Roush Performance is a legendary brand that has become a staple in racing and performance modifications. Its origins can be traced back to 1976, when former Ford Motor Company engineer Jack Roush formed his Performance Engineering company.
In addition to offering aftermarket parts and accessories, there are some vehicles that are Roush-modified from the factory, with their own set of identifiers to confirm authenticity. Over time, they have offered a wide variety of custom and crate engines, providing purpose-driven power to most any build.
Roush Mustangs themselves have gone through multiple generations, with the company making new and improved performance modifications at each turn. In the words of founder Jack Roush, "Between a road car and a race car is a Roush car."
Here is more information about how the Roush brand originated and the performance vehicles they have powered.
Origins Of Roush Performance
The founder of Roush Performance, Jack Roush, is an engineer and performance enthusiast. Prior to starting Roush companies, he was an engineer for Ford and drag race competitor involved in the motorsports community. In 1970 he and driver Wayne Gapp drove Pro Stock drag racing and claimed multiple victories. The original company was formed in 1976 (Jack Roush Performance Engineering), and Roush Performance would follow in 1995.
The Roush brand would grow exponentially over time and see victories at an array of races. Jack was inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame in 2017, lauded for his contributions to the automotive industry. He also participates in tons of charitable activities, giving him a holistic business influence in motorsports.
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Aftermarket Parts And Modifications
A widely known hallmark of the company’s engineering is the Roush supercharger (ROUSHcharger), which can be installed whilst allowing the factory drivetrain warranty to remain intact. The amount of parts that Roush has offered has grown substantially over the years; Roush now offers parts for the Ford Mustang, F-150 & Super Duty, Ranger, Focus, and the Taurus Sho.
An example of the performance Roush offers can be seen in packages such as the Phase II Mustang supercharger kit, which can produce 750 horsepower and a remarkable 670lb-ft of torque, a 290 horsepower boost to the stock engine.
“We started out with a new induction system for the 5.0-liter Mustang V-8, and then we figured out that we needed to develop our brand as a tuner and then as a builder of fully engineered vehicles”, said Evan D. Lyell, Roush Enterprises CEO.
In addition to superchargers, performance packages, suspension, and exhaust, Roush has a selection of vehicle accessories such as pedals, car covers, and grilles along with service parts including belts, spark plugs, and air filters. A combination of spoilers, hood scoops, side skirts and fascias from their specialty body kits give each vehicle an edgy, race-inspired look.
Authentic, Factory-Modified ROUSH Vehicles
In 1994, the first Roush Mustang made its way to production with 3 different “stages” or feature packages. Stages I and II provided body upgrades and race suspension, respectively; Stage III would allow for a 50 horsepower boost to the Mustang GT.
For 2020, the factory-modified Roush vehicle lineup includes Stage II, Stage III, and Jack Roush Edition Mustang. This special edition is the most powerful of the options, producing 775 horsepower and 670lb-ft of torque with a 0-60 time of just 3.4 seconds.
Other performance Fords include modified versions of the Raptor and F-150; Models such as the F-150 511 Tactical Edition were capped at just 150 vehicles, making them rare gems. Unfortunately, due to the prestige and popularity of Roush builds, there are many counterfeit models that can try to pass themselves off as original. There are ways to verify whether a vehicle is authentically Roush, including custom badging, serial number, and VIN.
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NASCAR: Roush-Fenway Racing
Jack Roush has a storied history within the race community, both for his personal driving wins and the teams he has powered to success. Roush has made his mark on a variety of renowned competitions, including SCCA and IMSA beginning in 1984 and NASCAR in 1988.
The Roush NASCAR team originated with driver Mark Martin and has since fueled the victories of 19 stock car drivers. Championship titles for Roush in the 24 Hours of Daytona sedan-class were won 10 times in a row.
Amidst a chronicle of championships, Roush has been integral to driver safety in NASCAR. They developed the roof flaps that improve the aerodynamic stability of the stock cars and prevent the potentially fatal airborne flips that were common prior to their institution.
Roush Racing formed a new alliance with Fenway Sports Group, owners of the Boston Red Sox and Liverpool F.C., in 2007. Together, they have claimed five NASCAR owner championships, 3 drivers championships, and a stunning 325 Cup Series titles.
Sources: Roush, Racing Reference, Only Mustang Fords
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