Second Season of Mustang Cup Kicks Off at Sebring

Photo: Ford Racing

The second season of Mustang Cup USA kicks off at Sebring International Raceway as part of an action packed USAC-sanctioned weekend of sports car racing.

An increased field of 13 cars are set to take part at the famed Florida airfield circuit this weekend across the Miles and Parnelli Cups, including the first entry in the new-for-2026 Mustang Cup Classic class, for selected previous-generation Mustang road race cars.

Torre Racing will field a Ford Mustang FP350S in the category for Paolo Salvatorre, with additional cars expected later in the season.

The remainder of the field is again made up of Ford Mustang Dark Horse R machinery, run by championship-winning teams such as Capaldi Racing, McCumbee McAleer Racing, TPC Racing and Paley Motorsport.

While last year’s Darkhorse champion in both Cups, Will Lucas, is set to graduate to full-time Mustang Challenge North America competition after being named as part of Ford Racing’s Driver Development Team, a crop of new and returning drivers will be seeking glory on the first step of Ford Racing’s Pyramid.

It includes 2025 runner-up Kale Buhl and Capaldi teammate Andrew Hords, who are both set for full season efforts as part of an expanded effort for the longtime Ford squad.

Logan Adams will join Buhl and Hords in the top class of both Cups, with MMR’s Carlton MacFarlane also pulling double duty over the weekend.

Two additional Darkhorse entries will be competing in the Parnelli Cup, with Serpent Stangs Racing’s Derric Carter and Harris Levitas, of TPC Racing.

As part of the unique series format that allows two drivers to share a car over the split weekend, Steve Luca will take over Carter’s car in the Miles Cup, with Harris’ father, TPC owner/driver Michael will do likewise.

Both cars, as a result of having different graded drivers, will move to the DH Legends category in the Miles Cup, which will feature an eight-car class.

It includes the defending class champions from both the Miles Cup (Craig Capaldi) and Parnelli Cup (Nick Smither), who will be joined by a host of newcomers.

Capelli will field a fourth Dark Horse R for Miller Richmond, while Paley Motorsport will run and/or support additional entries for Chris Clarke and Birdhouse Racing’s David Luaces.

Cliff Elliott will compete in TPC’s second entry across both Cups in the DHL ranks.

Three all-skate practice sessions kick off track action on Friday, prior to the split weekend between the two Cups, named after legendary racers Ken Miles and Parnelli Jones. The Miles Cup race is set for a 1:25 p.m. ET start time on Saturday, with the Parnelli Cup race taking the green flag Sunday at 1:55 p.m. EST.

Both 45-minute races will be streamed live on Ford Racing’s YouTube channel.

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