New Ford Mustang BOSS 302R: A $79,000 5.0 GT Track Racer

Along with the new 2011 Mustang GT 5.0-liter V8, Ford also took the covers off a track version of its updated pony car called the BOSS 302R in honor of the 40th anniversary of Parnelli Jones' 1970 Trans-Am championship in a Mustang BOSS 302 prepared by Bud Moore Engineering.

Set to replace the Mustang FR500C, the BOSS 302R features the GT's new 5.0-liter V8 engine coupled to a six-speed manual transmission and comes equipped with a roll cage, race seats, safety harness, data acquisition and race dampers/springs, and a Brembo brake and tire package.

The base Mustang BOSS 302R racer retails at $79,000.

If you're looking for something more hardcore, Ford also offers the M-FR500-BOSS R1 that's eligible to compete in the Grand-Am Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge series (formerly known as KONI Challenge), starting with the season-opening race in Daytona on Jan. 29, 2010.

Priced at $129,000, this version features a sealed high-output race engine with an upgraded cooling system, a close-ratio six-speed transmission with integral shifter, a seam-welded body, race suspension/KONI dampers and ABS brake tuning, race performance exhaust and a high-speed balance one-piece driveshaft.

Ford said that a total of 50 BOSS 302R Mustangs will be built by the firm's racing division with first deliveries anticipated in the third quarter of 2010.

'Best Bet' - Championship Betting Tips with Betfair

Hi, my name is Tom Mallows, online sports writer with Betfair.
I am guest writing on this blog where I shall be previewing all the weekend games in The Championship along with a selection of Premier League fixtures

In addition, I will also be looking in detail at some of the weekend's LIVE TV games.

Every fortnight, I will bring you all the latest odds, preview the biggest matches, and hopefully try and win you some cash with my 'best bet' football tips.

This weekend sees seven fixtures in the Championship and six tasty looking fixtures in the FA Cup Fifth Round involving Championship sides. Here's my pick of the action:


Watford v Chelsea
Saturday 14th February KO 17:30 LIVE ON SETANTA

Both these sides have had their troubles recently. 1984 finalists Watford, in the Premier League just two years ago, now find themselves struggling at the wrong end of the Championship. Manager Brendan Rogers will be facing the side he left earlier in the season to take over at Vicarage Road.

Chelsea meanwhile have endured a mini-crisis of their own, slipping behind in the title race and sacking boss Luis Felipe Scolari this week after just five months in the job. Guus Hiddink is widely tipped to take temporary charge – but not in time for Saturday.

Current Match odds:

Watford 9-1 Draw 4/1 Chelsea 5/2

Scorecast:
Watford 1-0 24/1 2-0 84/1 3-0 319/1

Chelsea 0-1 13/2 0-2 6/1 0-3 10/1

Draw 0-0 14/1 1-1 10/1 2-2 26/1


My ‘best bet’ prediction:

Chelsea may have their troubles, but I think they will have too much quality for Watford. It won’t be easy through, so my football betting advice would be to back a low scoring away win.
2-0 Chelsea win @ 6-1.


Swansea v Fulham
Saturday 14th February KO 12.45 LIVE ON ITV1

This has all the ingredients for a cup upset. The Premier League side who struggle on the road travel to a lower division side high in confidence and fresh from knocking out Premier League Opposition in the last round.
Roberto Martinez has done a great job with Swansea. Not only has he guided them to the FA Cup 5th round but his side look well set for a late promotion charge, couple this with their attractive attacking brand of football, they are a tough proposition for anyone at the moment.

Fulham boss Roy Hodgson has invested wisely to help the club into mid-table following last seasons last-gasp relegation escape. But the team still has a poor away record and that could count against them on Saturday.

Current Match odds:

Swansea 7/4 Draw 5/2 Fulham 15/8

Scorecast:
Swansea 1-0 8/1 2-0 14/1 3-0 35/1 2-1 11/1

Fulham 0-1 8/1 0-2 17/1 0-3 47/1 1-2 11/1

Draw 0-0 6/1 1-1 10/1 2-2 18/1


My 'best bet' prediction:

I smell an upset here, and an opportunity to make some cash. A 2-0 home win carries some decent looking odds.
Swansea 2-0 Fulham @ 14/1.

The best of the rest:
Fancy a sections list this weekend?
A multiple bet can win you some 'serious' cash.

Here are my tips for this weekend’s matches:

Home Wins:

Birmingham v. Notts Forest
Bristol City v. Southampton
Preston v. Norwich
Arsenal v. Cardiff

Away Wins:

Doncaster v. Sheff Wed
Derby v. Man Utd
Charlton v. Plymouth

Draws:

Burnley v. Wolves
Ipswich v. Blackpool
Sheff Utd v. Hull

My Tip Of The Weekend:

I fancy Chris Coleman's Coventry to spring a FA Cup surprise against Blackburn at Ewood Park. Sam Allarydce's side are deep in a Premier League relegation battle and may take their eye off the ball on Saturday.
Blackburn 1-2 Coventry @ 20/1.

Go to Betfair for all the latest football betting for this weekend’s FA Cup games, plus all the latest Cheltenham odds for the Festival in March.