New Ford Mustang series launched

Series will use all Mustang FR500S' so this is one series Ford cannot lose in

Miller Motorsports Park, in partnership with Ford Racing, is pleased to announce a new professional racing series that will provide competitors an affordable way to go racing with a V8-powered, rear-wheel-drive car.

The Ford Racing Mustang Challenge for the Miller Cup presented by BFGoodrich Tires will be an eight-round series utilizing the new Ford Mustang FR500S fitted with BFGoodrich g-Force R1 tires. The series, which will be sanctioned by the Grand American Road Racing Association, will consist of eight races during the 2008 season. A schedule of events and television package will be announced in the near future.

Series staff will be headed up by Series Director Lynda Randall, an industry veteran with many years' experience in race series management. Drivers will compete for purses and prizes totaling $300,000. Points will be awarded through 25th place, with 30 points to win and an individual point for pole position. The series will be open to drivers with a national-level racing license.

The Ford Racing Mustang Challenge for the Miller Cup presented by BFGoodrich Tires will feature 45-minute"sprint" races. Each race weekend will include two 30-minute practice sessions, a 25-minute qualifying session and a 45-minute race.

"We are very excited about the Ford Racing Mustang Challenge for the Miller Cup presented by BFGoodrich Tires," said Miller Motorsports Park CEO/General Manager Alan Wilson. "The series will fill a significant niche in professional road racing and will be the perfect venue for a variety of racers. The Ford Mustang FR500S has proven to be stable, reliable and fun to drive, and the competition should be close and intense.

"We would like to thank our friends at Ford Racing and BFGoodrich Tires for helping us develop this program, and we look forward to working with them to provide racers and fans with some of the best road racing in America over the years to come."

"Being a lifelong Ford fan myself," said Miller Motorsports Park owner Larry Miller, "I am thrilled about the Ford Racing Mustang Challenge for the Miller Cup presented by BFGoodrich Tires. The Ford Mustang FR500S is a terrific car, and I think the racing is going to be tremendous. The series represents a unique business model for a racetrack to undertake, one that adds another innovative facet to our operation at Miller Motorsports Park. Our friends at Ford Racing and BFGoodrich Tires have been phenomenal to work with as our relationship has flourished from the creation of the Ford Racing High Performance Driving School through the co-development of the Ford Mustang FR500S to the creation of the Ford Racing Mustang Challenge for the Miller Cup presented by BFGoodrich Tires. It's an exciting time for us, and I can't wait to see the cars on the track."

"All of us here at Ford Racing are excited about the introduction of the new Mustang FR500S race car and the Ford Racing Mustang Challenge for the Miller Cup presented by BFGoodrich Tires," said Dan Davis, director, Ford Racing Technology. "The FR500S is the latest in our FR series, and we're very proud of it. We wanted to create an affordable race car, one that still packs the power and performance people expect from a Mustang. I think we've done just that.

"The new Ford Racing Mustang Challenge for the Miller Cup presented by BFGoodrich Tires will be an exciting option for those who want to start to get into professional sports car racing. We've had a great partnership with the people at Miller Motorsports Park, and look forward to working with them to grow this series."