Though NASCAR has strayed far afield from its roots as a “stock car” racing championship, a new ruling three years ago allowed auto manufacturers more leeway in making their race cars look like the production cars they’re named after. Thus the 2013 Ford Fusion became the more-refined face of Ford’s NASCAR efforts, and so it will be again next week when the refreshed look of the 2017 Fusion readies for its February competition debut at Daytona Speedweeks.

“There’s no mistaking we’re here to win races and championships,” said Dave Pericak, global director, Ford Performance.  “And we believe the new NASCAR Fusion will be a powerful tool in the hands of our teams and drivers.”

Wielding 750 horsepower and a 9,000 RPM redline, the new NASCAR Fusion is more than twice as powerful as the also-new 2017 Fusion Sport. The most powerful iteration of Ford’s decade-old midsize sedan boasts a 325 horsepower 2.7 liter EcoBoost V6 and all-wheel drive, giving actual car buyers a more fun option when it comes to sedan shopping. 50 years ago, that’s the car Ford would have been fielding at NASCAR competitions.

Instead, rule changes have forced all teams onto the same “Car of Tomorrow” chassis, albeit with greater leeway in the exterior design to reflect the mother brand’s design language. The new NASCAR Fusion has also undergone more extensive wind tunnel testing, and Ford’s team of racing drivers will also enjoy an improved interior experience as well. A new digital dashboard system is mandatory for all teams, with 16 different preset screen functions displaying whatever information the driver deems pertinent. Ford has further invested in its Ford Performance Technical Center in Concord, North Carolina, which features (among other things) a state-of-the-art full motion simulator that helps engineers in designing both production and racing cars.

The new NASCAR Fusion race car debuts February 21st at the 58th running of the Daytona 500, so make sure you tune in.