NASCAR: Photos of the 2010 Ford Mustang of the Nationwide Series

Ford Racing on Tuesday unveiled the 2010 NASCAR Nationwide Mustang that will be run on a limited basis starting next season.


Although it's been run for years in other race series, the new Ford Mustang is making its debut in NASCAR next year.

Officials of the series considered using the Fusion name, which is worn in Sprint Cup competition, and the new, performance-oriented Taurus SHO badge. Ultimately, the Mustang and its nearly half a century of history, won out.


Ford announced in July that Mustang, the iconic pony car that has raced for all 45 years of its existence, would compete in the Nationwide Series beginning in July 2010 when a limited rollout of NASCAR's new car begins at Daytona.

The new Nationwide Series car will look and drive differently from the current Cup Series' COT. The Nationwide car features a more traditional spoiler instead of a rear wing, a more standard front end splitter and a spring front suspension instead of bump stops.

Colin Braun, 21, will make the move from the Camping World Truck Series, where he was the 2008 rookie of the year, to a full-time Nationwide program next season, along with Con-Way Freight, which has been his sponsor for the past two years.

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.