NASCAR’s Official Ford Mustang Dark Horse Launch Spoiled by Early Daytona Leak on Reddit

The 2023 NASCAR season has been a redemption arc for the car manufacturer Ford. Having been chastised for their failure to keep up with their rivals Chevrolet and Toyota in the season’s initial stages, Ford turned the season around in the second half. Much of the credit goes to RFK Racing, considering them this year’s unexpected package. #17 driver Chris Buescher popped off in the second half of the season, raking in three wins.

However, going into next season, NASCAR will have more positives to look back on than just their regular-season performance. With Ryan Blaney claiming his place in Phoenix with a win at Martinsville on Sunday, there has never been a better time to invest in Ford stocks. To match the same energy for 2024, the company has unveiled the new look for the NASCAR Ford Mustang, which will grace the Cup Series.

NASCAR finally unveils the revamped Ford Mustang

The Mustang entered NASCAR primarily as a car limited to the Xfinity Series in 2011. The NASCAR Ford Mustang made its Cup Series debut in 2019. Ford announced its arrival on the big scene by winning 18 races in 2020, and there have been no signs of looking back ever since. 2022 was the most successful year for the vehicle as defending champion Joey Logano cruised with his #22 Ford Mustang to the annals of NASCAR history.

The latest version of Ford Performance’s product, the Mustang Dark Horse, has been in the works for a long time. With the introduction of Next-Gen cars, the manufacturer is looking to implement some changes from its side that will help it be a competitive force in the years to come.

One of the lesser-known advantages of Generation 7 race cars or Next-Gen cars is a significant reduction in building costs. Due to this, Ford tested the Dark Horse at its electric vehicle and battery manufacturing campus and the Blue Oval last year with the track-only versions.

However, NASCAR’s plans for making the announcement didn’t go as well as they would have liked. Apparently, a fan chanced to have a peek at the shoot for the latest commercial for the Dark Horse Mustang in Daytona. He did not waste any time and shared it on Reddit, which has taken away some anticipation and hype from the official announcement. Yet that won’t stop the fans from getting excited about it, regardless.

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The 2024 Cup Series version has been scheduled to make its debut in February next year. Beginning its new journey at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Ford has already set the bar high with its advertisement.

The new Mustang could be a problem for other manufacturers

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When Ford declared its intentions at the Blue Oval last year, it brought in two versions, Dark Horse S and R. The Dark Horse S is a slightly toned-down version and has been the reference point for its entry into new-generation NASCAR Ford Mustang race cars. The vehicle boasts a 5.0-liter V8 engine under the bonnet, which generates a whopping amount of power. The numbers are expected to be around 500 horsepower and about 418 pound-feet of torque.

Dark Horse R has forayed more into the racing segment. While the S version is more accessible and enjoyable for the common public and casual racers, R will bring unfiltered muscle to the table. The R version is also touted to compete in the IMSA-sanctioned Mustang Challenge Series next year.

The latest reveal also forms the basis for GT3 and GT4 racing in 2023. GT3 Racing has a larger 5.4-liter V8 engine through M-Sport, while the GT$ hosts a Coyote-based 5.0-liter V8 engine. Having seen the GT3 Mustang run as a pace for seven races this season, NASCAR fans are no strangers to it.

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NASCAR Ford’s vision has actively resonated with the teams it supplies in the Cup Series. While it could imply the beginning of a new dawn for Stewart-Haas Racing, Team Penske and RFK Racing will look forward to bolstering their arsenal with the inclusion of Ford’s latest mechanical beast.