsman ship put into this revamped Corvette, look for Urbik to make some noise in 2016 at no-time grudge events and in Radial vs The World.