Back in 2004-05, Matt Reese competed in the NMRA’s Drag Radial class with his Michigan-based Mustang, but had to shelve the car due to the divorce monster. 2010 saw him take another crack at it, but he rode the wall in a testing mishap and demolished the left side of the car, putting him back on the sidelines yet again. 

But three years later, Reese is hoping the third time’s the charm.

“I had no money to rebuild it so I have been messing with it here and there, and we’re finally able to get it back out for 2014. I plan on running X275 with it because it seems to fit that class the best as of right now,” he explains.

The car has been rebuilt in Reese’s garage with help from a number of friends. It’ll be powered by a single-turbo, 400-cube TFS High-Port-headed engine, built by Jamey Swanson at Majerus Garage in Minnesota – the same shop that built the engine for Tim Huspen’s Outlaw Drag Radial machine we reported on in September.

Reese knows that in order to be successful in drag racing, you need to surround yourself with successful people, and to that end he’s aligned himself with Dave Zimmerman at Team Z Motorsports.

“I literally only live about two miles from Team Z’s shop and run Dave’s complete suspension along with his new 9-inch housing. Dave built the original turbo setup and will be doing the new turbo system, as well, to move the turbo up front. Dave helped me out a ton with material and advice, and I wouldn’t have been able to do it with out him — he’s probably one of the best guys I know in the game right now. Dave, Tim Huspen and Trace Meyer have really helped me in the right direction with the car. I had a few setbacks since I crashed it and they all have really supported me and pushed me to get it back out,” he says.

We’re looking forward to seeing the reborn Mustang — it’s off to paint shortly, and Reese will be cranking away all winter to get it ready for next season.