Justin Burcham’s chatter on the NMRA message forum could be heard from here to the shores of foreign continents. He made some not-so-subtle warnings of his impending future in the newest heads-up class in NMRA. Longtime JPC Racing customer and current NMRA Modular Muscle Top 10 racer, Joe Marini, gave Burcham the green light after the NMRA-Atlanta race to purchase a Ford Racing Coyote Stock legal 5.0L engine. The home for the new engine is Marini’s “other” race car, the world’s quickest naturally aspirated Coyote 5.0L. Marini has been 9.90s sans power adder and is currently the only 9-second N/A ride with that engine combination. The fully built RGR 318ci stroker Coyote was yanked and in its place is the class legal engine. The rest of the car is ready for action with a pro-shifted Tremec TKO600 and a McLeod clutch. The chassis has been upgraded with Metco lower control arms and JPC Racing upper control arm, BMR front suspension, and many other tricks.
“The car isn’t 100% prepped for heads-up racing yet but we’re getting there,” says Burcham. He continues, “I want to thank Joe Marini for stepping up and making it happen. It is his car and I am just driving it for him this weekend.” Burcham has been testing and dialing in the clutch and suspension system. There was one problem so far in the pre-event testing—the two-step stopped functioning forcing him to hold the rpm steady at launch on test runs. So far he has run a best of 11.07 at 122 mph but he is confident the 10s are only some adjustments, a rear gear swap, and a two-step controller away. Look for Burcham to have this car in Coyote Stock this weekend and possibly a second entry at a future event.
