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Ford Motor (NYSE: F) announced today that a new class joins the Mustang Cup USA series in 2026 — Mustang Cup Classic. These Mustang models are eligible to compete in Mustang Cup Classic: the 2005-2010 FR500C, the 2008 FR500S, the 2011-2014 Boss 302R, the 2012-2014 Boss 302S and the 2017 FP350S.*
“This addition to the Mustang Cup series aims to further increase Ford’s involvement and investment in grassroots racing, which has played an important role in our past and will continue to play an important role in our future,” said Chris Ward manager of Ford Racing Global One Make Series.
“This class will celebrate the rich racing history of this millennium’s Ford Mustangs. In allowing select Mustang models to compete alongside the current generation Mustang Dark Horse R cars that currently make up the entry point of its Motorsports Pyramid, Mustang Cup Classic will introduce a lower barrier of entry for competition-oriented owners of these recent generation Mustangs,” said Ward.
“We want the competitors to be able to focus on racing, so the rules for Mustang Cup Classic will be straightforward. For equipment regulations, Mustang Cup Classic cars will run on the same Yokohama tires as the Dark Horse R race cars. Cars will be required to have radio, transponder, series decals, and the USAC yellow flag system. To differentiate the Classic entrants from the current Dark Horse and Dark Horse Legends classes, at the green flag of each combined race, there will be a split start between the Dark Horse R cars and Mustang Cup Classic cars.
“Alongside the introduction of Mustang Cup Classic, we are working in partnership with USAC and Yokohama to maximize return for competitors. Each of us is taking steps to manage our aspect of team budgets, from condensing race weekends to lower travel costs, to reducing entry fees and operating expenditures. USAC is implementing a “bring a friend, race on us” program. Any competitor who refers a driver to the series that results in a registration for the full Mustang Cup season will get their entry fees for the full season covered by USAC.
“For Mustang Cup Classic competitors, the entry fee per weekend for the first 15 competitors to register will be $1000 less than the standard Mustang Cup entry fee, ensuring entry costs are not a barrier to entry for prospective Mustang Cup Classic racers.
“Each of these Mustang models have found success in the road racing world, competing — and winning — in series like the Grand Am Cup Series, Pirelli World Challenge, and SCCA Touring Championships. Performance for these different cars will be equalized using a simple power to weight ratio system that is already used extensively in other regional series where these cars are eligible to compete,” claimed Ward.
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About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
Ford Expands Mustang Cup USA Series in 2026
Click for more.
Ford Motor (NYSE: F) announced today that a new class joins the Mustang Cup USA series in 2026 — Mustang Cup Classic. These Mustang models are eligible to compete in Mustang Cup Classic: the 2005-2010 FR500C, the 2008 FR500S, the 2011-2014 Boss 302R, the 2012-2014 Boss 302S and the 2017 FP350S.*
“This addition to the Mustang Cup series aims to further increase Ford’s involvement and investment in grassroots racing, which has played an important role in our past and will continue to play an important role in our future,” said Chris Ward manager of Ford Racing Global One Make Series.
“This class will celebrate the rich racing history of this millennium’s Ford Mustangs. In allowing select Mustang models to compete alongside the current generation Mustang Dark Horse R cars that currently make up the entry point of its Motorsports Pyramid, Mustang Cup Classic will introduce a lower barrier of entry for competition-oriented owners of these recent generation Mustangs,” said Ward.
“We want the competitors to be able to focus on racing, so the rules for Mustang Cup Classic will be straightforward. For equipment regulations, Mustang Cup Classic cars will run on the same Yokohama tires as the Dark Horse R race cars. Cars will be required to have radio, transponder, series decals, and the USAC yellow flag system. To differentiate the Classic entrants from the current Dark Horse and Dark Horse Legends classes, at the green flag of each combined race, there will be a split start between the Dark Horse R cars and Mustang Cup Classic cars.
“Alongside the introduction of Mustang Cup Classic, we are working in partnership with USAC and Yokohama to maximize return for competitors. Each of us is taking steps to manage our aspect of team budgets, from condensing race weekends to lower travel costs, to reducing entry fees and operating expenditures. USAC is implementing a “bring a friend, race on us” program. Any competitor who refers a driver to the series that results in a registration for the full Mustang Cup season will get their entry fees for the full season covered by USAC.
“For Mustang Cup Classic competitors, the entry fee per weekend for the first 15 competitors to register will be $1000 less than the standard Mustang Cup entry fee, ensuring entry costs are not a barrier to entry for prospective Mustang Cup Classic racers.
“Each of these Mustang models have found success in the road racing world, competing — and winning — in series like the Grand Am Cup Series, Pirelli World Challenge, and SCCA Touring Championships. Performance for these different cars will be equalized using a simple power to weight ratio system that is already used extensively in other regional series where these cars are eligible to compete,” claimed Ward.
*AutoInformed on
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.