The Race Red 2011 Mustang GT will be the pace car for the Daytona 500 this Feb. 14. In 1970 the Ford Torino GT convertible paced the 500. Ford cranked the Mustang GT up to 412- horsepower this year. To commemorate the Daytona 500, Ford will build fifty special pace car editions of the 2011 Mustang GT. The actual Race Red Mustang was auctioned at the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Collector Car Auction last week. The GT sold for $330,000. The balance after MSRP will be donated to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Richard Petty, now a member of the Ford Racing Family, handed the keys to the buyer. Petty sold his 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8 sold for $400,000, all proceeds go to the Petty’s family Victory Junction Gang Camp.
The Race Red Mustangs will be glass roof coupes, with a sweet Daytona 500 paint job.
Ford racing suspension, strut tower brace and mufflers, special cabin features, and painted wheels. Oh, and 25mpg! The GT’s heart is an all-new 5.0 liter V-8 that pumps out 412 horsepower. They’ve added Electric Power Assist Steering (EPAS). Stopping the Pony are 11.5-inch and front and 11.8-inch rear vented discs. The suspension is beefed up with improved rear lower control arm, and stiffened rear stabilizer bushings. If you’re a real diehard pony hugger, a Brembo brake package, is available with larger rotors and calipers from Ford Shelby GT500 Mustang. They’re mated with unique 19-inch wheels and summer performance sneakers. Add the new fender badges that brag the return of the mighty 5.0 liter.
On Dec. 18, Ford named Jamie Allison the new Director of Ford North America Motorsports. “Everybody loves the Mustang,” explained Allison. “That was evident last year from the fan reaction when we announced it was going to be our new model in the NASCAR Nationwide Series starting later this year. This is just another way to showcase a true American icon in its most natural environment. But, hey, you know how the car business is right now, so Ford is only in three divisions racing: NASCAR, NHRA and World Rally, with Focus and Fiestas.” Ford also does Grand Am, which are closer to street muscle cars.
Allison is looking for some checkered flags from AJ Allmendinger, and Greg Biffle.
Detroit is less fond of NASCAR lately. They are putting all their technology into green cars. As for racing’s 70 million fans, they want NASCAR, almost half of all car buyers are racing fans according to NASCAR data. Although Chevy trounced Ford on the track last year, Ford certainly could do better with more than one team. There were complaints about coming off the corners, Biffle will be the man to go to, for some answers.
Petty-Gillett and crew chief Kenny Francis are in the garage with them now. Although Petty and George Gillett are not always stable partners, and their technicians have all scattered. They have the knowledge, they have been there. They are winners.
The FR9 engine is still in the works, Allison is looking at May to swap over. He would like the FR9 as soon as possible, but with 13 teams at Daytona, parts would be hard to get, to keep 13 teams running.
Roush’s teams have been close, in the top 3 in each of the last 10 years.
Maybe the new ride will give them the edge. Maybe 13 new rides will do it! My money is on Martin.
- Ford almost making the right moves! Well… I havent written anything in a while, but I finally have something on my mind. FORD! That’s right an American car manufacturer. In fact the only one who didn’t take any money on the Gov’t bailouts. I have never been into American cars as much as imports, but I recently made the decision to purchase a 2009 Ford
- Winter in Daytona Beach is Auto Racing, Biker Festivals and a Break from the Cold When I think of Daytona Beach several things come to mind. I remember hanging out on the beach during the day getting ‘the perfect tan’ then going back to the room to freshen up, out to dinner and then clubbing all night. I really enjoyed meeting all the people from all over the country there
- Danica or Michael? Danica Patrick will don fenders in 2010, joining NASCAR part-time. Danica goes NASCAR. Schumacher returns to Formula One. Coincidence? Both NASCAR and F1 will benefit from such high profile names joining (or rejoining). The fans will eat it up. TV ratings, ticket sales and merchandise sales will be up. And let’s not forget about ad revenue.
- Earnhardt Jr. Wins pity matchNASCAR pity contest won by Earnhardt Jrnd rate driver Earnhardt Jr wins pity Vegas – Earnhardt country rejoiced when Dale Earnhardt Jr. Won NASCAR’s most well liked driver for the 7th straight year on Wed.. Most fans, who were drunk during voting, later sobered up to realize they had in reality voted for a guy that wasn’t really very good at driving around in circles. ‘I
- Why do we need group B back This is a Lancia Delta, however it isn’t what you think when you think Lancia delta do you. Oh no you think of this This The Delta Integrale took Lancia’s run-of-the-mill hatchback and turned it into something memorable, we owe all of this awesomeness to Group B. The Group B regulations fostered some of the quickest, most powerful
- Muscle Milk Announces Sponsorship of JGRMX’s Josh Grant & Justin Brayton BENICIA, CA, – December 11, 2009 – (Motor Sports Newswire) – Muscle Milk, CytoSport’s leading Ready-to-Drink protein enhanced beverage, announced today the sponsorship of the Joe Gibbs Racing Motocross (JGRMX) team and its supercross and motocross program. JGRMX is owned by Coy Gibbs, son of Joe Gibbs, a three-time Super Bowl Champion as head coach