National Mustang Racing Association Competitor Leticia Hughes Preps for First Drag-and-Drive Appearance at Sick Week 2024
A new addition to the National Mustang Racing Association (NMRA) line-up in 2023 was the 8.60 Street Race class. Based on the 8.60-index, cars and truck are required to have current license plates, registration and insurance, and an exhaust with mufflers (unless turbocharged).
A quick glance at the class shows a few competitors that have competed in both NMRA and drag-and-drive events, including two-time Sick Week winner William Lujan and Sick Summer winner Tim Flanders.
A third NMRA competitor, Leticia Hughes, is looking to make the jump into the drag-and-drive community in 2024, and she plans to do it at the 2024 edition of Sick Week Presented by Gear Vendors Overdrive.
“I will be competing in the Sick Street Race Category,” said Leticia. “I drive a 2018 Ford Mustang GT with an 8.50-NHRA Certified roll cage, so the car will fit perfectly in that class.”
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This step is the latest in Leticia’s racing efforts, and 2024 marks her sixth year of racing the storied Mustang. “It was (the Mustang) a Christmas gift my husband Rick bought himself brand new to begin racing,” said Leticia. “He was just enjoying racing it for fun, and really wanted me to jump in it to learn.
I had serious anxiety about racing in front of everyone, but they finally got me in the car. On my first pass, I bounced my head off the steering wheel coming to an abrupt stop out of my first burnout ever. I make the pass and somehow beat his personal best time. This starts a war where we just go back and forth, and I always seemed to beat his time.”
That competitiveness continued to burn in Leticia’s gut, and she eventually would be battling some of the fastest all motor S550-chassis Mustangs in the country. “2021 I decided to stay all motor, and really show that we could push the platform to the limits with a legit street car, and we did just that,” said Leticia, as she captured multiple race wins, including the season-ending ModNationals at South Georgia Motorsports Park.
Less than four months later, the Mustang had been transformed to a blower-wearing, 8-second hot rod for the 2022 season of racing. “I was ready to boost the car and go play with the fast rides,” said Leticia. “Struggling to find a good place to run that I could compete in, run by my safety cert of 8.50 and have the heads up feel of racing, thus the 8.60 Street Race Class was born with NMRA.”
That 2022 season had some struggles, but Leticia saw it through, and came back stronger in 2023 to card a runner-up finish at the first event of the season, as well as score the fourth spot in season points.
Leticia knows the jump to drag-and-drive will come with a different set of challenges. “Without a doubt, the shear toll it takes on the car, and the mental and physical toll it takes on the driver and co-pilot as well,” she said. To fill that passenger seat will be her husband, Rick. “Not that I really gave him a choice,” Leticia laughed.
To bring the Mustang into drag-and-drive battle ready for mid-8-second timeslips, the Hughes selected a Stage 2 TKM Performance Gen 3 Coyote short block, wearing Bret Barber/Air Flow Solutions race ported Gen 3 Coyote cylinder heads with upgraded Comp Cams and a RGR Coyote cam lockout kit.
A 3.8-liter Stage 2 Whipple Supercharger provides the boosted power level, and fuel is delivered by Lethal Performance Division’s X triple pump fuel system and ID 1700X injectors. Rob Shoemaker from Shoemaker Performance handles the tune-up on E85 fuel using RTD HP Tuners software.
The powerplant is hooked to a Whatever It Takes performance-built Turbo 400 transmission. Packing all the internal goodies from Raybestos Powertrain and TransTec, a Circle D Specialties Pro Series 258 MM billet bolt together converter couples the engine and transmission.
The power is passed with a PST driveshaft to the rear end and finally a pair of RC Component wheels wearing Mickey Thompson tires. A full selection of STEEDA suspension provides the hook, and Baer 12-inch front and rear SS4+ 2.0 drag brakes combine with a Stroud parachute to woah the pony car after each lap.
Although Sick Week will be her first drag-and-drive event, Leticia is excited about the challenge. “My team prides ourselves on always pushing our program to the next level and trying new styles of racing,” she said. “I really want to prove that my car can do a drag and drive event and be competitive. Depending on how Sick Week goes, there is always a chance to participate in Hot Rod Drag Week as well.”
Written by Derek Putnam. Photos courtesy of Leticia Hughes and Lujan Media.
If you have thoughts / feedback / ideas, please e-mail us at derek@sickthemagazine.com