Here at Steeda, we are racers and enthusiasts throughout, which is why we take so much pride in our parts
performing well on the track. Recently, we’ve had some of our racers set some impressive new feats
around the country. Covering different racing styles and vehicles, these TeamSteeda drivers constantly
show us how good they truly are behind the wheel.
Video
Spec Iron
Drag Racing
Road Race
One of our longtime friends and TeamSteeda racers, Robin Burnett, brought his 2010 Mustang GT to a
national
race at the Corvette Museum. Competing in Spec Iron, Burnett brought in a new lap record. This car is
fully outfitted with Steeda parts to improve its handling and performance across the board. Using
upgrades like the Steeda Adjustable Upper Control Arms, Single Driveshaft Safety
Loop, Stainless
Braided Hydraulic Brake Line, Tri-Ax
Short Throw Shifter, and more, Burnett’s car performed better than ever
before with his skillful driving. While winning at Spec Iron isn’t new for Burnett, this lap record very
much is. Burnett has been part of the Steeda family for decades, dating back to the 1990s and has shown how
capable these solid-axle cars are in the right hands. With his background on the racetrack, his
performance acts as
yet another example of what a properly-sorted Steeda Mustang is capable of. Burnett also had good friend
Chris Heinzen racing in the “Scrap Iron” class in his Steeda-equipped V6 Mustang, performing well and
keeping pace on the
track against vehicles like the Porsche 911 and other Mustangs. In drag racing news, close friend Matt Ballard of Ace Automotive & Performance in Kentucky ran a personal
best in his turbocharged Gen 2 Coyote S550 Mustang. Ballard runs a full Steeda drag racing suspenson
including our Drag Racing
Stop The Hop kit on his car, which he credits as the only reason his
car can put the
massive horsepower he produces to the ground. The horsepower needed to put down a new record time comes
from a TKM long block motor paired with a BL Fabrications turbocharger kit and custom Lund tune. Running
through his TH400 transmission, Ballard ran his personal fastest time down the drag strip of 7.98
seconds at 171.53 miles per hour. His car still features a full interior to make it drivable on the
street when necessary, and his performance in the quarter mile sprint is incredibly impressive to see
with the full interior weighing the car down. Matt Ballard has been well-recieved in the S550 Mustang world for his performance over the years and
having been working with Steeda for many years we are happy to see the results of his efforts with
building the car himself and pushing it to the limit. Having run alongside him at the NMRA Spring Break Shootout in
Bradenton, FL, we could tell Ballard was setting up to make this insanely fast pass.
Although he also damaged his car shortly after by
snapping his half-shafts, the car performed beautifully until then and we’re sure to see it breaking
even more records in the future. Finally in road racing, our very own founder, Dario Orlando, took to the racetrack in the yellow Steeda #20 S550 Mustang in order to renew his
SCCA Competition License. This was the first time in two years that
he has driven the car which has normally been piloted by our VP of Operations Glen Vitale. Alongside
Orlando, Vitale was racing in his Spec Miata racecar to victory as well. Orlando wanted to get back
behind the wheel himself to show how serious we are about our racing performance and reputation, as well
as to do something he truly enjoys. This was, unfortunately, the final race held at Palm Beach
International Raceway before its closing for land development in the near future. “Its so great to have our top people at Steeda racing. It really is in our blood to perform on the
track”. With racing being at the core of Steeda’s history, having people like our founder and VP on the
track, as well as many others employed here is a great sight to see. With road race driving and drag
racing both covered by our staff here, racing truly is in our blood for our staff. Orlando is excited to
see what other racing there will be so he can get back out on the track more and more.March Racing Update: NCM, PBIR, & Beech Bend Raceway
Steeda's Racing Recap
Spec Iron: Robin Burnett's 2010 S197 GT
Drag Racing: Matt Ballard's Turbocharged S550 GT
Road Racing: Dario Orlando's Steeda S550 20 Car
Dario
Orlando racing at Daytona Motor Speedway
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