Strange Engineering, one of the industry’s leading driveline and suspension component manufacturers, will return as the title sponsor of the NMRA’s popular new Coyote Stock heads-up category in 2013, series officials announced last week. The class will once again be presented by 5.0 Mustang & Super Fords magazine, as well.

The Coyote Stock category is centered around the use of a sealed version of Ford’s 5.0L “Coyote” crate engine from Ford Racing that comes in the 2011-13 Mustang that racers can install into any year-model Mustang. The limited engine tunability turns the category into one largely dependent on chassis setup and driver skill. The sealed engine limitation has made Coyote Stock a relatively affordable way to go heads-up racing, and that fact is translating into increased participant interest.

2012 Coyote Stock champion "HiPo" Joe Charles.

According to NMRA officials, 15 sealed Coyote engines have been sold through Ford Racing dealers recently, indicating the potential for several new entries in the class when the 2013 season kicks off in Florida in early March.

Five competitors entered at least one event in the upstart class last season that saw an epic battle for the championship that went down to the final run at the final race of the season. Veteran NMRA racer Justin Burcham had spotted runaway points leader Joe Charles a seemingly insurmountable lead during the season, but had chipped away at the lead and used an early exit by “HiPo Joe” at the double-points World Finals in Bowling Green to bring himself within one round win of the title. Unfortunately, Shane Stymiest foiled Burcham’s dream afternoon in that final round. Burcham was able to grab the national record in the class, however, scorching to a 10.558 at 125.35 mph.

A second entry from the Joe Charles camp for Paul Dishroon is reportedly in the works for next season, along with a Cobra Jet replica build for an unnamed customer and an entry that’s being prepped by Booze Brothers Racing. No doubt we’ll be hearing of more builds for this exciting class this offseason, as well.

For more information on Strange Engineering, log on to strangeengineering.net.