Hajek Motorsports attempts to topple 22-year-old NASCAR speed record in E85 Mustang
by Jeremy Korzeniewski on May 7th 2009 at 5:30PM 
Ford Racing FR500C Mustang - Click above for a high-res image gallery
The current NASCAR top speed record sits at 212.089 mph and was set by Bill Elliot at Talladega Superspeedway in a 1987 Ford Thunderbird. Brent Hajek apparently figures it's about time that 22-year-old record is topped. Next Wednesday, May 13th, Hajek will once again put Bill Elliot behind the wheel of a Ford at the famed Talladega oval in Alabama, only this time, the vehicle in question will be a Mustang FR500C modified to run on E85.
This particular Mustang Cobra Jet has already managed to clock a 252 mph top speed at the Salt Flats in Bonneville, so we can't imagine there will be any problem setting a new record. Of course, there's nothing environmentally friendly about lapping an oval track at high rates of speed for the fun of it. Still, if the record's going to be set, it might as well be in a Mustang burning ethanol. See the full press release after the break.
Gallery: Ford Racing FR500C and FR500GT
[Source: Ford]
PRESS RELEASE:
HAJEK MOTORSPORTS WILL ATTEMPT TO BREAK NASCAR SPEED RECORD IN AN E-85 POWERED MUSTANG FR500C
Brian Wolfe, Director, Ford Racing Technology hands the key of the first FR500CJ off the production line in Livonia, Mich. to the first buyer Brent Hajek of Ames, Okla.
Click here to download related images.
AMES, Okla., May 6, 2009 – Brent Hajek already has a passion for living, but that passion burns brightest when he's talking about racing, racing history and his love of all things Ford. Fortunately for fans of Ford, Hajek's passion has prompted the Ames, Oklahoma native and owner of Hajek Motorsports to pursue his own place in racing history.
Hajek Motorsports has been around since the 1970s, and over the years Brent Hajek has amassed an impressive collection of historical race cars, predominantly Ford, that once carried some of the biggest names in racing.
Those vehicles include a NHRA Gas Ronda '66 Ford Mustang, Bob Glidden's '88 Ford Thunderbird, Parnelli Jones' '63 NASCAR Mercury Marauder, David Pearson's '69 Ford Torino Talladega, and Bill Elliott's '87 Ford Thunderbird, which is the all-time NASCAR speed record holder.
For Hajek, a successful oilman and a farmer, owning motorsports history wasn't enough. He wanted to make his own racing history.
"It all changed when I first saw the Mustang FR500C," said Hajek. "That car was amazing and it really got me thinking about how we could really accomplish some cool things if we put our minds to it. The FR500C has won championships and it has won high profile races, but I felt like it hasn't received the credit or attention it deserves. So I decided it was time to chase some of these records and to make a little history. I started talking with the guys at Ford Racing and they have been incredibly supportive of our efforts."
Last August, he took an E-85 converted Mustang FR500C to the Bonneville Salt Flats in search of the land speed record for an Ethanol powered car. Forced to run in the unlimited fuel class, his E-85 Ethanol powered Mustang posted an initial run of over 252 mph. A mechanical failure didn't allow the team to make the validation run, but the 252 mph run earned their car the unofficial designation by some as the 'fastest production Mustang on earth.'
On Wednesday, May 13, Hajek Motorsports will embark on its next challenge, with technical support from Ford Racing, when they attempt to break the 22-year-old NASCAR speed record held by Bill Elliott. Elliott himself will pilot Hajek's E-85 Mustang FR500C, which has been reconfigured to NASCAR specs, at Talladega in an attempt to break his 212.089 mph qualifying lap from 1987 at the same track. FIA officials will be on site to verify the attempt and to validate the record.
Hajek Motorsports and Ford Racing hopes to continue the success from Hajek's last Ford Racing-related program. It was Hajek who eagerly accepted the challenge of taking delivery of the first 40th Anniversary Mustang FR500CJ, better known as the Mustang Cobra Jet. With only a month to prepare, he entered four Cobra Jet's for the NHRA season opener in Pomona, Calif. Not only did his team meet the deadline, but Hajek's Cobra Jet driven by John Calvert duplicated the success of the original CJ's by winning its debut race at the NHRA Winternationals.
"Brent and his team typify the high level of enthusiasm and dedication we see from a lot of our grass roots racers and private teams that campaign Ford cars and trucks in a wide variety of series every week," said Brian Wolfe, director of Ford North American Motorsports. "Hajek Motorsports has set their focus on breaking a variety of racing records and, although they are a private team, we are glad to aid them with engineering and technical support in their quest to make motorsports history while driving a Ford."
