Is nothing sacred anymore?! Not that I am trying to be a Mustang Melvin here, but there are certain Mustangs you either leave stock, or perhaps just add tasteful mods that can be reversed for history’s sake. Jeff Polivka has not shown any modificational (Yes, that is a new word, and you can’t have it) restraint with his 2013 Boss 302.

That’s a Rich Groh-built Coyote engine with a JPC Racing custom turbo system for a power adder.

At first, the car boasted a little JPC Racing single turbo kit, making upwards of 700-rwhp. The car was easy to drive, and an all-around joy of a car. It ran 10.0s like it was a bracket car, but it seems when it comes to Polivka, that isn’t enough. Recently, the car has undergone extensive modifications to get it ready for NMRA Coyote Modified competition.

The stock Roadrunner Boss engine came out in favor of a Rich Groh-built 305-inch Coyote engine. It still has the Boss intake, if that’s any consolation, but the stock fuel system is gone, replaced by a JPC fuel system consisting of a Magnafuel pump and regulator, UPR Products filters, and DeatschWerks 1500cc fuel injectors. These days, the turbo kit is a little more serious with a JPC Racing custom turbo system using a 68mm turbo from Forced Inductions, a custom air-to-air intercooler, and Kooks custom headers. Behind the built Coyote is a Transmission Specialties Powerglide with a PTC converter.

Out back lives a Strange Engineering 8.8 with 9-inch ends, 35-spline race axles, and a spool. To take some weight out of the car, the Boss utilizes a Kirkey racing seat, Optic Armor glass, and Scott Rod Fabrications rear seat and trunk sheetmetal kits.

The engine management system is one that JPC Racing has recently taken to, which is an AEM Infinity 8 ECU with an AQ1 data logger. The car was wired by JPC, and features a Racepak IQ3 dash, and a Speedwire custom relay board and switch panel. Still tickling the keys is Kevin ‘Canadian Bacon’ MacDonald.

To make sure the car is ready for competition, Polivka took the Boss over to Dominic Cimino at Maryland Performance Specialties for a 25.3 chassis. Cimino also performed a lot of the rear end fabrication with the rear coilover set-up and the Racecraft upper control arm. JPC then added the car’s UPR Products front suspension and rear Pro Series system with a TRZ Motorsports anti-roll bar. QA1 coilovers are up front, while an Afco set-up lives out back.

In preparation for the car’s reiteration, Polivka attended Frank Hawley’s Drag Racing School to make sure he would be ready and qualified to confidently race the car. So far, Polivka and JPC crew are on the right track. On only the car’s third pass, Polivka ran an 8.53 at 162 mph. We’re sure more adjustments will be made before Bowling Green to lower that number even further.

“Special thanks to everyone at JPC Racing, including Justin, Tommy, Aaron, Adam, Chris, TJ, Ronnie, and especially Eric Holliday, who is the car’s build manager and crew chief,” Polivka says. “Also, thanks to great sponsors UPR Products, AEM, Cartel Manufacturing, DeatschWerks, and of course, JPC Racing.”