TESTING INCIDENT BRINGS EARLY ENDS TO HAJEK MOTORSPORTS E-85 RECORD ATTEMPT

TALLADEGA, Ala., May 13, 2009; Brent Hajek brought his E-85 Mustang FR500C to Talladega Superspeedway for Bill Elliott to establish a closed course speed mark for an E-85 powered car. Elliott, the NASCAR and Ford Racing legend, was able to establish a USAC-certified E-85 mark of 174.206 mph in just two timed laps.

Unfortunately, while still doing preliminary shake down runs, a cut right front tire on Elliott’s third lap spun the Mustang FR500C into the Turn 2 wall and the Hajek Motorsport car sustained significant suspension and right-side damage. The damage was significant enough that the rest of the E-85 speed test was cancelled.

“We were able to set the E-85 record in just a couple of laps and Bill was on a real flyer when he cut a tire,” said Hajek whose E-85 Mustang FR500C went over 252 mph at Bonneville last summer. “There simply isn’t enough time to fix the car in the limited time frame that everyone has to complete this test. The rain we had most of today and now the contact cut our attempt short, but we will be back. We learned a lot during this process and we can make some real advances before we come back and try again.”

“I wish I could tell you what happened,” said Elliott who ran a NASCR qualifying record with a lap of 212.809 mph at Talladega in 1987. “It was one of those things where you get that shake and you know what is coming, but there is nothing you can do about it. I really didn’t know what to expect from this opportunity. Even in just the short time I spent in the car, I already see some things that we can do better if we only have a little bit more time to think things through. Ford has done a good job supporting this program and Brent Hajek and all the guys at their shop have done a really good job. They will get this thing back to Oklahoma and get it beat back out and we’ll work on this thing again.”