While Dylan Neuenschwander made his NMRA Roush Performance Super Stang and NMCA MagnaFuel Open Comp debut in his 2006 Mustang GT last year, he sold it to slide into a different car this year.

It’s a restored 1979 Mustang Indy Pace Car that is as eye-catching as it is chock-full of character and charm, and Dylan’s parents, NMCA ARP NA 10.5 driver Chad Neuenschwander and NMRA Richmond Gear Factory Stock driver Joy Neuenschwander, traded their 1999 F-350 pickup truck for it.

“I thought the car was very unique when I saw it,” said Dylan. “I loved it.”

After picking up the clean machine from its seller in Illinois and parking it in their shop in Indiana, Dylan and Chad began preparing it for the race track.

They inspected the 4.6L engine, stock heads and manifold, Trick Flow upper intake elbow, cold-air intake and Vortech supercharger that were under the hood of the car, and added a catch-can to contain excess oil blowing out of the valve cover breathers. Then, they replaced the car’s stock rear-end with a built 8.8 with Moser 35-spline axles and a 35-spline Moser spool, swapped the stock drum brakes with Strange Engineering disc brakes, and installed UPR adjustable lower control arms and a Stifflers driveshaft safety loop.

When the work was wrapped up, they headed to the 10th Annual NMRA/NMCA All-Star Nationals presented by Mahle Motorsport in early April at Atlanta Dragway, where Dylan entered NMRA Race Star Wheels Ford Muscle and trapped a 13.06 on a 13.00 index to qualify in the eighth spot in the car equipped with a stock 5-speed transmission and rolling on Mickey Thompson drag radials.

He was enthusiastic about the entire experience despite exiting competition in the first round of eliminations.

“I felt very comfortable in the car, and it was as straight as an arrow going down track,” said Dylan. “It was very exciting, and on top of that, people were coming up and asking questions about the car, which I thought was great. Now, I just want to go faster and be able to go some rounds.”

Dylan, who’s currently outfitting the car with UPR upper control arms, a line-lock, shift light and an aftermarket driveshaft, will be back in action for the 17th Annual NMCA Quick Fuel Technology Bluegrass Nationals, May 17-20 at Beech Bend Raceway in Bowling Green, Kentucky. He’ll add his name to the MagnaFuel Open Comp roster there, and with help from his father, who will be competing in NA 10.5 in his Mustang at the event, he might get into the SCT programmer to step up the tune a bit, as he’s hoping to achieve 12s with this combination. However, given his family’s penchant and passion for naturally aspirated powerplants, fans may not be surprised to know that he plans to move from the supercharged 4.6L engine to a naturally aspirated Coyote engine in the near future.

Catch Dylan and his fellow racers at the event or on the SpeedVideo.com live feed available RIGHT HERE with support from presenting sponsor MaxFire Ignition along with Lunati, ProCharger, Driven Racing Oil, Moser Engineering, Flying A Motorsports, Speedway Motors, Champion Cooling, Late Model Engines, Race Star Industries and FAST.

(Photos courtesy of Joy Neuenschwander)