Will the 2024 Ford Mustang Live Up to its “Dark Horse” Name Against Chevy and Toyota in NASCAR?

Earlier this week, Ford dropped some incredible news. As it happens, the American manufacturer has rolled out the 2024 edition of the Ford Mustang. This Mustang is officially named “Dark Horse” and it will make its NASCAR Cup Series debut next season. The seventh generation of the iconic muscle car will be available for different racing series. Without a doubt, this is a very exciting time for the manufacturer, as they roll out this brand-new specimen.

Ford Performance Motorsports global director Mark Rushbrook told NBC Sports, “To update our Cup car to that seventh-generation Mustang was an important decision. It was a no-brainer decision that we were going to do it, but the discussion was around ‘Is it a Mustang GT or is it a Mustang Dark Horse?’ And we decided to style it after the Mustang Dark Horse.”

What does this mean for the NASCAR Cup Series?

To be frank, this is an exciting time for the Ford-run teams. This includes big players such as Team Penske, Stewart-Haas Racing, and RFK Racing. Moreover, Front Row Motorsports, Rick Ware Racing, and Wood Brothers Racing also fall under this umbrella. In essence, six teams fielding a grand total of 14 cars will have access to the Ford Mustang Dark Horse. If Ryan Blaney manages to win the 2023 Cup Series, it would be a big boost for him, especially with a new car on the way.

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Talking about the new Ford, Blaney said, “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.” Meanwhile, RFK Racing driver/co-owner Brad Keselowski said, “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.”

Will the new Ford Mustang be faster than Chevy and Toyota?

Now this is the million-dollar question for NASCAR and Ford. With the joint-highest number of teams and the joint-highest number of cars on track, it will be a battle for pride between Ford and Chevrolet. Moreover, as this year has shown, Toyotas are possibly the fastest of the three. With the teams and manufacturers still figuring out how to get the maximum out of the Next Gen cars, how the Mustang Dark Horse cope?

The main concern is that Ford could be forced to start from scratch in terms of development. Furthermore, another worry is whether the Ford Mustang Dark Horse will be compliant with the NASCAR technical regulations. Back in 2022 when the Next Gen cars made their debut, Ford endured a torrid time, with multiple technical penalties. RFK Racing bore the brunt of the penalties, and Ford teams often struggled for pace. So the big worry is that with the new car, all of their progress would be undone.

What are the specs of the Mustang Dark Horse?

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From a physical standpoint, the muscle car has gotten a facelift and it looks quite stunning. However, the most important question is, what’s under the hood of the car. The 2024 Mustang boasts a 5-liter Ti-VCT V8 engine and it generates 500 horsepower and 418lb of torque. The car also has 19-inch wheels and a Brembo brake system, along with 6-speed Manual Transmission with Rev Matching.

Other specs include 19″×9.5″ front wheels and 19″×10″ rear wheels. Said wheels are also tarnished, dark-painted, and made from low gloss Aluminum. However, it is worth mentioning that Ford will have to make any necessary changes to be in compliance with the regulations. According to RoadandTrack.com, Ford made a huge change to the front end of the Mustang for NASCAR. With the current car, Ford has made minor changes to the bumper, fender, and hood.

However, the 2024 edition sees Ford taking a page out of Chevrolet’s book. To be precise, the top of the front bumper is lower than before, and the middle of the bumper now protrudes out. Ford raised the edges of the fender while creating a dip towards the hood. This is quite significant because neither Chevy nor Toyota have explored this avenue with their current cars. As a result, Ford is really treading into unknown territory.

What does the new arrival mean for Chevrolet and Toyota?

Back in March, Chevrolet announced that the final sixth-generation Camaro would be rolled out in January 2024. Global Chevrolet vice president Scott Bell told Forbes, “As we prepare to say goodbye to the current generation Camaro, it is difficult to overstate our gratitude to every Camaro customer, Camaro assembly line employee, and race fan. While we are not announcing an immediate successor today, rest assured, this is not the end of Camaro’s story.”

The sixth-generation Camaro was first manufactured in 2020, and it has been in production for four years. However, its future is up in the air. On a different front, there is not much news about Toyota’s 2024 plans, aside from the fact that they announced a partnership with Legacy Motor Club. That means that all three Toyota-run teams will likely continue with the Camry line for the foreseeable future.

Coming back to Ford, there will be plenty of questions about the new car’s pace. Sure, the statistics look good on paper, but the proof is out there on the race track. Admittedly, the 2023 Cup Series season finale has yet to kick off and subsequently crown a new champion. After that, when testing for 2024 begins, Ford will most likely jump at the chance to put the Mustang Dark Horse through its paces.

Obviously, Ford would have done its best to be compliant with the regulations, as they don’t want to be caught out again. However, the Mustang’s speed compared to the Camaro and Camry will remain unknown for now. All answers will be revealed in the test sessions, and the teams and drivers will take some time to acclimate to the new car. After all, they did spend two years getting to know the current Next Gen car on a more personal level.

WATCH THIS STORY: NASCAR Veteran Reveals Ford’s “Dead Ringer” Status at Tony Stewart’s Expense.