What you’re looking at is one of the most controversial cars in the X275 class today, known as ‘Vader.’ It was originally built to run in Outlaw Drag Radial. Pete Harrell was the original owner and purchased this car right off of a used car lot. It was completely stock when it went into the chassis shop and came out a total work of art. The car is slammed on the ground and could win any car show with the immaculate paint and body; even the undercarriage was cleaned and smoothed before it was painted with a bed liner paint. The interior was done in tweed by Ed’s Trim Shop, while the tin work and wing were fabricated by Mike at Tin Man Fabrication. The Mustang maintains the stock floor, intertwined with an SFI 25.2 spec chassis. Originally, it was set up with single 106mm turbo mounted sideways before undergoing changes necessary to become X275 legal with an 88mm turbo in the grille area.

We caught up with the current owner Eric McMillen, who indicated that he feels the car is simply too heavy to be competitive in Outlaw Drag Radial. Unwilling to cut up such a beautiful race car, he opted to go X275 racing with it. It was originally equipped with a torque arm, as many of the fastest cars in the country were running such a setup at the time ‘Vader’ was constructed.

The mounting points on the rear suspension have come under a lot of debate and many say the car shouldn’t be allowed to run in X275. However, some minor changes have been made in recent months and the car has been deemed legal by X275 founder John Sears.

The engine is a 417 cubic inch, Brodix-headed small block Ford, featuring an HRE sheetmetal intake with Moran atomizer fuel injectors. Harrell Engine and Dyno went though the original powerplant and made some changes to the combination for the X275 venture. Pete Harrell is also the driver of ‘Vader’ and handles all the race day tuning.

McMillen also has a very fast nitrous-injected small block 1992 Mustang coupe that he drives; recently finishing runner up to Sam Vincent at Mooresville Dragway’s Small Block Nationals last month and with some stout 4.80’s to its credit. Not far behind, ‘Vader’ has recorded a best of 4.90 at 155 MPH, and McMillen and Harrell feel it has the potential to be much quicker once the car and the combination are lined out.

At the Yellowbullet Nationals over Labor Day weekend, Harrell ran a 5.02 at 152 MPH in the heat, with several low 5.0-second passes turned in during eliminations.  ‘Vader’ made it all the way to semifinals before losing a close race to eventual winner Rich Bruder. If you’re fan of small tire racing, you’ll certainly see this car in the winners circle very soon. Truly a rolling master piece, that really rolls.

If you’re fan of small tire racing, you’ll certainly see this car in the winners circle very soon. Truly a rolling master piece, that really rolls.