Cory Gray of Bell Buckle, Tennessee will soon return to competitive action with the debut of a new 1999 Ford Mustang destined to compete in 275 Drag Radial and 29×10.5 events throughout the midwest and the southeast region. Gray previously campaigned a ’79 Oldsmobile Cutlass that he had driven to high school with a blow-through turbo combination and was contacted by a racer from Texas interested in the car. A trade that involved some cash and spare parts was made, and Gray acquired the Mustang in virtually stock form and with a lot of work ahead to conform it to his vision.

“I immediately tore it down and sold everything that I could off the car because I knew what I wanted to do with it. It’s been two years now and it was in a chassis shop for a long time”

Gray’s Pony is powered by a 347-inch small block Ford “R” block that will house a Scat billet crankshaft, Oliver rods, Diamond pistons, and a COMP turbo camshaft, mated with a set of Trick Flow high-port cylinder heads. The motor will utilize a FAST XFI fuel injection system with a 90mm throttle body that will receive boost from a 91mm Turbonetics Y2K turbocharger with a rear-mounted PT1800 water-to-air intercooler setup. The engine also features a Weldon fuel system, an MSD 7531 ignition with an AMS1000 boost controller, and a Spaghetti Menders turbo wiring kit. The small block bullet will be backed by a JW Powerglide transmission transferring the power to a Moser 9-inch rear with 3.90 gears and full 35-spline axles.

The chassis is built to 25.5 spec with stock suspension, sporting AFCO coilover shocks on the rear and 100% stock otherwise. The rear uses 9-inch upper and lower control arms fabricated by Gray, Strange front struts, a UPR k-member, dual Strange rear disc brakes and Aerospace disc brakes up front. The 275 radials are wrapped around a set of Champion 15×12 beadlock wheels. On the exterior, you’ll find a very slick VFN cajun hood and a fabricated Racecraft rear wing.

Cory intends to compete in the Ohio Valley Outlaw Shootout in Louisville, KY, local outlaw races in the Tennessee area, ORSCA, ORTC, and heads up events at Crossvile Dragway, I-40, and I-22 Dragways.

Gray and his cousins run S&G Motorsports in Goodlettsville, Tennessee, a full fabrication and engine shop, including nitrous and turbo tuning. In addition to Cory’s Mustang, the team campaigns a ’74 Nova driven by Nathan Stinson with a 421-inch small block on nitrous.

“We’ve all been going to races since we were little kids, and me and my two cousins have been racing since we were 16. We’ve had real good success. We’re not a Dave Hance or a David Wolfe or anybody like that, but we’ve had some pretty good luck and my cousin, Nathan, has won several championships and it’s all been a joint effort on our part; we all just combine our money and resources and work together on all of our cars.”

Cory would like to thank Rodney’s Fabrication in Portland TN for the cage work and Chris Avarritt in Hendersonville, TN for the paint and body work.