Mustang Cup Announced As All-New Racing Series For Novices

Since the all-new S650 generation Ford Mustang launched, The Blue Oval has been on a fairly comprehensive motorsports push, entering different racing versions of the pony car in various series around the globe. For those that aren’t quite on that level yet, FoMoCo also debuted the Mustang Challenge Series last summer, which is a one-make series specifically designed for the Dark Horse R. Now, Mustang Cup has been revealed as yet another new racing series revolving around the S650, albeit, for those with less experience on the track.

The Mustang Cup series will serve as the starting point in the Ford Performance sports car racing ladder for novice racers when it begins next year, giving those with professional racing aspirations the chance to move up the ladder to the Mustang Challenge with the same Dark Horse R racer, and, after that, perhaps even a Mustang GT4, if they’re successful enough. The Mustang Cup is sanctioned by the United States Auto Club (USAC), and gives Dark Horse R owners a professionally run, club level atmosphere where they can develop the fundamentals of organized racing on private USAC operated race weekends, alongside other USAC series and events.

The 2025 Mustang Cup season will consist of six race weekends with three 30-minute practice sessions, two 15-minute qualifying stints, and a pair of 40-minute races. The season kicks off April 11^th-13^th at NOLA Motorsports Park in Louisiana before heading to Texas and Circuit of the Americas on May 16^th-18^th, Ozarks International Raceway in Missouri on July 4^th-6^th, Road America in Wisconsin on August 8^th-10^th, Lime Rock Park in Connecticut on October 17^th-18^th, and Virginia International Raceway on November 7^th-9^th.

Mustang Cup offers up a unique two-driver format, and each race in a doubleheader will count toward separate championships – the Miles Cup and Parnelli Cup – which means that two drivers can pursue different series, or one can compete in both. Drivers interested in competing in the new series that have track experience but no club racing license can obtain one from a number of accredited racing schools to get an equivalent USAC Mustang Cup license. Those interested in purchasing a Dark Horse R can register their interest by heading over here, and individuals and teams that are selected will be provided with an allocation, conditional on entry into the series.

We’ll have more on the Mustang Challenge soon, so be sure and subscribe to Ford Authority for more Ford Mustang news and non-stop Ford news coverage.