Scott Hoag '12 Mustang V-6
The
305 horsepower '11-up 3.7L V-6 Mustangs are often overshadowed by their 400-plus horsepower brethren. But for those who don't mind being the underdog, like
Scott Hoag, then the V-6 Pony is a great platform on which to start a project. Helping this V-6 race to the next turn is a ProCharger centrifugal supercharger, and underneath is basically one of everything from the H&R catalog, as well as 14-inch Baer brakes. We love this car for its unapologetic stance that it is a V-6, like it or not. The weight savings and best-of-everything configuration help this V-6 make our Top 10.
When Ford Racing announced the return of the Cobra Jet, 40 years after the original, racers old and new couldn't wait to get their hands on one (or two). One of those racers was Don Fezell. Racing Stock Eliminator during the NHRA Four-wide Nationals, Fezell went 8.954 at 153.88 mph in AA/S during qualifying on April 13th, 2012 at zMax Dragway in Charlotte. Not only did he qualify First, but with that pass, was the first Stock Eliminator car to ever break into the 8s. Congratulations to Fezell and his stocker.
Performance Autosport '11 RTR Mustang
Perfomance Autosport is a leader in the Mustang performance world. It specializes in building and racing open track cars, and the chief of its stable is the '11 PAS/RTR NASA American Iron car. The now-dominant race car started its life as an '11 Mustang GT, bought right off the lot. Now, with the help of driver Chris Cobetto, it has won 10 of the 12 Mid-Atlantic Regional races in 2012. This feat defended the team's 2011 title, giving it back-to-back championships. A short list of mods include Kenny Brown suspension, Tiger Racing body mods, HRE wheels, and American Racing Headers exhaust.
Chris Cruz '11 Mustang GT/CS
With 1,002 rwhp and 8-second quarter-mile capabilities, and all in street trim,
Chris Cruz' '11 Mustang GT/CS is well-deserving of Top 10 status. The bulletproof Coyote is toped by a 4.0L Whipple supercharger pumping out 24 psi of boost. Evolution Performance handled the build, and tuning was handled by John Lund. It even utilizes a Circle D-modded original 6R80 automatic transmission. To date, the Cruz missle has gone a best of 8.99 at 153 mph, and was the first 6R80-equipped Mustang in the 8s.
Eric Burgos '04 SVT Cobra
Terminator Cobras, it seems, are everywhere. Even we get tired of seeing the same old bolt-on '03-'04 Cobras with a Whipple. But every once in a while, along comes one that stands out from the rest. This year, that "one" was
this black '04 owned by Eric Burgos. Besides its sinister appearance, it pumps out 676 rwhp and 636 lb-ft of torque on 19 pounds of boost. Burgos enjoys driving his Cobra on the street, but also participates in open-track events in SoCal.
Don Walsh Jr. Pro Stock Mustang
Don Walsh Jr.'s Pro Stock Mustang is epidome of a drag-race Mustang. Walsh began his Mustang racing career in the '90s and made a name for himself in Pro5.0. Today, he takes home Wally's and runs 5.80s in the quarter-mile with his Walsh Motorsports race car -- he even turns wrenches on the car himself. We love the fact that it has a flat hood and a stick.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr Nationwide Series Mustang
Though not a Mustang in the true sense, but Ricky Stenhouse Jr.'s Nationwide Series Mustang represents the running horse well. After taking home the series championship in 2011 by a landslide, Stenhouse is well on his way to his second championship in a row. This run has also landed Stenhouse a ride in the Number 17 Roush Fenway car in NASCAR's premier Sprint Cup Series next year.
Rick Andersen '05 Mustang
Uniqueness can sometimes be taken too far, so most people err on the side of caution. Not Rick Andersen. Much to our pleasure, he nailed the unique retro look on his '05 Mustang. Nothing on the interior was left untouched, and the exterior is just as flashy -- it was even on the cover of our
March '12 issue.