Mustang stock car unveiled for NASCAR Nationwide Series
by John Neff on Oct 13th 2009 at 1:57PM 
Ford Mustang NASCAR Nationwide Car – Click above image to enlarge
Hold on to your butts, people. Ford Racing and Roush Fenway Racing have unveiled their new stock car based on the poniest of pony cars. Prior to this, Ford teams in NASCAR have driven Fusions. Well, all right, none of them were actual Fusions or will be actual Mustangs. Rather, they'll be normal stock cars like everyone else in NASCAR drives that are covered with enough stickers and fake grilles to make you think that you might be looking at a Mustang from the stands. Man, "stock car" has really become a contradiction in terms.
Now you won't see Mustangs turning left next week in Charlotte at Lowe's Motor Speedway. The new car will compete in four races next year and only in the Nationwide Series, not the Sprint Cup. As such, it won't be based on the Car of Tomorrow platform that the Sprint Cup series uses, but rather the newer, different Car of Tomorrow platform designed specifically for the Nationwide Series. This first new Mustang to race in the Nationwide Series will be the No. 16 Con-way Freight Mustang driven by Colin Braun for Roush Fenway Racing. Is it enough to make us love NASCAR? Not quite, but if we had to race a bathtub on wheels, we'd pick this one.
UPDATE: Sorry about image, fixed now.
[Source: Ford Racing]
PRESS RELEASE
FORD, ROUSH FENWAY RACING, AND CON-WAY FREIGHT UNVEIL NEW 2010 NATIONWIDE MUSTANG
Truck Series 2008 Rookie of the Year Colin Braun Will Drive the No. 16 Con-way Freight Mustang
CONCORD, N.C., October 13, 2009 – A new era of Mustang racing rolled out here today, piloted by an All-American driver and with a returning sponsor familiar to loyal NASCAR fans.
Three major events were rolled into one today as Ford teamed up with Roush Fenway Racing and Con-way Freight to unveil the No. 16 Con-way Freight Mustang with driver Colin Braun at Roush Fenway Racing headquarters in Concord, N.C.
Ford announced in July that Mustang, the iconic pony car that has raced for all 45 years of its existence, would compete in the NASCAR Nationwide Series beginning in July 2010 when a limited rollout of NASCAR's new car begins at Daytona International Speedway. Today marked the first time the NASCAR Mustang was seen in public.
Braun, 21, a native of Ovalo, Texas, will make the move from the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, where he was the 2008 Raybestos Rookie of the Year, to a full-time Nationwide program next season, along with Con-way Freight, which has been his sponsor for the last two years. Roush Fenway and Con-way Freight recently agreed on a contract extension to remain as a primary sponsor for 18 Nationwide races within the organization.
"I'm so happy that Con-way Freight decided to move up with me to the Nationwide Series for 2010," Braun said. "They have been a great sponsor for the past two years in the truck series so it means a lot to me that they will continue to support me in the future. I'm also looking forward to driving a Mustang next year. I've always thought they are such incredible cars, but have never owned one. Maybe when I win my first race the guys at Ford will want to give me one of my own."
Mustang has a storied history in motorsports and can claim more than 2,000 professional race wins worldwide. Its iconic standing in the auto industry aside, Mustang brings a breath of fresh air and new sense of excitement to the NASCAR Nationwide Series.
"This truly marks the start of the next era of Mustang racing," said Brian Wolfe, director, Ford North America Motorsports. "We fully expect this Mustang, with drivers like Colin behind the wheel, to start to enjoy the kind of success so many other Mustang racing programs have enjoyed throughout the last four decades.
"Mustang is a proud and historic brand for Ford. This is a car born to race, and NASCAR is the next logical step for its racing pedigree."
Braun and Con-way Freight have had good success together and are experiencing a breakout season in 2009. Braun started the season by capturing his first of his three poles to date in the season-opening race at Daytona, and followed that up with his first NASCAR win, which came at Michigan International Speedway in June. He finished 13th in the point standings last year and currently sits seventh with five races remaining this season.
"We're excited to help unveil the 2010 NASCAR Nationwide Mustang, and to announce Con-way Freight's first-ever sponsorship in the Nationwide Series," said John G. Labrie, president, Con-way Freight. "The opportunity to continue working with Ford, Roush Fenway Racing and Colin Braun is a great one for us. Colin's talent on the track and competitive spirit remind us of our more than 20,000 employees and the commitment they bring to their jobs every day. All of us at Con-way Freight look forward to supporting Colin all the way to another Rookie of the Year win in 2010."
Con-way Freight's first venture into racing took place in 2005. In 2006, the company rebranded and changed its name, and a racing sponsorship provided an ideal opportunity to build awareness of the Con-way Freight brand in an entertaining and exciting way for both customers and employees.
"Through the first five years of Con-way Racing, we saw that the program was a huge win for Con-way Freight and our customers, so we made the decision to move forward with a new affiliation with Ford, Roush Fenway Racing and Colin Braun," said Bill Wynne, vice president of marketing, Con-way Freight. "We've seen tremendous rewards from those relationships, and that's why we're here today to announce a new era of Con-way Racing action in the NASCAR Nationwide Series."
Mustang currently competes professionally in the NHRA Funny Car and Pro Stock divisions and places like the Grand-Am KONI Challenge, SCCA World Challenge, and the Mustang Challenge Series. In addition, thousands of Mustangs see action by grassroots racers at road courses and drag strips all across America.
