Ford did something at the ‘68 Winternations that was spectacular, yet really torqued up a lot of Super Stock and Stock class racers. Anticipating a strong challenge from the 396 Camaros, Ford built a team of factory prepared, spend as much as needed, engineer team managed, racing versions of the hot new Cobra Jet option. The team arrived using a standard open car transport. The 8 racers were all prepared by Moody-Stroppe race car builders.

The team Mustangs blasted national records and cleaned up in the Stock and Super Stock classes. The Super Stock Eliminator final turned out to be an all-Ford match with Al Joniac against Hubert Platt. Joniac’s car was a SS/E car and Platt’s Mustang was a SS/CA car. Joniac was so jazzed about being in the final he nearly ran under the record, which would have disqualified him. A Ford rep at the finish line was waving his arms, signaling Joniac to SLOW DOWN! As it was, Al won the race with a 12.50 @97.93 mph. Earlier, he had been running 11.5 @ 120 mph.

Eventually, “brake-outs” and loosing for running too fast, moved the top guys to petition NHRA for create Pro Stock in 1970.