Business 193
Jaguar Type 01 Debuts as Brand Bets on Electric Luxury
Mustang Sets Stick-Shift Record Then Crashes at 228 MPH
Brett LaSala's 3,000-hp Snot Rocket Mustang set a new stick-shift record at 233.44 mph before a left rear tire failure at 228 mph tore apart the car during eliminations at Bradenton Motorsports Park.
By Eleanor Ellington · 4 min read
Brett LaSala's 3,000-horsepower Ford Mustang experienced the extremes of drag racing in a single weekend at Florida's Bradenton Motorsports Park, setting a new stick-shift speed record before a catastrophic tire failure at 228 mph destroyed much of the car's bodywork.
On Friday, LaSala's Snot Rocket Mustang recorded a 6.458-second quarter-mile pass, reaching 233.44 mph (375.7 km/h) to establish a new benchmark for outlaw stick-shift racing. The car covered the first 60 feet in 1.207 seconds and hit the eighth-mile mark in 4.350 seconds at 185.72 mph before adding another 48 mph to cross the finish line.
The record run was only LaSala's second event since converting the Mustang for stick-shift competition. The car now uses a Grannas Racing ATLAS transmission based on the Tremec Magnum XL architecture, paired with a multi-disc clutch. Power comes from a twin-turbocharged 302-cubic-inch Coyote V8 built by Fast Forward Racing Engines, producing more than 3,000 hp.
Two days later, during Sunday's eliminations against Josh Manning's Corvette, the Mustang's left rear 275 radial tire failed near the top end of the track. The tire came apart at 228 mph (366.9 km/h), tearing away the quarter panel, door skin, and rear bumper. In-car footage showed the violent failure, with debris flying from the car as LaSala maintained control.
LaSala escaped without injury. In a social media post, he wrote: «Had my first race car crash today. Thankfully I am okay.» The incident left the Snot Rocket Mustang heavily damaged, with bodywork ripped from the rear of the car.
The cause of the tire failure has not been confirmed. Broadcast footage reportedly appears to show a small foreign object entering the tire's path shortly before it came apart. Some observers have suggested a mechanic may have left a wrench in the engine bay that fell out and destroyed the tire, but no evidence has emerged to prove that or any other object punctured it.
Despite the damage, the team intends to repair the car in time for November's World Cup Finals at Maryland International Raceway. That gives them roughly a month to rebuild the record-setting Mustang into a race-winning machine capable of exceeding 230 mph.
The incident highlights the extreme forces involved in outlaw stick-shift racing, where cars produce thousands of horsepower and routinely exceed 200 mph. Tire integrity is critical at such speeds, and failures can cause catastrophic damage. LaSala's ability to keep the car off the wall after the tire let go prevented a far worse outcome.
The Snot Rocket Mustang had already proven its potential with the record-setting pass, and the team's determination to return for the World Cup Finals underscores the resilience of the drag racing community. Repairs will focus on replacing the destroyed body panels and ensuring the chassis and drivetrain remain sound after the high-speed impact.
LaSala's weekend encapsulated both the thrill and danger of pushing a vehicle to its limits. The record stands as a testament to the engineering and driving skill involved, while the crash serves as a reminder of the risks that come with racing at more than 200 mph.
7
