Click here to watch the Mustang 1000 Lap Challenge Preview video!

DEARBORN -- Ford Mustang has always been fast, fun, and affordable.  But today a team of four Ford Mustang engineers, along with NASCAR star David Ragan, will showcase the 2011 Mustang V-6’s class-leading fuel economy when they attempt to drive more than 1,000 laps, or 533 miles, at Bristol Motor Speedway on a single tank of fuel.

“We all know how much fun it is to drive Mustang, but in today’s market customers also care about fuel economy,” said Jamie Allison, director, Ford North America Motorsports. “By going at least 1,000 laps on one of NASCAR’s most popular tracks, we expect to show that when it comes to Mustang, you can have both performance and fuel economy.”

The Mustang 1,000-Lap Challenge will cap a four-month, on-line sweepstakes designed to highlight the Mustang V-6’s blend of power and fuel efficiency that enabled engineers to reach 305 horsepower and 31 miles per gallon with the new 3.7-liter V-6 engine.

As the 2011 Mustang V-6 prepares to make history, fans can still get in on the action by registering their guess for the total number of complete laps that Mustang will complete during the Challenge. 

Consumers have until 10:00 am, Wednesday, June 23, to submit their completed laps guess to www.Mustang1000LapChallenge.com  One lucky fan randomly selected from all those who correctly guess the number of laps completed during the Challenge will take home a 2011 Mustang V-6 coupe.

The Challenge will begin early Wednesday morning with a team of four Ford Mustang engineers continuously circling the track billed as “the world’s fastest half-mile” until the vehicle runs out of fuel. David Ragan, driver of the No. 6 UPS NASCAR Ford Fusion, will join the Challenge team in the afternoon to try to help put the Mustang over the 1,000-lap mark.

“I think it will be cool to be involved with this Challenge,” said Ragan. “I’ve driven plenty of Mustangs over the years, and I’ve also driven Bristol many times, so I know how hard the challenge really will be for the team. Racing 500 laps in a NASCAR Sprint Cup race can wear on you, so doing twice that many laps without a fuel stop is impressive.”

Mustang is powered by a lightweight, all-aluminum 3.7-liter dual-overhead-cam (DOHC) V-6 engine that uses advanced engineering to deliver its combination of power and economy. Twin independent variable camshaft timing (Ti-VCT) adjusts the valvetrain in microseconds depending on driver inputs, further contributing to the engine’s overall efficiency.

In fact, the Mustang used at the Challenge will have no special modifications for the event and is the same Mustang V-6 that is available to consumers on the showroom floor.

“This car we will be driving at Bristol is exactly the same Mustang that consumers can purchase at their local Ford dealership,” said Tom Barnes, vehicle engineering manager, Mustang. “We’re not doing any tricks or making any modifications. The base car delivers 31 mpg and this is what you can buy. It has standard tire pressure, standard ride height, standard octane fuel. We’re just going to be driving it.”

Consumers can follow the progress of the 1,000-Lap Challenge through several social media channels. Frequent updates will be available on both the Ford Mustang and Ford Racing Facebook and Twitter pages, along with updated videos and photos as the Challenge progresses.