J.R. Granatelli. Image credit: SEMA News

Longtime Mustang drag racer and performance parts aficionado J.R. Granatelli, president of Granatelli Motorsports, has announced his intentions to pursue building what would be the quickest and fastest Ford Modular-powered Mustang to date for the 2011 season and beyond. Granatelli will work closely with Aeromotive’s Steve Matusek, who carried the Ford Modular banner before selling his car to step up to the next level of doorslammer racing.

“Steve is moving up to Pro Modified and so along with Ford, we’re going to carry on and build a PSCA-style car and continue to promote the Mod motor. So basically we’re building a Mod motor Pro Modified car. Along with PSCA, we’ll also run it in NHRA Competition Eliminator,” said Granatelli. “We’re never going to be able to compete on the Pro Modified level with a Modular motor. We’re not going to make 3,200 horsepower, but we know we can make about 2,500. And that’s plenty, but it’s probably going to take a solid 5.85 to 5.90 every round this year to be competitive and our combination just won’t be enough.”

Aeromotive President Steve Matusek has helped to carry the Modular engine torch for the last handful of season and is readying for an NHRA Pro Modified venture in 2011 with the help of Roush Yates Engines.

Granatelli continued, “I think where we shine and stand to get the most exposure and do the most damage with a shot to win every race is the PSCA, where the car only has to weigh 2,400 or 2,500 pounds with a Mod motor and we can run 5.90’s to 6.0’s. And with that kind of performance over there you’ll be able to win a lot of races.”

The new ride, which will be draped in a 2011 Ford Mustang body, will receive power from a 5.4L-based, 331-cubic inch powerplant sporting a set of 80mm turbochargers out front. The mega horsepower mill will then be backed by a Liberty five-speed transmission. The chassis is currently under development and the debut is estimated at late spring for testing, with a full-on effort planned for late 2011 and the 2012 season.

J.R. describes this as a “no budget” effort that will have all the best parts and pieces for the rare Modular combination that he’s made waves with in other drag racing ventures in the past. In the early 2000’s Granatelli transformed an eight second Modular-powered Mustang into a six-second runner in the NMRA’s hit Pro 5.0 category, putting the combination squarely on the map and creating plenty of chatter regarding its surprising competitiveness. But later, rule changes in the class coupled with a loss of support from Ford hampered those efforts and Granatelli traded in the Modular engine for a conventional combo. Since that time, both John Mihovetz and Matusek have campaigned the Modulars with rousing success and now, Granatelli is excited to be reunited with Ford and carry the Modular banner once again.

Granatelli campaigned this Fox body Mustang in the NMRA's Super Street Outlaw class for a short time in 2006 and 2007. Image credit: Racecraft.com

“The Mod motor kind of died. But Matusek decided to go NHRA racing and wanted to get some exposure for the Mod motor and obviously he one-upped us, because a lot has changed between 2001 and 2010. COMP Cams developed better camshafts and better rocker control, along with the advent of the GT block from the Ford GT. So Steve was able to go super fast.” J.R. indicated he’s gone outside the automotive realm for sponsorship on the new car, with some backers already signed and negotiations ongoing with others. “We’re in some great sponsorship talks right now and thats all that I can say at this point. It should be good, but I don’t want to jinx myself. This to me is like my lust ‘hurrah’. I’m 40 years old and I’ve got an 18-year old kid who wants to drive. So I’d like to drive the car a little bit and then hand the car over to him and say okay, here it is.”