A retired Marine living in Kissimmee, Fla., is the winner of the 2013 Mustang Boss 302 raffled by the International Motor Racing Research Center in Watkins Glen.

The winning ticket held by Patrick Woods was drawn on Saturday, Dec. 1, at the Center by Town of Dix Supervisor Harold Russell. Dix is the town in which the Watkins Glen International race track is located.

“You never think you’re going to win something like this. It’s a bit overwhelming,” Woods said after learning of his win.

“We thank the thousands of people who supported the Center through purchasing raffle tickets,” Center President J.C. Argetsinger said. “This is our major fund-raiser, which furthers our work preserving the history of motor racing.”

Woods, who is retired after a 30-year career in helicopter aviation with the U.S. Marines, said he bought raffle tickets for the Mustang Boss 302 “just on a whim.”

Woods said he is a “car guy,” noting that he owns a 1928 Model A Ford roadster pickup, which he drives. But he drives it conscientiously – it still has its original 10-gallon gas tank.

“You don’t get very far,” Woods said.

His new Mustang should take him a lot further.

The Mustang Boss 302 was selected as the Racing Research Center’s 2012 raffle car as a way of honoring the 50th anniversary of the debut of the Mustang concept car at the 1962 United States Grand Prix at Watkins Glen.

The Center raffles a significant vehicle each year, and the staff hopes to announce the 2013 raffle car early in the new year.

The Racing Research Center is a non-profit 501(c)3 charitable organization founded in 1999. It is recognized as a world-class leader in the collection of materials representing the documentary history of amateur and professional motor racing worldwide.

Photo by Ford Motor Company