Cole Pesz’s Mustang Banged Up at IRA Pro Mod — But It’ll Be Back

This past weekend’s IHRA Pro Mod race came with a tough break for fan-favorite racer Cole Pesz. In the opening round, Cole’s beautiful screw-blown Mustang got caught up in a nasty incident that left the car with significant damage — but fortunately, Cole himself walked away with only minor injuries.

Photo by Mallory Elizabeth Photography

The trouble started mid-run when the car drifted toward the centerline. Cole had to pedal it, but things got away from him, and the Mustang headed straight for the opposite wall. The impact was hard enough to destroy the rear tires, crumple the door and quarter panel, and almost certainly tweak something in the chassis. It was a serious hit, but the good news is this car is absolutely repairable — and knowing Cole and his crew, it won’t be long before it’s back on track.

Fans know this Mustang well. It’s one of the best-looking cars on the Speed Promotions circuit, with its unmistakable Eleanor-inspired style and a screw blower that looks right at home under the hood. Performance-wise, the car has shown incredible potential — back when it first came out, it went a 3.70 on just its second pass. It’s even run in NPK competition, holding its own against some of the best in the game.

Photo by Cole Pesz Racing  

Lately, though, consistency has been an issue. In the past two Pro Mod races, Cole’s team has struggled to get the car down a well-prepped track under full power. It’s not for lack of speed — last year the car was making solid passes in the 3.60s — but something in the setup, possibly chassis-related, just hasn’t been clicking. They were working through those issues last weekend when the crash happened.

Photo by Cole Pesz Racing  

The setback is frustrating, no doubt. But this is racing — and in racing, every setback is just a setup for a comeback. Cole’s crew will get the Mustang fixed, figure out the gremlins, and bring it back stronger and more consistent than ever. And when it does return, you can bet it’ll be turning heads just as much for its looks as for its performance.

At Street Outlaws Talks, we’ll be keeping a close eye on the rebuild and bringing you the latest updates. Here’s hoping we see Cole’s screw-blown beauty storming down the track again soon — and maybe even returning to that blistering pace it had when it first debuted.