Now This is a Stock Car

At the end of last year Ford announced the return of the Mustang BOSS with the introduction of the BOSS 302R factory-built race car, ready to hit the race track right here in 2010.  The car will share the track with its GT cousin in the Grand-Am Road Racing series and the SCCA this season.

The Mustang Boss 302R features a 5.0-liter, 32-valve engine capable of over 400 horsepower, a six-speed manual transmission, race-ready suspension and performance brake package, and a built-in roll cage.  In other words, it's totally awesome.  And while we won't be seeing these babies at a local race track any time soon -- the base price starts at $79,000 -- professional race teams are sure to have a field day with this new Mustang.  Fifty Boss 302R cars will roll out of the factory in 2010.

Although "America's #1 Motorsport" likes to think it has cornered the market on "stock car" racing, the truth is that the cars raced in road racing tours like the Grand-Am Road Racing series -- ironically, owned by NASCAR since 2008 -- are more "stock" than the race cars presented to NASCAR fans.  NASCAR can slap as many headlight decals on its monstrosity of a race car as it likes, but it won't change the fact that stock car fans find its insufferable "Car of Tomorrow" to be a total turn off.  Not only does the Mustang Boss 302R look better (and not fake), but it's powered by the same 302 cubic inches of small block glory available today on a dealer's lot.

The Ford Mustang BOSS 302R features a race-ready 400-hp 5.0-liter engine, roll cage, and one badass cupholder no doubt. (Photo credit: Ford Motor Company)

Why is stock car racing important?  Because everyone loves cars.  They love speed.  They love the engineering, the power, and the styling.  And a stock race car is something that an average person can relate to.  It's easier to draw someone into racing when a person can relate to it.  Stock car racing is a great stepping stone into the larger sport.

And what about the manufacturers?  "Racing has long served as a technical proving grounds for production engines," said Jamie Allison, director, Ford North America Motorsports in a press release from Ford. "What’s good enough for the streets is now good enough for the racetrack. The 5.0-liter block and architecture in the Mustang BOSS 302R is the same as the 2011 Mustang GT."

Exactly!  You can't say the same about the NASCAR Ford Fusion with its carburetor technology.

The Mustang Boss 302R had mixed results in its debut at Daytona International Speedway this past weekend.  Okay let's be honest -- there were a lot of new car jitters.  But on the positive side, Multimatic Motorsports started a Boss 302R from the front row and JBS Motorsports brought one home in fourth position.

Now all we need is to get these real "stock" cars into an oval racing series.  That, I'd bet, would really take off here in America.