"It got to the point where I was running out of cars to collect so I decided I better create some new classics," said Hajek. "Nobody has ever taken the same car to Bonneville and Talladega, so we decided to be the first to do it. I have always thought that the only person who should break Bill Elliott's NASCAR speed record is Bill Elliott, so next week will be pretty exciting for everyone involved."
The Hajek Motorsports E-85 Mustang is currently at Bill Elliott's race shop in Dawsonville, Georgia, going through final preparations. Early next week, the team will scrub tires and do initial testing, in anticipation of breaking the record on Wednesday afternoon.
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About Ford Racing Technology
Ford Racing Technology, based in Dearborn, Mich., is responsible for major racing operations in North America, including NASCAR, Grand American sports car racing, NHRA drag racing, USAC midget car racing and the Ford Racing Mustang Challenge for the Miller Cup. Ford Racing also oversees the development and marketing of Ford Racing Engines and Performance Parts, the outreach programs with all Ford Clubs and Ford enthusiasts, and the marketing of the Ford Racing brand through initiatives such as Team Ford Racing. For more information regarding Ford Racing's activities, please visit www.fordracing.com.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
xtasi 5:49PM (5/07/2009)
so what's be big deal? the FR500C is for racing circuits only, street cars (corvette zr1) can do 200+
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Mayoman 5:56PM (5/07/2009)
Maybe I'm missing something, but shouldn't you use a NASCAR to break a NASCAR speed record?
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Steven 5:58PM (5/07/2009)
Why would you need a nascar to set a nascar record??
I'm gonna go set a Nascar record on Highway 80 in my Subaru tonight!
Stirling Moss 4:25PM (5/10/2009)
How can a car that is not NASCAR break a NASCAR speed record? Can someone with a Veyron break the NASCAR record too? I don't get it.
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Christian 11:36PM (5/11/2009)
Where is this Veyron?
Is he running the track with race officals? No? Then WhO CARES?
Franz 6:22PM (5/07/2009)
Sure it's fast in a straight line, but can it turn left?
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Joe 6:25PM (5/07/2009)
Isn't the FR500C the Koni Cup racer and the FR500CJ the CobraJet straight-liner?
eh, Either way they better have that hood buttoned down... They like to take flight
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Joe 7:07PM (5/07/2009)
I thought the same thing. Methinks Autoblog got their pictures mixed up.
mcampasini 6:34PM (5/07/2009)
this really makes no sense what they really need to do is take the restrictor plates off of real nascar's and see what they do.
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Joe 7:08PM (5/07/2009)
I don't know if it makes NO sense. I mean, I'm all for seeing what a Mustang can do at 'dega.
I'd also like to see a Sprint Cup equipped Fusion without a restrictor plate doing the run, but that's just me.
Marc 8:13PM (5/07/2009)
Um, that was gone by Rusty Wallace a couple years ago in a Penske Dodge. He reached a top lap speed of 225 and said he thought with a bit of tweaking could reach 230mph.
He was also quoted as saying it was "scary."
Nick Martin 6:51PM (5/07/2009)
This is awesome. Go Bill!! I'm guessing they are configuring the car to meet 1987 NASCAR specs.
Also, I think that 212 mph is the average lap speed.
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Matt 7:20PM (5/07/2009)
The FR500C is the one that broke the 252 mph record:
http://www.mustangblog.com/blog/1020494_hajek-motorsports-will-attempt-to-break-nascar-speed-record-in-e-85-powered-fr500c
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Jason 8:19PM (5/07/2009)
Umm, they can break that record but it won't stand as an official record unless they use an actual cup car to do so.
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Metar 3:16AM (5/08/2009)
^ That. Every record in a racing-series has to be set according to the regulations currently in place... Some series even state that it has to be during an official session. In F1, for example, it has to be during a race.
Otherwise, everyone could built a turbocharged ground-effects monster with modern tyres and aerodynamics, break every F1 lap-record in existence, and then pass out due to the extreme g-forces.
info 7:54PM (5/07/2009)
This is just another attempt to elevate NASCAR beyond what they actually are. Apparently they need help outside of the cars that compete under their antiquated rules. Beised, there a any numner of production cars that can run circles around the NASCAR yestertech crap and the Mustang in question as well.
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slackinfux 7:58PM (5/07/2009)
If it doesn't beat this, I'm going to laugh...and laugh hard!
http://www.audistory.24max.de/old1/etallade.htm
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andy 2:10AM (5/08/2009)
yeah thanks for that useless comment
wasabi 10:31PM (5/07/2009)
So if it is a Mustang built to NASCAR spec, does this mean it is a car of tomorrow, or is it yesterday...with a Mustang decal on the hood?
Either way, I like Bill Elliott, hope he does good.
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John 6:02AM (5/08/2009)
What's the big deal with this that has everyone taking shots at it. This is about an enthusiast who wants to use his toys to break some new ground. What's so wrong with that?
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