Jack Roush Jr. has never even sat in a Mustang Challenge race car, but he is ready to race one. He will be participating in his first series event during the Mustang 45th Anniversary Celebration at Barber Motorsport Park, just outside of Birmingham, Alabama, on Saturday, April 18.

“This is going to be a busy weekend with the race and all the things that are happening at the 45th Anniversary,” he said. Roush Performance will be exhibiting at the event, and for many attendees this will be their first opportunity to see the 2010 Roush Mustang, the fifth generation pony car from the company his father founded.

“Barber is not traditionally known as a ‘Mustang track’ due to the tight turns and short straights that don’t allow the car to make use of its horsepower. But it is one of my favorite tracks and I feel really good about the upcoming race. Last July I finished third there in the KONI Challenge race and the Mustangs swept the top-three positions in that event. So I’m confident that we can get these Mustang Challenge cars to turn and get around this track pretty quickly as well.”

Despite having no experience in a Mustang Challenge car, Roush is confident that he can get a feel for this car quickly.

“I may be a little naïve in my thinking, but I have to believe that it should handle reasonably close to the same way that my KONI Challenge Mustang does. Obviously, I have a lot of experience in that car now and a pretty good understanding of the way that it handles in the turns and the right line for the fastest entry and exit. I’m hoping that after a few laps the feel of the car should come to me so I can have a good solid showing in the race,” adding that he did spend time behind the wheel of the Mustangs used by the school at Miller Motorsports Park in Toole, Utah. Those cars are similar to the Mustang Challenge racers with minor variations.

Roush will be in the No. 00 Mustang Challenge car during the Saturday race. The green flag waves at noon for the 50-minute contest.