Mustang GT Aluminator XS to pace field at Darlington
The Mustang GT Aluminator XS will serve as the pace car in this weekend's NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Darlington Raceway.
Photo by: Action Sports Photography
The Mustang GT Aluminator XS pace car started its life as a 420-horsepower 2013 Mustang GT, but with the Aluminator XS crate engine and a mix of parts from the Ford Racing Boss 302S and the Cobra Jet programs, it makes 500 horsepower.
U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.) is the honorary pace car driver for the event and will start the race behind the wheel. NASCAR veteran Brett Bodine will pilot the Mustang GT Aluminator XS pace car for the remainder of the event.
“We can think of no better way to begin Mustang’s 50th anniversary celebration than by having one of our most technologically advanced Mustangs pace one of NASCAR’s most historically significant traditional races,” said Tim Duerr, Ford Racing marketing manager.
The Mustang GT Aluminator XS pace car started its life as a 420-horsepower 2013 Mustang GT, but with the Aluminator XS crate engine and a mix of parts from the Ford Racing Boss 302S and the Cobra Jet programs, it makes 500 horsepower.
The Aluminator XS engine itself features a lightweight aluminum cylinder block with cross-bolted main bearing caps and thick main bearing bulkheads for bottom-end strength. It has four-valve-per-cylinder BOSS, fully CNC-machined aluminum heads. In addition, the 5.0L, 302 cubic-inch powerplant features forged pistons with low-friction coating.
A small sampling of the Ford Racing additions include: camshafts, Cobra Jet-tuned air intake, throttle body and 47-pound fuel injectors. To handle the increase in power, it also has a complete Ford Racing handling package with adjustable shocks and struts, lowering springs and adjustable sway bar. The wheels have been updated to 19 x 9.5-inch SVT forged aluminum.
Mustang’s 50th anniversary celebrations will begin with concurrent events April 17-20 at Charlotte Motor Speedway and Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Ford Motor Company and its dealers will host other national and local anniversary events throughout 2014.
See the Mustang GT Aluminator XS in action when the NASCAR Sprint Cup Bojangles’ Southern 500 airs at 6:30 p.m. ET on Fox.
Ford Racing NASCAR
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