The Ford F-150 is the quintessential family pickup truck in North America. In recent years, however, its image has shifted – especially in the drag racing world.
Now coined as “the Mexican Nissan GTR”, the F-150 has garnered attention from tuners and racers alike, and it doesn’t have any signs of slowing down. Imagine a Coyote V8 powered, all-wheel drive Mustang that’s cheaper than… a new Mustang? Well, that would be the RCSB (Regular Cab Short Bed) F-150.
In 2018, Ford massively overhauled the performance aspects of the V8 offered with the F-150. Featuring a new cast aluminum block, dual-port, direct fuel injection, plasma transfer wire arc-coated cylinders, and an air-fuel ratio bump from 10.5:1 to 12:1, the new engine was more closely aligned with its Mustang counterpart than a torque-biased truck motor.
Southeast Texas is a hotspot for the RCSB F-150. In fact, it is home to some of the fastest F-150’s in the USA. Loaded with aftermarket tuners and shops, Houston is a city where it’s hard not to see a modified F-150 on the street.
It’s no wonder these folks got together and hosted their own F-150 Fest; at Evadale Raceway in Evadale, Texas, the baddest F-150’s showdown on the 1/8th mile drag strip.
Boy, they went all out! With $35,000 in payouts to winners in six different classes. Trucks were street tuned to run the 7.50 Index class. For reference, a stock R35 Nissan GTR is somewhere around the 7.0-7.5 range for ⅛ mile ET. Others were stripped down to the bones to compete in the N/A (Naturally Aspirated) class, and some modified to over 1800 horsepower for the Open Boosted class.
Drag racing for hours on end, it came down to the finalists just as the sun was beginning to set. Blazing down the track at over 8500 RPM, it was a joy to capture these awesome trucks – and it wasn’t just about speed; it was about pride, community, and proving who built the baddest truck. From sponsors to spectators, everyone came to show that the F-150 is far more than just a work truck.
Moving off the track, the F-150 has become well known on social media for its street racing pedigree. It’s an ideal setup; Ford produced the engine to be capable of great power in stock form.
Now add 4×4 traction and forced induction? Some Houston dealerships even offer them with Whipple Supercharger packages…and a warranty! In fact, the reputable race F-150’s from Houston are annually invited to Cleetus McFarland’s famous RWD vs AWD Shootout.
Spoiler alert, the four-wheel drive trucks usually win.
