- Versions of the Mustang Dark Horse will be eligible to compete in GT3 and GT4 classes globally and in addition,
- Dark Horse R will also compete in the IMSA-sanctioned Mustang Challenge Series, as well as other grassroots racing series, in 2024.
- The Mustang brand has raced in NASCAR since 2011. That year, it came to the Xfinity Series. Mustang came to the Cup Series in 2019.
The Ford Mustang Dark Horse is coming to the NASCAR Cup Series in 2024.
The most recent version of the Mustang made its debut in 2022 as the first as the first new performance nameplate for Mustang since 2001. A track-capable 5.0-liter V8 street-legal Mustang is the inspiration behind Mustangs are are racing Repco Supercars Championship in Australia and Formula Drift series.
Today, Ford revealed a version of the Dark Horse that will race in NASCAR next year.
“What a crazy year it has been revealing our new global Mustangs for racing. The positive response from our fans around the world has been amazing, and we’re confident that this Mustang Dark Horse Cup car will be no different and that NASCAR fans will be excited to cheer us on next year,” said Mark Rushbrook, global director, Ford Performance Motorsports. “Our Ford Performance staff, together with our NASCAR race teams, have worked tirelessly in the wind tunnel developing this car, and I can’t wait to finally see it race on the track next season.”
Plans for 2024 call for Ford Mustang Dark Horse variants to compete in GT3 and GT4 classes globally. In August, Ford Performance and IMSA announced plans for the Dark Horse R to be featured in the Mustang Challenge Series.
“If she gallops as fast as she looks, it’s going to be a good year,” said Brad Keselowski, driver and co-owner of Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing after seeing the new NASCAR Cup model. “Mustang is an iconic American car made famous around the world. I think of how Mustang has evolved over the years and how NASCAR has evolved along with it and they’re just two brands that go together. I’m proud to get to drive it and proud to be able to compete for the win in this car.”
The Mustang brand has raced in NASCAR since 2011. That year, it came to the Xfinity Series. Mustang came to the Cup Series in 2019.
The NASCAR Cup Series Mustang Dark Horse will debut on Feb. 4 as part of the Clash at the Coliseum exhibition race inside the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
“We’re excited to debut this new Mustang Dark Horse next year. I’m really pumped because Ford did an amazing job with it,” said Ryan Blaney of Team Penske. “I can’t wait for this to debut and drive it next year at the Coliseum and, hopefully, I can be the one to get the first win. That would be a cool accomplishment.”
Stewart-Haas driver Chase Briscoe and 2023 Championship 4 qualifier in the Cup Series added, “I feel like we already have the best-looking Cup car out of the three manufacturers, but I’m definitely excited for the new body. I feel like the Ford Performance team does a great job of making our car to where it can still perform on the racetrack, but also tie into that look of the street car.”
Mustang won a manufacturer’s championship and series-best 18 races in 2020, and the brand won the driver’s championship with Joey Logano in 2022.
Mike Pryson covered auto racing for the Jackson (Mich.) Citizen Patriot and MLive Media Group from 1991 until joining Autoweek in 2011. He won several Michigan Associated Press and national Associated Press Sports Editors awards for auto racing coverage and was named the 2000 Michigan Auto Racing Fan Club’s Michigan Motorsports Writer of the Year. A Michigan native, Mike spent three years after college working in southwest Florida before realizing that the land of Disney and endless summer was no match for the challenge of freezing rain, potholes and long, cold winters in the Motor City.
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