Mustang Cobra Jet Makes Racing Debut

John Calvert, driving the 40th Anniversary 2008 Mustang FR500CJ Cobra Jet duplicated the success of the original 1968 Cobra Jet when he won the AA Stock Eliminator class at the 2009 NHRA Winternationals, which finished up today after several rain delays. It is history repeated as in 1968, drag racing legend Al Joneic drove the Cobra Jet to victory at Pomona in the NHRA Winternationals in the CJ’s competition debut

Driving for Oklahoma-based Brent Hajek Motorsports, Calvert piloted the Cobra Jet through a chaotic opening weekend that stretched over six days due to rain delays. Calvert, a former world champion (1991 Stock) and a three-time NHRA Winternationals champion, normally runs a 1968 Cobra Jet. He agreed to drive the Hajek ’08 entry in Stock Eliminator at the Winternationals.

“How cool is this? It was like a storybook ending that was meant to be,” said Hajek, who entered four Cobra Jet Mustangs at Pomona. “ It is our first time entering a national event and we won! This program was always about paying tribute and respect to the drivers from’68 who started the legend of the Cobra Jet. This was about upholding their honor and everyone involved with this project deserves a great deal of credit."

For decades, the Mustang has been the preeminent car in many forms of motorsports, including drag racing. Adding to the rich and successful racing history of Ford's iconic pony car, the 2008 Cobra Jet Mustang is a factory-built race car that is NHRA-legal and ready for the drag strip. It is the first purpose-built race car from Ford for drag racing since the original Cobra Jet Mustang.

The 2008 Cobra Jet Mustang joins Ford Racing’s stable of championship-capable customer Mustangs: the Mustang FR500S, the Mustang FR500C and the Mustang FR500GT.

The FR500 series of Mustangs are race-ready cars, designed by Ford Racing engineers for performance-conscious customers, that can be rolled right off of a truck and win in competition. In winning its debut race the ‘08 Cobra Jet, matched the accomplishment of its sister car, the Mustang FR500C.

The FR500C was unloaded for customers at the 2005 Grand-Am Rolex Series opening race in Daytona on a Wednesday, won the race on Friday and went on to secure a championship its first season. The CJ has once again delivered a victory to the FR500 series of Mustangs in its debut weekend.

Sweet!!! nice lift in the pic also.