The world’s best-selling sports coupe moves to America’s most popular form of racing for the first time ever, and will make its debut as a competitive racecar at the 2019 Daytona 500 in February.
Ford has revealed its all-new Mustang NASCAR Cup racecar, the first time that Mustang, the world’s best-selling sports car, will compete in NASCAR’s top-level Cup racing series.
Even before Mustang became a global icon, its first competition was in 1964, when it surprisingly won the Tour de France Automobile, a grueling 4000-mile, 10-day rally. Soon after, it began a racing legacy in SCCA Trans-Am, IMSA, NHRA, Formula Drift and NASCAR’s second-tier series, NASCAR Xfinity.
Mustang has been competing full-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series since 2011 and has won a championship in all but one season. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. won back-to-back driver’s championships in 2011 and 2012, while Roger Penske has claimed the owner’s title in four of the last five years.
Ford Design and Ford Performance worked carefully to translate Mustang’s signature style to meet NASCAR rules, ensuring that Mustang will look as great on the oval as it does on the street.
“Our Ford Performance team has worked hard with the Ford Design team to create a Mustang that will be competitive on the track while remaining true to its proud heritage. We can’t wait to see it winning races in the NASCAR Cup Series next year,” said Mark Rushbrook, global director, Ford Performance Motorsports.
“Mustang has raced since it was first sold in 1964,” said Hau Thai-Tang, Ford’s executive vice president, Product Development and Purchasing, who was on hand to help unveil the car. “After more than a half-century, it feels great to finally let Mustang run in the top echelon of America’s most popular stock car racing series.”
“We look forward to seeing the Ford Mustang, a cultural icon, on the track in the most competitive series in all of motorsports,” said Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR executive vice president and chief racing development officer. “Our sport eagerly anticipates the performance, style and fanfare the Mustang will bring to the track each weekend beginning at the 2019 Daytona 500.”
The first race for the new NASCAR Mustang will be the Daytona 500 on 17 February 2019.
The world’s best-selling sports coupe moves to America’s most popular form of racing for the first time ever, and will make its debut as a competitive racecar at the 2019 Daytona 500 in February.
New GM World display celebrates racing heritage of General Motors
