Ford Racing to Debut New Mustang Dark Horse SC in 2027 Daytona 500
What’s Happening? Ford Racing has announced that a new model of the Ford Mustang Dark Horse, the Dark Horse SC, will…
After more than three decades with the manufacturer, the longtime Ford Racing executive Pat Di Marco officially stepped away on June 1. Thus leaving behind a role that went far beyond engineering meetings and competition reports.
For years, he served as the connective tissue between Ford, NASCAR, and its race teams, helping oversee everything from vehicle development to technical support and competition strategy.
Simply put, his departure would be significant under any circumstances. But unfortunately for Ford, it comes at a time when the OEM finds itself searching for answers across multiple fronts.
After 32 years in NASCAR’s National Series, 704 victories, and 29 championships, Di Marco leaves behind a crucial position within Ford Motorsports.
Reflecting on the veteran’s exit, Director of Ford Racing, Mark Rushbrook, told Dan Zacharias of Ford From the Road, “It’s going to be a massive undertaking to find somebody to replace Pat because he’s been the bedrock and the foundation we’ve leaned on, so it’s a big hole to fill.”
“It’s a very important job because we’re committed to NASCAR,” Rushbrook added. “We want to be in NASCAR forever and win races and championships, and we need somebody in the job that can carry it forward.”
As Rushbrook acknowledged, Di Marco specifically leaves a massive void at a time when Ford’s NASCAR program is facing uncomfortable questions about its future.
Just days after his retirement became official, Ford suffered one of the most disappointing weekends in recent memory at Michigan International Speedway. The manufacturer failed to lead a lap at the track for the first time since 1983 and didn’t place a single car inside the top ten in qualifying.
For a company that won nine consecutive Cup races at Michigan between 2018 and 2023, the performance was cataclysmic, especially at a venue just 90 minutes away from the Motor City.
Meanwhile, Chevrolet and Toyota controlled the race from start to finish. Chevy led 112 laps, Toyota added another 88, and the two manufacturers accounted for every top-five finisher at Michigan.
But Ford’s outing at MIS was merely the tip of the iceberg when viewed against the bigger picture.
These concerns extend beyond the Cup Series and into the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, where the manufacturer has recently found itself without a single car on the grid.
Through the opening months of the 2026 season, the Blue Oval has managed just one Cup Series victory, Ryan Blaney’s win at Phoenix. In fact, Blaney is also responsible for the manufacturer’s last five Cup wins overall, highlighting how heavily Ford’s hopes currently rest on one driver and one organization.
Still, it seems that on the Cup side, Ford has big plans for next season, including the launch of its third NASCAR Next Gen body, the Mustang Dark Horse SC.
What’s Happening? Ford Racing has announced that a new model of the Ford Mustang Dark Horse, the Dark Horse SC, will…
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