The Lone Ranger

Jim Cunningham drives the only Ford in NHRA Pro Stock

The road less traveled in drag racing is often times the harder one, just ask Jim Cunningham. This die hard racer continues to be the lone entry in Pro Stock that relies on Blue Oval power to push his 2007 Mustang GT500 down the track. Not since the days of Bob Glidden and a short stint by the late Scott Geofreion has a Ford even been competitive, but Cunningham is giving it his best effort, despite the lack of factory support.

Pro Stock is often dubbed NHRA's factory hot rod category. While the cars resemble real rides, they couldn't be further from the assembly line. Thanks for evolution and the extreme desire to win, the cars are of tube chassis construction, feature carbon fiber bodies with standardized overhang and other aero tricks to keep them equal between the manufacturers, and carburetor-equipped big block engines. The cars themselves are nearly spec chassis designs/requirements and the engine mods are virtually limitless save for a few major component restrictions like cubic inch (500) and OEM branded parts. NHRA has left the door wide open for ingenuity and creativity but also keeps everyone close because of the major part restrictions.

Cunningham is going down a road that is tough because Ford Motor Company and its hot rod division, Ford Racing, have decided that their major involvement in NHRA drag racing is better served with the sport's biggest star, John Force. It is no secret that the Force Funny Car program scoops up a majority of the sponsorship budget. And in reality, how could Ford turn down the biggest star in the history of drag racing? I don't blame them for getting on board, Force does a great job with getting the Ford brand in front of people.

Back to Cunningham, in my opinion, he is one of the purest Ford fans of all time. Running Pro Stock is a major financial undertaking and for him to go at it without factory support is quite a task. The GM and Mopar brands are constantly coming to the marketplace with new blocks, cylinder heads, and even factory backing in some cases. That puts the engine programs miles ahead of Cunningham's deal. But he keeps his focus and determination on running a Ford in NHRA Pro Stock. He could have easily purchased a Brand X car from Jerry Haas (the same shop that built his Mustang) and leased an engine from one of the top Pro Stock teams/engine shops. But he chose to take the road less traveled.

I watched Cunningham run his car into the 6.80s at Englishtown and he has even gotten the car into the 6.70s at other events. It falls short of the 6.60 performances turned in by the top 16 qualified racers. I give him credit for working hard and using essentially parts that are in desperate need for  a redesign in order to hang with the Mopar and GM contingent.

When you move to the IHRA Pro Stock division, aka mountain motor ranks, the tune changes. Ford goes toe-to-toe with the General and Mo' parts. The rules are much different than NHRA and the engines check in at 800-plus cubes and use Hemi heads that are made and designed without factory backing, like the NHRA ranks.