Clearwater, Florida’s Real Speed Racing is well known for churning out quick cars, not the least of which is Real Speed proprietor Walter Drakeford’s 1986 Mustang. Drakeford has competed in the small-tire eliminators NMRA Renegade, NMCA Xtreme Street, as well as Ultra Street held at various events with the small-block Ford-powered machine, and he hopes to find the winner’s circle in 2022 with a new combination.
Once the 2022 rules were announced, Drakeford’s previous combination was given a 75-lb weight penalty, and that didn’t sit well with the speed parts and performance shop owner, so he changed things up by adding a Chiseled Performance air-to-water intercooler and VP Racing’s C85 fuel.
Drakeford’s Mustang retains the Real Speed racing-built 434ci small-block Ford engine that wears Trick Flow High-Port cylinder heads and an F1A-94 ProCharger to provide boost. The Larry Hart-built PowerGlide transmission remains, but per the rules for the new engine combination, Drakeford was able to add a direct opening in the front of the car to feed the blower, and will continue to tweak the Billet Atomizer injectors through his Haltech Nexus EFI system.
“We have 10 races on our schedule this year,” Drakeford told us. “Our first race will be Lights Out in Georgia, which is a week before NMRA, so we’ll come back, work for three days and roll out to NMRA.” Drakeford will then get back to customer cars before returning to Bradenton Motorsports Park a week later for the NMFCA Muscle Car Mayhem race presented by Holcomb Racing Engines.
Drakeford’s Mustang retains the Real Speed racing-built 434ci small-block Ford engine that wears Trick Flow High-Port cylinder heads and an F1A-94 ProCharger to provide boost. The Larry Hart-built PowerGlide transmission remains, but per the rules for the new engine combination, Drakeford was able to add a direct opening in the front of the car to feed the blower, and will continue to tweak the Billet Atomizer injectors through his Haltech Nexus EFI system.
“We have 10 races on our schedule this year,” Drakeford told us. “Our first race will be Lights Out in Georgia, which is a week before NMRA, so we’ll come back, work for three days and roll out to NMRA.” Drakeford will then get back to customer cars before returning to Bradenton Motorsports Park a week later for the NMFCA Muscle Car Mayhem race presented by Holcomb Racing Engines.