Justin Burcham finally does it, breaking into the 9-second barrier in his 2005 3-valve NMRA racer
Justin Burcham has finally done it. Justin wanted to run a 9 so bad hespent a solid two weeks in Florida testing, tuning, breaking stuff, andtuning some more to accomplish this goal. On Saturday December 10th, the9-second dragon was slain in a big way with a blistering series of9-second passes culminating in a best of 9.53 at 143 mph. The 9-secondassault began November 30th with dyno tuning and software training atSuperchips, and then a trip to Orlando Speedworld Dragway SundayDecember 4th. Getting in the wrong lane postponed the first attempt, butthe first pass was the last pass on those transmission parts, andJustin's 2005 Mustang GT barely made it back to the pits.
After being up on Lamotta's Performance lift for a couple days whileJake Lamotta fixed the TTC-Tremec TKO 600, Justin headed south toDiabloSport for more tuning and to get trained with their software. WithDiabloSport in South Florida, from there Justin took the car to MorosoMotorsports Park to make another run at the 9-second zone FridayDecember 9th. However, 60ft woes plagued him, along with slicks thatwere going away because of countless dyno passes. Leaving MorosoMotorsports Park Friday night, Justin headed northwest towards BradentonMotorsports Park, home of the NMRA opener. Justin got up Saturdaymorning and headed to the track, but Bradenton was holding a V-10Shootout. Good thing Justin knows Heffner's Performance Jason Heffner,who organized the V-10 Shootout. Jason allowed Justin a few passes, butin the morning the car was still not hooking. However, the car ranback-to-back 10.12s with horrible 60ft times so he knew a pair of newslicks would get him in the 9s.
Justin loaded up the slicks and headed for the tire store for a new pairof Mickey Thompson 28x10.5 ET Drag slicks. The sticky part for Justinwas that the V-10 Shootout took up the morning session at Bradenton, andthen a Tampa, FL area Web site had the track rented Saturday evening.Justin wasn't even sure he would be able to get back on the track duringthe evening session, but the good people from www.tamparacing.comlet Justin go ahead and run. During the evening session, the air wasreally good so Justin knew if the car stayed together it was going torun 9s.
With the new slicks on the car, the car ran a 10.04. Justin knew hewould have to use the ZEX nitrous kit to eclipse the 9-second zone so hemomentarily hit the button in 3rd gear, and then a little more in 4thwhile bangin' the Swarr Automotive shifter into submission. That wasenough to give Justin's '05 GT the boost it needed to run a 9.78 at 139mph for it's first ever 9-second pass. Just to make sure the 9.78 wasn'ta fluke, Justin went back and ran the car a couple more times with alittle more judicious use of the button, and he ran an astonishing 9.58at 141 mph, and a 9.53 at 143 mph. So, as far as we can tell, that makesJustin and his 2005 Mustang GT the quickest 3-valve Mustang, stick orautomatic. Justin wasn't the first to eclipse the 9s, but right now,he's the quickest.
Justin Burcham 2005 Mustang GT
Tech Specs
Short Block: Rich Groh Racing-built, ATI dampener
Cylinder Heads: Fox Lake Power Products-prepped 3-valve with Ferrea components
Intake: Stock plastic Throttle Body; Stock Mass Air Meter/Air Intake; ProCharger-supplied intake tube with mass air port
Power Adder: ProCharger D-1SC, 3-core intercooler, ZEX 75hp nitrous kit
Fuel System: Ford Racing Performance Parts dual Focus pumps, 75lb/hr injectors, JPC fuel rails
Exhaust: Bassani full-length headers, X-pipe, and after-cat system
Transmission: TTC-Tremec TKO 600, Centerforce Dual-Friction clutch, CYN-R-G flywheel, Lakewood bellhousing, Swarr Automotive shifter and crossmember, JPC driveshaft
Rear End: Strange Engineering spool and axles, Motive Gear 4.30 gears, LPW rear end girdle
Electronics: DiabloSport Predator
Suspension
Springs: H&R
K-Member and Front Control Arms: Anthony Jones Engineering tubular
Shocks and Struts: QA-1
Traction Devices: Metco Motorsports Solutions upper and lower control arms, Racecraft anti-roll bar
Wheels: Bogart 15x3.5 front and 15x10 rear
Tires:Mickey Thompson E/T Front and E/T Drag slicks
Roll Cage: LAS Performance 6-point chromoly with swing out door bars