On Friday Shelby Automobiles announced they will once again sponsor a NASCAR Sprint Cup event at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2010. This year they sponsored the Shelby 427 at the track in March. Next year's event, on February 28, will be called the Shelby American to honor the 45th anniversary of the Shelby GT350 and 427 Cobra introductions in 1965.

Now, before I get ahead of myself, I wonder if another special-edition Mustang is on its way? Last year's NASCAR announcement resulted in the offering of a special 2009 Shelby GT500 SuperSnake 427 Edition Mustang. No word yet regarding a vehicle release, but I have a feeling something might be in the works. A special-edition GT350 package maybe? The GT350 is a favorite around here. Nothing wrong with dreaming, right?

"We are ecstatic to have the legendary Shelby name on our NASCAR Sprint Cup race for a second consecutive year," said LVMS President Chris Powell said. "This year's event was a tremendous success, and we're looking forward to giving more exposure to the Shelby brand that has, over the years, become synonymous with the best in high-performance cars."

Photo © George Dye

I've seen quite a few amazing rides this week. Yesterday I spotted one of Jack Roush's new propane-fueled ROUSH Mustang drag cars in the Cruisin' Legends area of the SEMA show. Roush says the drag cars are an offshoot of the kits that ROUSH Performance uses to convert gasoline-powered Ford pickups and vans to run on clean-burning propane.

The Mustang uses an all-aluminum 5.4L V8 Ford engine that was originally designed for the Ford GT supercar. It was converted to be naturally-aspirated. Then the compression ratio was altered to 12.5:1. In order to run on liquid propane, the company had to make other changes including CNC ported cylinder heads, high performance camshaft and valvetrain, and a wet sump lubrication system. The end result? Roush says the engine can generate more than 600 horsepower.

This model, the 2005 ROUSH Stage 3 Mustang, will be driven by Donnie Bowles and is set for testing in mid-November. The car will compete for the NMRA championship next season. The ROUSH engineering team is also building a 2010 ROUSH Stage 3 Mustang for Susan Roush-McClenaghan which should debut in February.

Photo © Jonathan P. Lamas

This morning, Saleen Performance Vehicles officially debuted their new 2010 S281 Mustang in front of an eager crowd at the 2009 SEMA Show here in Las Vegas.  When the cover was taken off of the car, the crowd was all cheers.

In a nutshell, the S281 outputs an impressive 485 hp and 460 lb.-ft. of torque courtesy of its 4.6-liter V8 engine, which is equipped with a Saleen Series VI.5 twin-screw supercharger and a dual-stage intercooler. It also features a newly designed Saleen Racecraft suspension system, which includes specially tuned single-rate front and rear springs, nitrogen-pressurized front struts, and rear shocks with a wide range of damping adjustments. It is also equipped with a specially tuned front sway bar with performance pivot bushings.

For photos from this morning's debut, as well as additional specs, check out my Saleen S281 Mustang Profile.

Photo © Jonathan P. Lamas

The SEMA Show is always full of surprises. Take yesterday's announcement that Carroll Shelby is releasing a 550 hp Turbo Package for 2005-2009 Mustang GTs. According to the company, the package can be applied to a 2007-09 Shelby GT or a 2005-09 Mustang GT at the Las Vegas Shelby facility or one of its mod shops.

Price? In all, the installed package costs $22,599, not including the car. Some of the goodies included in the package include Shelby/Turbonetics Turbocharger with 550 HP (at the crank), Shelby Pro-Plus 4 wheel brake system, Performance suspension with Caster/Camber Plates, and 18" X 9" Chrome Aluminum Wheels with Goodyear Eagle F1 275/35/18 tires. If you're willing to go all out, you can opt for things like a Shelby GT-H Front Fascia and Shelby Rear Fascia, Baer 6-Piston Extreme front and rear brake kit, and Eibach Pro-2 Coil-Over Shocks and Struts.

For more info, check out our Shelby Turbo Package Profile.

Photo Courtesy of Shelby Automobiles

Today Ford Motor Company released its October sales figures. This October the company sold 4,789 Mustangs. One year ago, in October of 2008, the company sold 4,686. That, my friends, results in a year-over-year increase of 2.2 percent for the month of October!

