Mustang Challenge Heats Up at Charlotte’s ROVAL for Season Finale
The air is electric in Charlotte, North Carolina. This weekend, the inaugural season of the IMSA-sanctioned Mustang Challenge comes to a thunderous close at the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL. This isn’t just another race. It’s a historic moment. For the first time ever, the raw power of the Mustang Challenge will be unleashed alongside the titans of the NASCAR Cup Series. It’s the kind of weekend that gives you goosebumps, a true festival of American muscle.
All told, Ford is putting on a global showcase. A staggering 42 Mustangs will be tearing up tracks across the world. Here at Charlotte, we’ll have a full stable of 37, with 20 of those being the fire-breathing Mustang Dark Horse R race cars battling it out in the Mustang Challenge. Just a stone’s throw away, 17 Mustang Dark Horses will be dueling in the NASCAR Cup and Xfinity Series races. It’s a full-blown Ford takeover, a testament to the Mustang’s racing pedigree.
The Legends Championship: A Three-Way War for the Crown
If you’re looking for drama, the Dark Horse Legends championship is where you’ll find it. This is what racing is all about. We’ve got Alex Bachoura and Zachry Lee locked in a dead heat, tied at 3,100 points apiece. You couldn’t script a tighter battle. But don’t you dare count out Alfonso Diaz, lurking just 70 points behind.
With 350 points up for grabs in each race, this championship is going down to the wire. Every turn, every pass, every split-second decision will be critical. These three gladiators have proven all season that they have what it takes to stand on the top step of the podium.
Bachoura has been a force of nature, racking up an impressive six wins. Diaz isn’t far behind with three victories, and Lee has proven his mettle with two of his own. When that final checkered flag waves, one of these drivers will be crowned a legend, and it’s a fight you won’t want to miss.
Robert Noaker: Riding a Wave of Momentum
Robert Noaker is a name you’d better get used to hearing. After already locking up his second Dark Horse Championship this season at Circuit of The Americas, you might think he’d take his foot off the gas. You’d be wrong. Noaker is always looking for the next challenge, and he found it by climbing the Mustang ladder into the world of GT4 racing.
Just a couple of weeks ago, he made his IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge debut at the legendary Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Teaming up with Cameron McLeod, a driver he battled fiercely against at the Le Mans Invitational, the pair proved to be an unstoppable force.
They brought their KohR Motorsports Mustang GT4 home with a spectacular third-place finish. That’s the kind of momentum that fuels a driver’s soul. Now, Noaker returns to the Mustang Challenge, hungry to cap off his dream season with two more victories. He’s not just here to participate; he’s here to dominate.
New Faces in the Mustang Challenge Paddock
The season finale is also welcoming some new blood into the points-paying ranks of the Mustang Challenge. Robert Noaker Racing is fielding two drivers ready to make their mark. In the Dark Horse class, get ready for Andrew Aquilante. This isn’t just some rookie; Aquilante is a 15-time SCCA National Champion, and he’s bringing that wealth of experience to his very first Mustang Challenge start.
Over in the Dark Horse Legends class, Dan McKeever is set to make his official points-paying debut. McKeever already turned heads at the Le Mans Invitational back in June, where he snagged a stellar second-place finish in the first race. He proved he belongs, and now he’s back to prove it wasn’t a fluke.
Final Thoughts
Keep an eye on these two as they might just shake things up. It’s all coming down to this. Two races to decide it all. Friendships will be put aside, rivalries will ignite, and champions will be made. This is more than just a race. It’s the heart and soul of motorsports on full display and at one of America’s greatest speedways.
