Ford Displays Cobra Jet Mustang at NHRA Events

Ford's Cobra Jet Mustang winning the February-schedule Winternationals at Pomona in the NHRA did not go unnoticed. All motor racing enthusiasts from across the North American continent now want to have a peek at the Funny Car-winning CJ Mustang, leading to Ford Motor Company creating a special special programme of 10 Cobra Jet gatherings, peppered through the 2009 NHRA schedule.

Through the aforementioned meeting, sportsman racers from across America will have the chance to inspect the model and meet with Ford representatives in order to get more accustomed with the CJ. The first of the 10 meetings on schedule is to take place from as early as today (at the Tasca Racing Motorcraft/Quick Lane hospitality), debuting the ACDelco NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville.

“The attention focused on the Cobra Jet is unlike anything I have seen in the sportsman class in many years in racing. With all 50 CJ’s sold and now scattered around the United States, there are a number of sportsman who want to get an up close look at the Cobra Jet,” said Brian Wolfe, director of Ford Racing Technology, according to a statement from Ford.

“We decided to do a series of town hall style meetings where the sportsman racer can come and see the Cobra Jet and talk with representatives from Ford Racing and learn not only about the Cobra Jet but about our program and some of Ford Racing’s offerings for the sportsman racer,” added Wolfe. This week's meeting will benefit from the presence of both Ford Racing NHRA Program Manager Jesse Kershaw and Bob Tasca III driver of the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Shelby Mustang Funny Car.

“This event provides an opportunity for the racers to see the Cobra Jet up close and talk with some of the people who have been involved in building these cars. We're soliciting feedback directly from racers on the Cobra Jet as we investigate interest in future dedicated drag race packages. If someone doesn’t want to wait for the next generation there are parts available through Ford Racing to build your own Cobra Jet. All this and more will be discussed on Thursday,” announced Wolfe.

Here is the complete schedule for the 10-meeting Ford Cobra Jet Mustang this year, as announced by Ford:

March 12-15 – NHRA Gatornationals (Gainesville, FL)(
June 4-7 – NHRA Route 66 Nationals (Joliet, IL)(
June 11-14 – NHRA SuperNationals (Englishtown, NJ)(
June 25-28 – Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals (Norwalk, OH)(
July 10-12 –NHRA Mile-High NHRA Nationals (Denver, CO) Quick Lane display only(
Sept. 2-7 – Mac Tools U.S. Nationals (Indianapolis, IN)(
Sept. 17-20 – NHRA Nationals (Charlotte, NC)(
Sept. 24-27 – O’Reilly Super Start Batteries NHRA Fall Nationals (Dallas, TX)(
Oct. 29-Nov. 1 – Las Vegas NHRA Nationals (Las Vegas, NV)(
Nov. 12-15 – Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals (Pomona, CA)