Unfortunately, when we look at the year as a whole, Mustang sales are down 32.4 percent for 2009. Last year at this time Ford had sold 83,557 Mustangs. So far this year Ford has moved 56,469 of the iconic pony cars. Nothing for nothing, but this dismal economy has surely had an impact on all automotive sales in 2009. People don't buy cars when they're worried about losing their jobs. I think the Mustang has the goods, especially the new 2010 model. Unfortunately consumer spending has played a major role in the sales decline.

This week I'll be traveling to Las Vegas, Nev. to attend the annual SEMA Show at the Las Vegas Convention center. It's there I'll chat with the folks who create aftermarket parts for all different types of automobiles, including the Ford Mustang.

On Wednesday I'll talk with Beau Boeckmann regarding the new Galpin Auto Sports Convertible Mustang. This 2010 pony features a Ford Racing 550-horsepower supercharger and one-of-a-kind custom wide body.

Then there's my meeting with Wraptivo on Wednesday. Meguiar's will showcase Wraptivo by outfitting a 2009 Mustang wrapped in different-themed Wraptivo skins each day. They plan to hold a contest for the most creative wrap designed through the company's online Customizer. I also plan to check out a few vehicle debuts, including Ford Racing's 2010 Cobra Jet Mustang. Oh, and then there's Carroll Shelby's scheduled autograph signing session at the Ansen Enterprises booth. No doubt, this year's outing is sure to be a good one.

Be sure to check here throughout the week for updates from the show. You can also follow my adventures on Twitter. Alright, time to pack my bags.

Photo of the 2008 SEMA Show © Jonathan P. Lamas

When I was a kid I always looked forward to the arrival of the new Sears Catalog. Especially when the holidays were approaching. I'd fill my head with all the things I wanted for Christmas. Then I'd spend the next few months trying to give my folks a hint as to what I wanted under the tree.

While the Sears Catalog is long gone, it's been replaced by the ROUSH Performance catalog in my house. Think of it as a grown up's guide to Mustang goodies. Speaking of which, the updated 2009 Fall/Winter edition was just released earlier this week.  The catalog includes powertrain upgrades, suspension kits, exhausts, brakes, body packages, wheels, tires, accessories, and service parts for your Mustang. You can download it here.

For a while I've been telling you the Saleen S281 Mustang would debut at the SEMA Show next week in Las Vegas. Well, in a surprise move, photos of the car have been leaked prior to the world's largest gathering of automotive aftermarket professionals. No details exist regarding what's under its hood. Regardless, the 2010 Saleen S281 is a sharp looking ride. Features include three-quarter vents, six-spoke alloy wheels, and a body-color lip spoiler. To learn more about the car,  check out the company's official Web site.

Source: Motor Trend

Photo Courtesy of Saleen

This week AmericanMuscle, a popular retailer of Ford Mustang accessories, announced they will offer pre-painted trim parts for those seeking to modify their Mustangs. In the past most retailers sold unpainted parts, requiring a visit to a local paint shop after purchase. In the past year, several retailers have jumped on board to make the process of modifying your Mustang easier. No doubt, this is a popular option for those looking to change the look of their Mustang right out of the box.

According to AmericanMuscle, the company's master painting technicians will paint the parts in Ford OEM colors. Even better, parts ship the same day.

Some of the items include:

• Headlight Splitters
• Hood Scoops
• Chin Spoilers
• Window Louvers
• Side Scoops
• Mirror Covers

For more details, check out the announcement on the AmericaMuscle Blog. And remember, with the SEMA Show coming up next week in Las Vegas, you're sure to hear many more announcements from parts & accessory retailers. As always, I'll be there with camera in hand.

Photo Courtesy of AmericanMuscle

You've probably seen the video of the 2010 Cobra Jet test mule tearing down the Norwalk drag strip in Ohio. Now Ford is giving you a chance to experience the ride from inside the yet to be revealed car, and what an experience it is. This video takes you inside the Mustang as Ford Racing engineers validate the 2010 power train on their 2008 test mule. Oh, and can someone please charge that video camera battery? Looks like this Mustang stole all its power.