Ford has announced a significant move in its racing strategy: the Mustang Dark Horse SC will become the brand's new vehicle in the NASCAR Cup Series, making its debut in 2027. This marks the transition of the most aggressive Mustang variant, the Dark Horse, from public roads to professional racetracks.

The news was confirmed during the Ford Racing 2026 season presentation. Ford Racing head Mark Rushbrook discussed the upcoming debut, with 2023 NASCAR Cup Series champion Ryan Blaney also participating in the announcement. However, fans will have to wait to see the car in action—its official debut will be at the Daytona 500 in 2027.

The Mustang Dark Horse SC will represent Ford in the NASCAR Cup Series, the premier league of North American stock car racing. It continues the evolution of the brand's racing program, which began in 2024 when the standard Mustang Dark Horse replaced the previous S550-based Mustang generation. Since then, the model has consistently competed in the NASCAR Cup and O'Reilly series.

It remains unclear whether the Dark Horse SC version will also be used in the O'Reilly series or if teams will continue to race the standard Mustang Dark Horse there. Additionally, images of the new racing car have not been released yet.

Although the road-going Mustang Dark Horse SC is equipped with a supercharged 5.2-liter V8, the NASCAR racing version will retain the traditional naturally aspirated 5.86-liter engine. Engine power will vary depending on the track, and it is already known that Cup Series participants will receive a power boost on certain stages in 2026.

The entry of the Dark Horse SC into NASCAR represents a logical reinforcement of Mustang's image as a true American racing icon, especially amid increasing competition in the Cup Series.