Ford revealed a NASCAR-ready Mustang Mach-E prototype on Thursday — showcasing the automaker’s first all-electric entry into stock car racing’s most prestigious series.
This racing version shares little more than its name and basic styling with the street-legal Mach-E. Instead, it’s built around a carbon-fiber tub chassis and borrows key components from current NASCAR Cup Series cars, including the suspension, brakes, steering, and wheels.
The electric prototype packs three motors powered by a 78-kwh battery pack. That battery size sits between the current road-going Mach-E options — larger than the 72-kwh Standard Range but smaller than the 91-kwh Extended Range pack.
NASCAR’s top-tier Cup Series still runs exclusively on thundering V-8 engines that fill the air with noise and exhaust fumes. Even hybrid technology won’t appear until 2027 at the earliest, despite being announced years ago.
The racing Mach-E created quite a scene during its reveal, with Ford’s photos showing the prototype laying down impressive amounts of tire smoke.
True to NASCAR tradition, this Mach-E race car follows the series’ long-standing practice of using purpose-built machines that merely resemble their showroom counterparts. Despite the “stock car” in NASCAR’s name, these vehicles are pure racing machines underneath their familiar-looking bodywork.
The prototype’s specifications align with NASCAR’s generic electric SUV concept from 2023, which featured sustainable flax-based body panels. That earlier demonstration highlighted NASCAR’s commitment to reducing its carbon footprint — a goal formally adopted last year.
The timing works well for NASCAR’s manufacturers, as Ford, Chevrolet, and Toyota all offer electric SUVs in their consumer lineups (the Mach-E, Blazer EV, and bZ4X respectively).
While NASCAR hasn’t announced when electric vehicles might join its racing programs, documents leaked in 2022 suggested plans for a separate all-electric series. For now, this NASCAR Mach-E joins Ford’s growing stable of electric prototypes, including the seven-motor Mach-E 1400, demonstrating that zero-emission vehicles can deliver serious performance and excitement.
