Jack roush, jr. (left) and...
Jack roush, jr. (left) and a roush performance engineer discuss the track dynamics of an upcoming model.
The Cougar that Dale uses was his own car when they were younger. Susan built the engine that was in it. That mill has since been replaced with a Roush crate engine for Drag Team use. The car that Susan drives for the team was Jack's street car from a couple of years ago. The youngest of the clan, Jack Jr., recalls, amongst his earliest memories, racing go-karts with his dad. According to Susan, Jack Sr. had bought a yellow ride 'em kart for his son before Jack Jr. was born. Obviously, the die was cast at that moment. These days, Jack Jr. runs around the streets of Livonia in a Stage 3 Mustang with 440 flywheel HP. It is his favorite Mustang of all time. He told me that it had to be sent to Wisconsin for the big air show this same weekend. It had to go early as part of the Roush display there and "I really want it back," he mentioned. As far as the team's future, the three know they will grow together. "We're all rookies. We just started racing last year," Jack Jr. said. Their fortunes in Joliet suffered from that rookie status, not particularly for the individual drivers, but for the team overall. Getting past small issues like religiously setting tire pressures comes from experience. That is something which this group is going to have in spades before the end of the season.
Specifications
2006 Roush Stage 3 Mustang
Engine
Ford 4.6-liter V8, aluminum block and heads
Engine Modifications
ROUSH M90 Roots-style supercharger, intake manifold, air-to-water intercooler system, high-flow fuel injectors and induction system, 50-state legal
Engine Management
Factory PCM with a Diablosport chip
Driveline
Roush short throw shifter (optional)
Numbers
415 flywheel HP @ 6250 rpm
385 flywheel TQ @ 4500 rpm
Interior / Exterior
2006 Roush Stage 3 Mustang
Exterior
Roush front fascia, front chin spoiler, hood scoop, rocker panels, rear fascia and rear wing, lower valance fog lamps
Interior
Roush sport leather seat covers, embroidered floor mats, billet aluminum pedals including a new dead pedal, Stage 3 electro-luminescent white face gauge cluster with 140 mph speedometer and 8000 rpm tachometer, optional interior dash trim kit
Chassis
Front brakes - 14.1" two-piece brake rotors with four-piston calipers; Rear brakes - 11.8" rotors with single piston floating calipers
Suspension
Specially-engineered and tuned front struts, rear shocks, front and rear springs, jounce bumpers, 34mm tubular front sway bar, 22mm solid rear sway bar
Wheels And Tires
Roush Performance 18 x 10" forged alloy wheels, BF Goodrich 275/40-18 g-Force KD tires
On The Edge
In August, we were invited by Roush Performance to participate in an open track session being held at the Waterford Hills road course, in conjunction with a Roush Owners and Enthusiasts Association event. We'd previously spent some time with the Stage 3 Roush Mustang, but this was a chance to take it to the limit. After a few days of reflection, I don't think we found the limit to this car. But perhaps I'm running ahead of myself.