2016 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350R: The TAWA’s “Car of Texas”

Ford has been taking its Mustang Shelby GT350 and GT350R twins across North America to show people what incredible performance machines they are. Most recently, the company’s tour stopped at the Buttonwillow Raceway Park in Southern California, where our sister site Ford-Trucks.com was able to test their track talents.

However, in order to have one of them become the Texas Auto Writers Association’s 2016 “Car of Texas,” Ford needed to take one of the high-performance ponies to the Lone Star State. Luckily for me and my fellow members of the organization, it did. It showed up with the 2016 Mustang Shelby GT350R.

The Blue Oval was just one of several manufacturers who recently brought a total of 53 vehicles down to the Texas Motor Speedway (TMS) in Fort Worth to take part in the 2016 Texas Auto Roundup. Over the course of two days, journalists from 11 states and even the Netherlands evaluated entries in 17 categories to determine which ones would go home with titles, such as the “Supercar of Texas” and “Family Car of Texas.” Every OEM rep at the event wanted one of their vehicles to win the top prize, “Car of Texas.”

In the Performance Coupe category, the GT350R had to combat the 464-horsepower Cadillac ATS-V, the Chevrolet Camaro 2LT convertible, and the almighty Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat. The Caddy looked sharp and the drop-top Chevy was perfect for enjoying the sunshine of the second morning of the roundup, but it was the more powerful Mopar that came in second place to the ultimate track Mustang. Every other car and crossover running around the TMS’s infield course and surrounding roads was a runner-up to it for “Car of Texas.”

I can’t speak for the other members of the TAWA, but perhaps they agreed with me in thinking that the Shelby offered face-distorting power from its 5.2-liter flat-plane-crank V8, an attractive cockpit with body-hugging seats, immediately responsive brakes, and the striking looks of a spaceship that was beautifully fused with a Mustang.

What I can do is propose that the GT350R win another award in addition to the two that it received: “Best Exhaust Note.” It started up with a burst of angry sound, went down the highway speaking in hypnotic tones, and absolutely exploded with sonic fury when I buried my right foot in the gas at the beginning of a straightaway.

Ford went to the right place with the 2016 Mustang Shelby GT350R to win its latest prize. Too bad it didn’t leave the car in Texas. We want one for a week to find out which other accolades it deserves.

Chime in with your thoughts on the forum. >>

via [Texas Auto Writers Association]

homepage photo credit [Major League Photography]

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Derek Shiekhi

Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.

After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.

While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.

Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.

In addition to writing for a variety of Internet Brands sites, including JK Forum, H-D Forums, The Mustang Source, Mustang Forums, LS1Tech, HondaTech, Jaguar Forums, YotaTech, and Ford Truck Enthusiasts. Derek also started There Will Be Cars on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

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