"I have been a Mustang owner and enthusiast for many years myself so this is an exciting day to see this car racing in NASCAR," said car owner Jack Roush. "My teams have won several road racing championships over the years in Mustangs, and I look forward to winning more with Colin, Carl (Edwards) and Ricky (Stenhouse, Jr.). With the continued support of Ford and Con-way Freight we plan to give Colin the opportunity for his second Rookie of the Year title in NASCAR, and ultimately a Nationwide Series championship."
Overall, Roush Fenway Racing has the most all-time victories in the NASCAR Nationwide Series with 107 and two driver championships, courtesy of Greg Biffle (2002) and Carl Edwards (2007).
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Sea Urchin 2:00PM (10/13/2009)
Love the fake headlights and fake pony.
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Joe 5:43PM (10/13/2009)
Hey NASCAR - take a trip out into the real world once in a while... Stick on Exhaust pipes, srsly?
I kinda like that squared out rear end though over the current bubble-but on the `10>
In the meantime - you've just embarrassed most Mustang owners. I was cool with being represented by 300mph+ straightliners and the Koni Cup/Mustange Challenge Series cars. I like playing fantasy Nascar as much as the next guy and I appreciate the whole shpeal - but this idea flat SUCKS
garlinski 2:02PM (10/13/2009)
maybe i jumped on this too early... no picture showing up
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garlinski 2:03PM (10/13/2009)
yikes... it looks like a Malibu... i mean a Charger... i mean Fusion... i mean...
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Xa 2:03PM (10/13/2009)
http://www.fordracing.com/includes/DBPhoto.asp?photo=14203
ack.
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Brian 2:08PM (10/13/2009)
Stock car racing is such a joke now. There's nothing "stock" about it.
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naturalyshocked 12:30PM (10/16/2009)
you simply can't race a stock sedan @ around 300km/h.
2000+kg vihicle.
oval are already boring, it would be even more if the crowd on the other side finaly see the cars aproach.
MX5 Roadster 2:09PM (10/13/2009)
Yeah...that's some "Mustang" there.
*facepalm*
NASCAR couldn't get any more crass than this. What a joke. There was a faint glimmer of hope when they announced Mustang & Challenger stock cars. I should have known better.
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AZZO45b 5:37PM (10/13/2009)
I would have preferred a fully funded ALMS GT2 effort!!! So would have most Mustang fans. Would have allowed Ford to improve the breed & it would actually LOOK like the production model (see the Corvette, Ford GT, Ferrari 430, & Porsche GT2 examples)
Plus did you see all the empty seats @ the California NASCAR race on Sunday?
Javanese 8:34PM (10/13/2009)
Actually it's all about loyalty and marketing. Nascar have the biggest exposure in US motorsport scene and I have never seen (till date) more loyal fans found in nascar races. I mean these guys bought absolutely everything that were plastered on the drivers car and they even got fiction novels about the series (mostly romantics one)?!!
Have you talk with real hardcore nascar fans? God, these guys sounds even worse than right wing party supporters. Plus nascar fans are more likely to buy the cars that their teams are using than any other race series. It's just insane....
AZZO45b 9:01PM (10/13/2009)
Jav.... you NASCAR buzz points come from marketing literature from about 4-5 years ago! NASCAR's television rating have been off & please note the numerous sponsors that HAVE & will leave the sport.
Motorsports Authentics... the guys who make the scale models & a huge chunk of the trinkets & trash, are near Bankruptcy (due in part to plummeting sales) Yes, Toyota is using NASCAR to "Americanize itself" & the Detroit 3 have claimed Win on Sunday Sell on Monday for decades. Funny, many of the Detroit NASCAR models have been sales disasters (Intrepid, Avenger, Taurus, Impala, Monte Carlo).
So much for your claim of NASCAR & loyalty claims... JMO!!! Do Avis or Hertz sponsor anything NASCAR? They should... to reward the deals they get on cars!
kal326 2:16PM (10/14/2009)
Look on the bright side, the car is actually sold as a V8, manual, RWD car from the factory. Granted that's were the similarities end, but still better than the rest of the models in the Nascar "Stock" car fleet.
Jason 2:10PM (10/13/2009)
It actually doesn't look as "streamlined" as I thought it would. Still resembles a Mustang in the front at least. Not bad all things considering.
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Dave 2:23PM (10/13/2009)
What a joke! NASCAR and WWE....same thing.
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katshot 2:43PM (10/13/2009)
And they pretty much appeal to the same crowd too.
Sekinu2 4:20PM (10/13/2009)
Yup NASCAR and WWE with beer thats what the rednecks like and these 2 things are redneck dreams...grab a bud and slap your wife after kissing your daughter
Sollord 2:20PM (10/13/2009)
given it's nascar it could of looked a whole lot worse then it does now...
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LimeDaiquiri 2:22PM (10/13/2009)
That's cute.
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why not the LS2LS7? 2:22PM (10/13/2009)
I know it's no more a Mustang than it was a Fusion, but I'm not really for small 2-door models in NASCAR. Bootleggers needed big trunks, they didn't run Mustangs (or the ilk).
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DE07GT 2:26PM (10/13/2009)
At least they're using the name of a performance model for once. If they actually raced the cars they were based on in Sprint Cup, Dodge would win every race. Charger vs. Fusion vs. Camry. I've never seen a fast Fusion or Camry drive by on the street, and they are both FWD instead of RWD.
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