Mustang Cup USA heads to Virginia International Raceway for the fourth round of the 2026 season. Halfway through the season, the championship fights are heating up. The battle for the Dark Horse championship in Parnelli Cup is particularly close, with first through fourth separated by only 34 points.
In 2025, Mustang Cup ended its inaugural season at VIR. In the season finale, Will Lucas swept the weekend in the Dark Horse class to clinch both the Miles Cup and Parnelli Cup championships. In Dark Horse Legends, Craig Capaldi won both races and earned the Miles Cup championship. Nick Smither earned two podiums and claimed the Parnelli Cup championship. In 2026, Lucas competes in Mustang Challenge North America. Capaldi and Smither are both running in Mustang Cup USA this season, and Capaldi currently leads both the Miles Cup and Parnelli Cup championships.
In the third round of the season at Circuit of The Americas, Logan Adams won the Miles Cup race in the Dark Horse class and Kale Buhl earned a win at his home track in the Parnelli Cup race. Craig Capaldi was victorious in both of the weekend’s races in the Dark Horse Legends class.
ORDER OF EVENTS
*Times ET
Friday June 19
8:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.: Practice 1
12:35 p.m. – 1:05 p.m.: Practice 2
3:55 p.m. – 4:25 p.m.: Practice 3
Saturday June 20
8:30 a.m. – 8:45 a.m.: Miles Cup Qualifying
12:45 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.: Miles Cup Race
4:50 p.m. – 5:05 p.m.: Parnelli Cup Qualifying
Sunday June 21
8:30 a.m. – 9:15 a.m.: Parnelli Cup Race
Ford Mustang Dark Horse R
The Mustang® Dark Horse™ R race car features a naturally aspirated 5.0L V8 engine, borrowed from the 2025 Mustang Dark Horse coupe. It’s combined with track-focused upgrades — including the following — for a more hard-core, pedal-to-the-metal performance:
- Borla® Racing Exhaust System
- RECARO® FIA racing seat
- Brembo™ Front and Rear Brake Package
- New 18" Forged Wheels paired with a Michelin slick race tire
- New GT4 Rear Camber Arms
SEASON CALENDAR
- MARCH 6 - 8: SEBRING INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY
- MARCH 27 - 29: BARBER MOTORSPORTS PARK
- MAY 7 - 9: CIRCUIT OF THE AMERICAS
- JUNE 19 - 21: VIRGINIA INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY
- AUGUST 14 - 16: ROAD AMERICA
- SEPTEMBER 11 - 13: ROAD ATLANTA
