Ford uses the Mustang Dark Horse in the NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series, and the F-150 in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, competing across the three national tiers of the sport with vehicles tailored to each series’ demands.
As one of three manufacturers in NASCAR—alongside Chevrolet and Toyota—Ford equips teams with these models, built to meet strict technical specifications while reflecting the brand’s performance heritage.
Ford Mustang Dark Horse: Cup Series Workhorse
In the NASCAR Cup Series, the premier division with 36 races in 2025, Ford fields the Mustang Dark Horse, a race-specific vehicle designed for high-speed ovals, road courses, and short tracks. Introduced in 2024, it replaced the Mustang Mach 1, aligning with Ford’s road-going performance model. The Dark Horse, powered by a 5.86-liter V8 engine producing 670 horsepower, adheres to NASCAR’s Next Gen rules, which standardize chassis (steel tube, 1,100 kg) and aerodynamics (1,800 kg downforce at 200 mph) across brands. Its carbon-fibre body, styled to mimic the production Mustang’s aggressive lines, ensures brand identity while meeting drag coefficients of 0.35 for efficiency.
Teams like Team Penske, Stewart-Haas Racing, and RFK Racing run the Dark Horse, with Ford supporting 14 of the 36 chartered entries—about 39% of the field—per 2025 NASCAR data. The car’s suspension—independent rear, double wishbones front—handles diverse tracks, from 1.5-mile ovals to 0.526-mile short tracks, delivering stability at 200 mph. Ford’s 725 Cup wins by 2024, second to Chevrolet’s 850, underscore its competitiveness, with the Dark Horse built for durability across 400-500 lap races.
Mustang Dark Horse: Xfinity Series Staple
The NASCAR Xfinity Series, a 33-race feeder division, also employs the Mustang Dark Horse, introduced in 2024 to unify Ford’s branding across top tiers. Like its Cup counterpart, it uses a 5.86-liter V8, detuned to 650 horsepower per Xfinity rules, paired with a 4-speed manual gearbox for reliability on shorter 250-300 lap events. The chassis, a steel tube frame weighing 1,050 kg, shares Next Gen DNA but features a narrower 1,905 mm width versus the Cup’s 1,956 mm, optimizing agility on tighter circuits.
Ford powers roughly 35% of Xfinity entries—around 14 of 38 cars—through teams like Stewart-Haas and RSS Racing, per 2025 rosters. The Dark Horse’s aerodynamics, with a 0.36 drag coefficient, balance speed and grip, while its 305/670-18 Goodyear tires ensure traction on 0.7-0.9 friction coefficient surfaces. Ford’s 200+ Xfinity wins by 2024 reflect the Mustang’s edge, designed for cost-effective performance in a series focused on emerging talent.
Ford F-150: Truck Series Flagship
In the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, a 23-race division emphasizing durability, Ford deploys the F-150, its flagship pickup tailored for 150-200 lap races on ovals and road courses. The F-150, powered by a 5.86-liter V8 at 625 horsepower, uses a steel chassis (1,200 kg) and a 4-speed manual gearbox, per 2025 Truck Series specs. Its body, constructed from composite materials, mirrors the production F-150’s rugged design, with a 0.40 drag coefficient suited for aerodynamic efficiency at 180 mph.
Ford fields the F-150 through teams like Front Row Motorsports, commanding about 40% of the 32-truck field—roughly 13 entries—per 2025 data. The truck’s 315/70-17 Goodyear tires and heavy-duty suspension—leaf springs rear, double wishbones front—handle rougher 1-mile ovals, ensuring stability under 1,500 kg downforce. Ford’s 100+ Truck Series wins by 2024 highlight the F-150’s reliability, built to endure the series’ shorter, high-contact races.
Why Ford Chooses These Models
Ford selects the Mustang Dark Horse and F-150 to align with its production lineup, boosting brand recognition while meeting NASCAR’s performance demands. The Mustang’s sporty pedigree—rooted in 1960s muscle cars—suits the Cup and Xfinity Series’ high-speed focus, with its V8 echoing road-going models like the 5.0-liter Coyote engine. The F-150, America’s best-selling vehicle, fits the Truck Series’ rugged ethos, its design resonating with fans and sponsors.
All three models share NASCAR’s standardized 5.86-liter V8, ensuring parity—Ford, Chevrolet, and Toyota hit 670 horsepower in Cup races—while Ford’s engineering support optimizes chassis tuning (e.g., 100 mm ride height) and aerodynamics (1,800 kg downforce). Ford’s 39-40% share across series, backed by 1,025 total wins by 2024, reflects strategic model choices and team partnerships, balancing performance with marketing.
