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2007 Roush DragPak
As a direct result of more than a year’s worth of
testing, research and development for the ROUSH Competition Line of
performance parts, the company has decided to take the next step and
offer a complete race-ready Drag Pak Mustang that can roll from the
street to the strip.
The ROUSH Drag Pak Mustang is the first drag racing purpose-built Ford
since the 1969-70 Super Jet Cobra. This car had 335 horsepower, oil
cooler, enhanced connecting rods, modified crankshaft and a choice of
3.91 or 4.30 Traction-Lok gears. In 1970, the Mustang Boss 302 was also
available with a Drag Pak option but that only included different gears
and external oil cooler. Since then, for the past 36 years, no
manufacturer has offered a drag specific car, though there have been
several parts packages made available for customers to install
post-title.
This 2007 Ford Mustang is based off the flagship ROUSH Stage 3 and
designed for safety, durability and adjustability. A prototype has been
racing in the Modular Muscle class of the NMRA and tested almost weekly
at Milan (Mich.) Raceway.
“When we returned to having a drag racing program last season I
challenged the team at ROUSH Performance to build a car that can be
driven to the track, have the tires changed to slicks, and perform on
the drag strip,” said Jack Roush. “This Drag Pak Mustang is the
culmination of those efforts.” Roush has a fondness for drag racing that
goes back to when he began his motorsports career in the late ‘60s with
the “Fastbacks,” a group of Ford engineers that pooled their money to go
drag racing. He personally oversaw the development of the ROUSH Drag Pak
Mustang.
Some of the parts that are unique to the ROUSH Drag Pak Mustang include
an upgraded flywheel and clutch, a one-piece driveshaft with safety
loop, a polished 4:10 ring and pinion gear set, upgraded posi rear
differential, bracing on the rear axle housing, new lower control arm
brackets with two attachment positions, and high-strength axle shafts
with extended wheel studs.
The suspension components are highly adjustable and include tubular
steel upper and lower control arms with rod ends, tubular steel panhard
rod and relocation bracket, rear stabilizer bar relocation kit, and
single adjustable front struts and double adjustable rear shocks.
Other unique elements of the ROUSH Drag Pak Mustang include having the
battery relocated to the trunk for better weight distribution and the
inclusion of an external on/off switch, a tachometer with shift light
mounted to the dash, smaller ROUSHcharger™ pulley and engine calibration
with a maximum of 7000 RPM. The car will ship with both street tires and
a set of Mickey Thompson rear drag racing tires.
There are also a variety of options available, including carbon fiber
hood and fenders, line lock system, four-point bolt-in safety bar, open
system chiller box which provides maximum intercooler performance,
SFI-approved bell housing and upgraded transmission shift fork pads, and
straight pipes for the exhaust system. A ROUSH short throw shifter is
available with reverse and fifth-gear lockout.
More than 200 runs were made in the testing of the vehicle, each
challenging the functionality and durability of the parts. If a
component didn’t perform as anticipated, failed, or the ROUSH engineers
saw some type of premature wear the design was modified and then
re-tested on the track. The 430 horsepower car has achieved several runs
in the 11.9-second and 113 mph range.
Plans call for only 50 ROUSH Drag Pak Mustangs to be built, and they
will be exclusively offered through Brandon Ford in Tampa, Fla. For
pricing and more details, contact Brandon Ford at (813) 246-3673 or
visit online at www.TampaBayFord.com.
Many of the parts that are included on the ROUSH Drag Pak Mustang are
also sold separately for existing car owners. A complete listing and
pricing can be found at www.RoushPerformance.com or by calling (800)
59-ROUSH.
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