After graduating with a Masters in Scientific Mathematics from Eastern Michigan University in 1966 Jack Roush, born in Covington Kentucky, went to work for Ford until 1970 and after a short spell with Chrysler set up his own engineering business which was to become Roush Enterprises.
Roush teamed up with Wayne Gapp to build up a successful Drag Racing team G & R High Performance in Livonia, Mich which amongst other vehicles built a $25,000 150 mph ’73 Ford Pinto pro stocker powered by a Cleveland V8 driven by Ken Dondero and a pro stock Maverik driven by Wayne Gapp called “Juana Taxi”.
Building on his success on the Drag Strip Roush entered a partnership with the German Ford tuner Zakspeed to build successful road racing vehicles for Ford in the Trans Am and IMSA GT Series.
In 1988 Jack entered the NASCAR arena with a young Mark Martin and since has survived two aeroplane crashes, in 2002 and 2010, while Matt Kenseth and Kurt Busch won back to back Cup titles, in 2003 ans 2004, for Roush. Matt also won two Daytona 500’s in 2009 and 2011. In the second tier Nationwide Series Gregg Biffle (2002), Carl Edwards 2007, and Ricky Stenhouse Jr 2011 and ’12 have all won driving for “The Cat in the Hat” as Jack is affectionately known. Gregg Biffle also won the 2000 NASCAR Craftsmen Truck Series in a Roush F-150.
Along side all his racing success Roush Enterprises has produced all manner of performance parts under the Roush Performannce banner and in 2004 Jack introduced the first in a trickle of limited edition Roush Mustangs known as the 440A.
Following the release of the 2007 Black Jack Mustang Roush Performance turned it’s attention to a limited edition truck based on the 2007 11th edition standard cab F-150 with the flaredside bed.
Just 100 2007 Roush Nightmares were built and so far as I can tell from the head light cluster and rear wheel arches the example seen here, at Thruxton last year, is one of them. In 2008 a second series of 100 Nightmares was built with less chrome in the head light clusters and larger flares on the rear wheel arches.
Along with the performance enhancing Roushcharger™ the 445 hp 5.4 litre / 329 cui V8 features 3 valves per cylinder, bespoke intake manifolds, intercooler, radiator, and air induction system. The vehicle is fitted with an electronically-controlled speed limiter which restricts the top speed to 105 mph.
Options included the decorative hood scoop, Roush sport lowered suspension, locking lug nuts, GPS and NASCAR inspired rear spoiler seen below.
Available only from ROUSH-authorized Ford dealers beginning June 2007, the ROUSH Nitemare cost $41,750, comparable to a discounted Dodge SRT 10 performance truck, and was covered by ROUSH’s industry exclusive 3 year/36,000 mile warranty.
Thanks for joining me on this “The Truck That Jack Built” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at a 9.2 litre / 563 cui chain drive Mercedes. Don’t forget to come back now !
