Friday brings two new cars into the fray of NASCAR’s Nationwide series, when the good ol’ boys gather at Daytona International Speedway. Roush Fenway Racing’s Carl Edwards will be piloting one of the series’ new ‘Car of Tomorrow’ Mustangs and explained what needs to be done on Friday.

Photos: Ford Motor Company

Edwards explained, “We are running the New Ford Mustang for the first time and it should make the weekend very exciting at Daytona. As always, we need to stay out of the ‘big one’ and find drafting partners in order to finish well. Our goal is to survive and have a good points night. Daytona is always big, but racing under the lights on the fourth of July weekend is just awesome. There would be nothing bigger than putting the No. 60 Copart Ford Mustang in Victory Lane.”

Aside from the Mustangs appearing in the race, a Mustang Pace Car will also be on duty throughout the weekend. “This week is all about celebrating Mustang in NASCAR,” said Jamie Allison, director, Ford North America Motorsports. “Fans will get to see the 2011 Mustang GT 5.0-liter pacing both races, and they’ll also see the start of a new era in Mustang Racing on track.”

Allison also tabled a special deal for the drivers when he announced that any Ford driver who wins the Friday night event at Daytona would receive their own 2011 5.0-liter Mustang GT production vehicle.