2021 Late Model Restoration Cruise In

What started as a small get-together of about 50 cars in our very own parking lot, has grown into a massive cruise-in that attracts over 1,000 Ford Mustangs & Lightnings. The LMR Cruise-In has grown tremendously over the years with no signs of slowing down as being the largest Mustang car show in Texas.

With our annual mustang cruise-in having to be canceled due to COVID in 2020, we knew we had to come back bigger and better for 2021 as car owners across the nation were itching to get back to the car shows we all love so much. With the Late Model Restoration Cruise-In continuously outgrowing venues, we wanted to find a location that would allow us to have plenty of space for our growing attendance while still having adequate space for event activities. Texas Motor Speedway fit the bill and set us up for the biggest and baddest LMR Cruise-In ever.

The LMR Cruise-In was held in the infield of Texas Motor Speedway, surrounded by 1.5 miles of NASCAR track which provided a stadium-like feel. Entering the infield, each driver got to pass under the track through a tunnel which, as you can imagine, led to plenty of revving and exhaust sounds throughout the day. One of my personal favorite moments was watching over 100+ Fox Body Mustangs from the North Texas Fox Body Club roll in one after another through the tunnel. As one of the largest Fox Body clubs in America, NTFC always makes a show-stopping appearance at our LMR Cruise-In events.

NTFC was not the only car club that stole the show with their entrance, a Ford Lightning and SVT Cobra Club from the Dallas area also made their presence known when they arrived. The DFW Cobra Club had one of the largest collections of 03-04 Cobras I have ever seen. With nearly 100 Cobras rolling in back to back, it felt like the mid-2000s all over again. Speaking of the mid-2000s, the Dallas/Ft Worth Lightning Clubs made their grand entrances with over 50 Ford Lightnings and Harley Davidson trucks. As with previous LMR Cruise-Ins, these clubs are known for its show-stopping arrival and clean collection of SVT trucks.

Wild Side Stangs, a Texas Mustang club with several chapters, was also in attendance and brought in several groups from all over Texas. These clubs and various others helped to pack the South Paddock of the Texas Motor Speedway infield, providing a great show and shine area for Mustang enthusiasts to check out each other’s builds.

With Texas Motor Speedway being as large as it is, we were able to include new attractions at the 2021 Cruise-In. In the infield of TMS, there is a road course that is used throughout the year for various events. For the Cruise-In, we wanted to introduce our customers to one of our favorite activities, road racing. We worked closely with The Drivers Edge, who managed the road course, to provide parade laps throughout the day. These parade laps allowed for our attendees to get a feel for their cars and trucks on the track while teaching them the basics of driving on a road course. This was quite popular with attendees and cars were running the parade laps throughout the day.

Following suit to years past, a mobile dyno was also in attendance, providing two pulls per vehicle. The classic sound of a vehicle being dyno tested echoed throughout the day as car after car got to find out just how much horsepower they were making.

To lend to the motorsports already going on, NASCAR Racing Experience was also holding an event on the oval track at the same time. While this event was separate from the LMR Cruise-In, attendees of our event got to enjoy seeing and hearing the NASCAR vehicles being driven around the track all day.

Another great bonus for our attendees was a nearby airshow going on at the same time as our event. The Fort Worth Alliance Air Show was being held next door to Texas Motor Speedway, giving our attendees a great show as the Blue Angels and other various air crafts maneuvered over the massive track. Getting a car show and an airshow all in one was a treat that not many have gotten to experience before, making this event even more special.

What may have been history, or at least one of the most show-stopping features of the event was the 2000 Cobra Rs. With only 300 2000 Cobra Rs made, it is rare to see just one at a Mustang Car Show. At the LMR Cruise-In, there were 4 real Cobra Rs in attendance along with 1 tribute Cobra R that looked nearly identical to the real thing. The Cobra R’s were all parked together, side by side, in the NASCAR garage to showcase the true beauty of these race cars. While having them at the show was cool enough, you know we had to make it even cooler.

During the afternoon hours of the 2021 LMR Cruise-In, the 4 Cobra R’s and the tribute car headed out onto the track for a quick track session. Seeing a Cobra R being driven is rare, so seeing 4-5 being driven on a road course was like a dream come true. In what seemed like a scene out of Forza, the Cobra R’s made their way through the twists and turns and gave attendees a view of a lifetime.

As the day winded down and cars started to file out, we were able to reflect on how far we have come with the LMR Cruise-In. Our staff enjoys getting to see our customers, talk Mustangs, and provide an event that creates lifelong memories and friendships.

LMR would like to thank each and every one of our customers and show attendees for making this the best LMR Cruise-In to date and we look forward to making it even better next year!