Shelby Mustang GT500 - Sickingly Venomous Track Attack - Shoot Out!

Eleven GT500S. Two classes. One track. The chance to make as many runs as possible to shoot for quarter-mile glory and supremacy. The result? A couple of nine-second passes, a twin-turbo GT500, one shelled rearend, a bit of tire shake, and one hell of an exciting shootout.

Wanting to showcase what's happening out there in GT500-land, we set up a shootout pitting the baddest stock blower (Street class) and anything-goes (Outlaw class) cars in a gloves-off fisticuffs. At first, it was almost the shootout that wasn't, as our original date was rained out-three times. After having to reschedule for a sunny day, the pressure was on both the contestants and MM&FF to pull the deal off before the deadline hit.

Things started out fairly tame, as one of the shootout cars made a couple of test hits. We then had all 11 of our GT500s pulled into the staging lanes at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in Englishtown, New Jersey, for our first group run. Some slipped and slid, while others dead-hooked, but when the day was done, we were treated to one of the baddest shootouts we've ever put together. With roughly a million dollars in the pits and more horsepower than we could count, it was amazing to see what simple bolt-on parts could do for the already-amazing GT500.

As stated, we drummed up two different classes, the wildest being Outlaw-an anything goes, run-what-ya-brung deal. While there were only four cars in this class, the quad set showcased innovation and a host of different setups. One was equipped with a Whipple 3.4L blower, two with a Kenne Bell, and one with a twin-turbo combination. The result was the quickest and fastest cars in the shootout, and one that showed potential eight-second capability.

1st Place
Nelson Whitlock
Aston, PA
9.542/148.01
Nelson Whitlock and the boys from Evolution Performance brought their black '07 GT500 for the Outlaw class and certainly did not disappoint. If this car looks familiar, it's because it was featured in our March '07 issue, and it was the first Shelby in both the 10- and 9-second zones. With this new setup, it's on its way to being the first in the 8s.

The black beast sports a pair of Precision T67 turbos that helped push it to a pair of 9.54s at well into the 140-mph district. "This is the first time out with this combination, so the boost was only at 17 psi," says Evolution's Fred Cook. "We're sure that 26-27 psi is possible, and we're shooting to be the first in the 8s with a stock motor, though we do have a built bullet ready to go." The other notable thing about this ride was that it showcases a Ford 9-inch under the hind end, and was the only car in the shootout equipped with an automatic transmission.