Mustang to make its NASCAR debut next year

Ford plans to use the 2010 Mustang in several NASCAR Nationwide Series races next year, perhaps as soon as February at Daytona.

BY MIKE BRUDENELL
FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER

Ford Mustang will muscle into the Nationwide Series in 2010 -- the first time the car has appeared in a NASCAR-sanctioned series.

The Detroit pony car could be seen in as many as five Nationwide races as NASCAR works on its new car rollout for the series next year with the Dodge Challenger, Toyota Camry and Chevy Impala SS also expected to participate.

The 2010 Mustang would join the Ford Fusion in Sprint Cup and the Ford F-Series pickup in the Camping World Truck Series as the Blue Oval's models in stock-car racing's elite series.

Mustang has enjoyed a rich history in motorsports since its introduction in 1964, winning in drag racing, IMSA and Trans-Am, Grand-Am Cup road racing and, more recently, in Formula D drifting. But it has never competed in NASCAR.

Brian Wolfe, director of Ford North American Motorsports, announced the Mustang racing venture Tuesday.

"It's the most successful nameplate in racing history, and it seems only right that it should be coming to the most popular form of racing in North America," said Wolfe in a release. "We're excited about being able to race Mustang in front of our loyal NASCAR fan base and know it's going to win races and championships just like it has in every other series it has competed (in)."

Wolfe, who owns several Mustangs, including an '86 version he drag raced, spoke later to the Free Press.

"I guess we scratched our heads why we didn't do this before," said Wolfe about Mustang's long absence from NASCAR. "We are definitely now bubbling over about the thought of 2010."

The Mustang might run early as February at Daytona.

"If NASCAR debuted the new Nationwide car at Daytona during Daytona 500 week, it would be fantastic, very cool," Wolfe said. "It's the most significant race weekend in the world."
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