The new Ford Racing Mustang that will compete in the NASCAR Cup Series was unveiled today inside the American Motorsports Hall of Fame of America as part of Ford’s Proud to Honor Veterans Day Classic event. The 2027 Ford Mustang race car continues a progression of the iconic sports car that competes globally in 29 series, 17 countries and on five continents.
Ford’s newest NASCAR contender is based on the production Mustang Dark Horse SC, which is the most advanced and powerful Dark Horse ever with its supercharged 5.2-liter V8 engine providing up to 795 horsepower and 660-lb.-ft. of torque.
“When we introduced the Mustang Dark Horse SC in January and announced it was coming to the NASCAR Cup Series in 2027, we had no time to waste,” said Mark Rushbrook, global director, Ford Racing. “Racing makes our road cars better, and our road cars make our race cars better. We put that philosophy to work here, incorporating key elements from the Dark Horse SC into the new Mustang race car to help make it even more competitive every week.”
Chief among that is an aggressive-looking nose that has been designed to optimize aerodynamics. In the road car, that comes in the form of increased cooling while in the race car it creates more downforce.
“Our team of race engineers worked hand-in-hand with Ford designers to create a car that not only holds true to Mustang’s unique appearance but lives up to its heritage as a car that was born to race,” said Rushbrook. “We believe this car will put us in a position to win a lot of races and championships in the years ahead.”
Mustang debuted in the NASCAR Cup Series full-time in 2019 and since then has won three championships with drivers Joey Logano (2022 and 2024) and Ryan Blaney (2023). In addition, it has won 80 races, including major events like the Daytona 500, Southern 500, Coca-Cola 600 and Brickyard 400 two times apiece.
“I’ve said this ever since Ford brought Mustang into the Cup Series and nothing since then has changed my mind. We have the best-looking car on the track, hands down, and Ford Racing has worked to make it one of the fastest too,” said Logano, who has won three championships with Ford. “Mustang is an American icon and no one is more proud to drive it each and every week than me. I can’t wait to get behind the wheel of this new Mustang at Daytona.”
Blaney, who drove the production car and was part of the NASCAR announcement at Season Launch, is also looking forward to his new ride.
“All of us want to be the first one to win a race in this new Mustang and I’m no different,” he said. “I’ve been pretty fortunate that throughout my Cup career the only car I’ve ever driven is a Ford and I’m proud of that. Ford does a great job of designing race cars that give us the best chance to win, and I can’t think of a better way to get started than by winning the Daytona 500.”
The Ford Mustang will make its competitive debut during Daytona Speedweeks, culminating with the 69th annual running of the Daytona 500 on Feb. 21.
The unveiling of the new Cup car marked the first event of a day that is being highlighted by the inaugural Ford Proud to Honor Veterans Day Classic at Daytona International Speedway. A total of 12 Ford Racing drivers will be competing on the road course in Ford Mustang Dark Horse Rs with all six military branches being divided into teams of two. Proceeds from the event will go to support military members, veterans and their families.
The event can be seen live on USA Network, 8-10 p.m. ET.
— Ford Racing —