19 Entries for Mustang Challenge Season Opener

Photo: Wes Duenkel/Ford

A total of 19 cars are set for this week’s opening rounds of Mustang Challenge North America at Sebring International Raceway, kicking off the third season of Ford Racing’s single-make series.

The entry list is comprised of a number of new and returning drivers, with the likes of established pilots Devin Anderson (TechSport Racing) and Sandy Satullo (Wheelhouse Motorsports) set to face off with series newcomers Will Lucas (Wheelhouse) and Ryan Persing (Paley Motorsport with AAG Racing).

With two-time series champion Robert Noaker climbing the Ford Racing ladder to full-time IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge competition with McCumbee McAleer Racing, a new champion in Dark Horse class will be crowned at seasons’ end.

Among the other drivers entered in the top category include Devin Anderson (TechSport), Cole Loftsgard and Michael Tosi (both Wheelhouse), Tate Pritt (Automatic Racing) and Louis Gigliotti (G2 Motorsports).

Ford Motor Company CEO Jim Farley, meanwhile, is set for his first Mustang Challenge start since last year’s Le Mans Invitational, driving the No. 17 entry for Wheelhouse as a VIP entry.

Alex Bachoura (Spark Performance) is back to defend his title in Dark Horse Legends, alongside class stalwarts Paolo Salvatore (Torre Racing) and Joseph Dederichs (Wheelhuse) as well as Nick Smither, along with teammate Walter Bobko in a pair of Nick Smither Racing entries.

Doug Peterson (Peterson Racing) is also entered, along with Bruce Griffin (Flying Lion Motorsports) and a to-be-announced driver in Paley Motorsport’s second Dark Horse R.

Track action kicks off on Wednesday with a pair of practice sessions and qualifying. Race 1 takes the green on Thursday at 1:05 p.m. EST, with the second 45-minute sprint race scheduled for a 10:20 a.m. start on Friday.

Both races will be streamed live on Peacock, as well as IMSA and Ford Racing’s YouTube channels.

Pre-Event News & Notes:

***Ford Racing has expanded the prize pool for drivers in Dark Horse Legends, with podium finishers set to receive $5,000 (win), $2,500 (second) and $1,500 (third) for each race, along with the class champion receiving a one-year lease of a Mustang Dark Horse or Raptor.

***With Noaker moving up to Pilot Challenge and Sam Paley set to take on a full season of Monochrome GT4 Australia, both in Ford Mustang GT4s, TechSport’s Anderson and reigning Mustang Cup champion Lucas are set to represent Ford Racing’s Driver Development Team in Mustang Challenge competition this year. An expanded roster of 14 drivers was revealed in January.

***Lucas claimed both the Miles and Parnelli Cups in Mustang Cup USA last year and made his Mustang Challenge debut in the final two events of the season at Circuit of The Americas and the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval, scoring top ten finishes.

***Ford CEO Farley is set for his fourth start in Mustang Challenge competition after contesting the inaugural event at Mid-Ohio in 2024 prior to an outing at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca last year, as well as the Le Mans Invitational.

***Wheelhouse is fielding a series-high six Mustang Dark Horse Rs this weekend. The Charlotte-based team announced a strategic partnership with Robert Noaker Racing in January that brought together RNR’s championship-winning experience and Wheelhouse’s existing infrastructure, including its Mustang GT4 program competing in the World Racing League (WRL).

***Bob Noaker, father of Robert, will continue to have a trackside presence, along with other familiar faces from the former RNR team.

***Wheelhouse team owner Dan McKeever said: “As we continue to expand Wheelhouse Motorsports, this partnership represents a significant step forward. Robert Noaker Racing has demonstrated exceptional proficiency in the Mustang Dark Horse R platform, and by combining that expertise with our operational systems and our long-standing commitment to driver development, we are well-positioned to deliver a next-level experience for our customers and competitors.”

***Two Dark Horse Legends drivers, Salvatore and Smither, also competed in the USAC-sanctioned Mustang Cup USA season opener at Sebring earlier this month. Smither scored two top-five finishes in class while Salvatore ran a Ford Mustang FP350s in the new-for-2026 Mustang Cup Classic category.

***Two drivers racing this weekend call Florida home, Doug Peterson and Bruce Griffin, while Automatic Racing and Flying Lion Motorsports, are also based in Florida.

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John