Ford accidentally posted photos of its redesigned 2027 NASCAR Cup Series Mustang on its website before the official unveiling. The car maker quickly deleted the reveal, but the images were already gone. Fans on Reddit found the pictures first and shared them everywhere. A blue Ford Racing scheme featuring the No. 21 on the doors appears in the new design.
The leak happened on Wednesday, November 11, 2026. A Google search result even showed an article titled “2027 NASCAR Cup Series Mustang Unveiled” before it vanished. According to Daily Downforce, the photos came from Ford’s own media library. The site displayed front, side, and rear views of the new body. It was too late to stop the spread once the images started circulating online.
A New Look for the Dark Horse
The most obvious changes happen at the front of the car. Ford removed the gray trim around the headlights and grille that fans saw on the current model. The new look is cleaner and more closely matches the production Dark Horse SC. Per Daily Downforce, the front fenders also appear smoother without the raised sections seen on the old Cup car. Reshaping has also been applied to the lower bumper openings and grille.
The rear of the car keeps the familiar three-bar taillights that people know. A large Mustang graphic runs along the sides with “America’s Race Team” across the back. Fans now see a much better view of the new body thanks to these photos. The revised bodywork might change how the car moves through the air on the track. That part remains to be seen by the drivers and engineers.
Ready for the 2027 Season
Back in January, Ford announced the Mustang Dark Horse SC would replace the current body. The third Mustang style has appeared since NASCAR launched the Next Gen car in 2022. The original Mustang GT ran for two seasons before the 2024 arrival of the Dark Horse. Fans got a sneak peek in October when a camouflaged car tested tires at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The No. 38 Front Row Motorsports entry competed on track alongside Toyota and Chevrolet cars.
TPC Racing will run two of these new Mustangs on Wednesday night in Daytona. Team drivers include 2015 Daytona 500 winner Joey Logano and 2024 Truck Series Champion Ty Majeski. They will race in the first Ford Proud to Honor Veterans Day Classic while representing Team Coast Guard. Military support organizations benefit from this 30-minute nighttime event via the Proud to Honor Fund. The race takes place under the lights at Daytona International Speedway.
