2001 Ford Mustang GT

Writing car features is fairly straightforward. Collect the information on the assigned subject, come up with a nifty little story, roll in an entertaining twist, and present it all to the editor. We may tell the reader about how the car needed to be rebuilt after a crash or how the engine was damaged and repaired. But rarely do we get to tell the tale of how much emotional energy goes into the constant struggle to keep a top-notch racing program together. After all, the folks we feature in 5.0&SF are just like you. The only difference is they may give up a bit more of their time to pursue their passion of ripping up the quarter-mile with their beloved Mustang. It's this constant, unwavering drive that we often overlook.

Joel Greathouse of Bowling Green, Kentucky, is one of those guys who has done more to raise the sport of 5.0 Mustang drag racing than can really be explained. In the mid-'90s he was at FFW in the Outlaw class slugging it out with Mike Murillo. His insanely clean white sedan was hunting for mid-eights when most of us were still trying to figure out which rims to mount our slicks on. He continued his career into the Super Street class as he took on new combinations and new challenges.

So why don't you read more about Joel? Well, it's probably because he's about as quiet and laid back as any racer in the sport. But, knowing him personally, I can tell you there is a passionate fire that burns in this 28-year-old. You can tell this simply by the cars Joel drives. That white sedan was upgraded to a four-link once he started making some really crazy power, and it even helped him win a national championship in NMCA Super Street in 2000. But that car didn't carry the NHRA 25.1C certification, which is required for sub-7.50-second e.t.'s. So, as perfect as that car was, Joel began construction on the black '01 body-in-white GT you see here.

It would seem a fairly easy transition to just slip all the good stuff into the new chassis and be on your way in the new car. But Joel had worked that white sedan to perfection-eking every last bit of efficiency from its storied Fox-bodied chassis. The new girl had its idiosyncrasies for sure-they all do. It's just that this isn't a 12-second car with a miss-this is a world-class 10.5W-tired monster that is supposed to rotate the earth and bust off 7.40s while kicking Billy Glidden's butt in the process. So, it took Joel some time to work through the programming on that Bennett masterpiece under the hood. Loyal friends Tom Cyr and Harvey Baker at Performance Automatic had to send a few boxes of converters to Bowling Green before the leave was right-the little tires didn't go up in a blaze of smoke on the starting line or 1,000 feet from it.

These things take time, and Joel is the kind of guy who can't sleep-won't even eat-until they get worked out. He didn't stop until the car had finally reached the level where he felt it should be, testing to a 7.48 at 188 mph in preparation for the PRO World Finals in Memphis, Tennessee. At that race, he went as many 7.50s as he had to with his typical consistency. Of course, Billy went to the finals at that race, but Joel and the other blown supercar racers made him work for it.

Joel looks to build on the first year of racing that he's put on this car. His goal is to go 7.40s on every lap, but will that be enough with Billy Glidden, Dan Millen, and Elias Delatorre in Super Street? Only time and the '03 racing season can answer that.