DEARBORN - A love for the Ford Mustang has followed Jonathan Winker ever since he bought his first car, and remains even after this young Army infantryman was wounded in the Iraq war. So what was his first thought after the amputation his left leg? Simply: ‘Can I still drive my manual transmission Mustang?’ To hear how he has adapted to driving – and even competing – in his Mustang, and what amazing plans he has for the future, see his letter to us below:

“Hello, Ford Performance! I’m sending this to you to see if it qualifies for inclusion in your ‘Ford fan Spotlight.’ I was first bit with the Ford bug when I purchased my first car, a 1982 Ford Mustang, around 2002. I bought it for $300; it was a straight-6 automatic but I loved the style of the car and knew it had tremendous potential.

“Soon after purchasing that Mustang I repainted it and swapped-in a 302 and a T-5 manual. I had some big plans for the car. I didn't want to turn it into a drag car like most Fox Body Mustang enthusiasts at the time. I raced go-karts from a young age and wanted to make a Mustang that would handle! I set it up for Autocross and learned a ton about car control, and always had the itch to do more.

“My automotive passion stepped to the side when I graduated high school and joined the Army. My ’82 Mustang was sold and eventually replaced with a 2002 Roush Mustang GT. In 2009, I was deployed to Iraq and shortly before I was supposed to come home I was wounded. My left leg was crushed. I spent nearly two years in recovery and had many surgeries. Eventually I was medically retired from the Army because I could no longer perform my duty as an Infantryman. I could only walk with a cane and was in extreme pain all the time, and I could no longer do many of the activities I used to enjoy before my injury. But one activity I could still do was drive!

“I put my time and money into my Mustang and started learning to be a better driver. In 2013, I had to face a decision: live with my pain and poor quality of life or have my left leg amputated to hopefully get some more function back and reduce my pain. It was a hard choice. My first thought was, ‘Can I still drive my manual transmission Mustang? It was all I had left, as I could no longer do the other activities I used to do

“I did choose to amputate my leg and my pain has been reduced to a manageable level. What’s more, I still drive! I have modified my car slightly to be able to drive with my prosthetic, and I now compete in Autocross, Time Trial, and pro-touring events. I also am working to start an all-veteran ‘ChumpCar’ racing team, and seeking to ultimately get a racing license and compete in NASA wheel-to-wheel racing in the AX or AIX class with a Mustang.

“Simply put, my Mustang keeps me sane. When I am driving it, I do not have a disability; I am competing with able-bodied drivers, and no one knows the difference when my driver’s suit is on! (I’ve included a photo of me in my Mustang from Road America.)”

Editor’s Note: One of the most popular features on FordPerformance.com and in our Fast News e-newsletter continues to be "Ford Fan Spotlight," where readers can send in their own reasons why they're fans of Ford Motor Company. You know who they are: Ford "superfans;" grassroots Ford racers; unique Ford vehicle owners; loyal Ford enthusiasts; notable Ford club people; special Ford families; and/or any avid supporter of Ford, Ford vehicles, Ford motorsports or Ford Performance who deserves a little bit of special recognition.

All you need to do to get you, your car or candidate considered is to send in a brief description (200-300 words or less) and a few photos (in .jpeg format, preferably 300 dpi) of a person (full name and hometown, please) and vehicle that you think Ford Performance should feature (and why) in the "Ford Fan Spotlight" for an upcoming installment of Fast News and posting on FordPerformance.com. Then email it to: AskTFR@Ford.com. Should you wish to send a video, you simply need to post it on www.YouTube.com (preferably 1-2 minutes long) and send in the link, along with a brief description, to that same AskTFR@Ford.com email address. We'll choose one submission each week.