03/04 Mustang Mach 1 in NHRA Stock???

[Bill Harris]

Oh, you silly, silly boy.... Just what does the NHRA have to do to keep you from running a Ford in class?

According to Nitro Joes latest stats, there are no '03 Mustangs in stock. You can't run it as an '04 as there are no specs for 2004 Fords. For '03 Mach 1's, the NHRA has decided, without any previous experience or examples, mind you, that the factory 300 HP 4.6L engine should be rated at 320 HP. Nevermind that there probably isn't a single example of a Ford Mod motor in NHRA class racing anywhere in the country, someone in the NHRA just knows that the factory 300 HP is wrong and that the motor should start out with a 20 HP hit right off the bat.

Anyway, if you ran as an '03 Mach 1 you would be a natural "E" car with an index of 12.00 for an automatic and 11.95 for a stick. Plan on running 11 flat to have a prayer in class runoffs. Minimum race weight in E would be 3370 with you in the car. If they had left the HP alone you would be a natural F with an automatic index of 12.15, or 12.10 with a stick. Race weight would be 3320 lbs.

Good luck!