NASCAR Mustang Dark Horse Controls Front Row at Daytona 500

The all-new 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Mustang recently debuted in the Clash at the Coliseum, but now the seventh-generation production model-based Mustang will get to flex its muscle on the speedway, as Ford Performance holds the first two starting spots in Sunday’s Daytona 500.

Team Penske’s Joey Logano will sit on the pole – the first for Ford in “The Great American Race” since 2012 – and Front Row Motorsports’ Michael McDowell will start second. Also, Ford boasts the reigning champions in all three of NASCAR’s touring series, including the last two title winners in the Cup Series. 

The Blue Oval has won the Daytona 500 a total of 17 times, including four times in the last nine years, though the Ford Performance driver lineup is going to look a bit different this season, as veteran star Kevin Harvick and Aric Almirola have retired. They have been replaced by Josh Berry (12 career NASCAR Cup Series starts, including one at Daytona International Speedway) and Noah Gragson on the Stewart-Haas Racing roster. Rick Ware Racing will include a pair of new drivers in Justin Haley and Kaz Grala. Meanwhile, David Ragan has qualified a third Roush Fenway Keselowski Mustang Dark Horse for the Daytona 500. He will drive the No. 60 car and serve as a teammate to Brad Keselowski and Chris Buescher this season. 

The Dark Horse’s entry into NASCAR’s top series is part of Ford’s business plan to have Mustang race all around the world in a variety of series for the competitive advantages and marketing opportunities that come with winning. Within NASCAR, Mustang has won 52 races, including a pair of Daytona 500 victories and back-to-back driver championships since coming to the series in 2019.

More Mustangs on the track

Mustang also runs in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, which also kicks off its season at Daytona on Saturday, led by reigning champ Cole Custer in the No. 00 Stewart-Haas Racing Mustang. Also, Hailie Deegan will be running a full-time schedule in the series for the first time in the No. 25 AM Racing Ford Mustang. She has spent the past three seasons competing in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.

Defending truck series champion Ben Rhodes begins his ninth year driving for ThorSport Racing at Daytona. He won the series’ 2021 season-opener at Daytona, and he’s looking to join a select list of drivers who have won three or more series championships. 

The NASCAR Cup Series regular-season-opening Daytona 500 begins Sunday at 2:30 p.m. on Fox. Click here for a full schedule of Ford Performance racing this weekend and come back to @FordOnline and the @BlueOvalNow app on Monday morning for a recap of the action.