![[VIDEO] After a Humbling U-Drags Loss, the Mustang Dark Horse Gets Supercharged and Demands a Rematch with the C8 Stingray](https://www.corvetteblogger.com/images/content/2025/10/102425_11.jpg)
The last time we posted about our favorite YouTube racing event, we billed it as the perfect matchup of attainable American heroes. The C8 Corvette Stingray and Mustang Dark Horse both entered the ‘broccoli’ track of Edmunds’ U-Drags with 500 HP V8s, RWD, and fast-shifting automatic transmissions. On paper, this should have been a bout between two near equals that would come down to who wanted it more, but the second the start gun fired, it was apparent that the Blue Ford was severely overmatched by its Torch Red rival.
What should have been a nail-biter ended up being a textbook example of why Chevrolet engineers decided to move their halo car’s Small-Block V8 between the cockpit and rear axle. The ‘Vette’s newly-found off-the-line-optimized weight distribution, trick launch control system, and shocking 354-pound weight advantage added up to an immediate multi-car gap that it was able to easily hold throughout the entire contest, turning our theoretical second-coming of the Thrilla in Manila into a Harlem Globetrotters exhibition, with the poor ‘Stang left to play the part of the Washington Generals.
As the owners of the Dark Horse, Edmunds became painfully aware that their prized Pony Car’s skillset and their signature down-and-back drag race weren’t exactly jelling. Rather than continue to expose the current “Mustang to get” to ridicule and embarrassment online, they paid a visit to their local Ford dealer with $10,000 earmarked for the factory 3.0L Whipple Supercharger kit before dropping the car and said parts off at Galpin Auto Sports (of Pimp My Ride fame) for installation.
What emerged still looked like a regular Grabber Blue Dark Horse, but its shrill new singing voice revealed the truth. It now sends a monstrous 810 HP and 615 lb-ft of torque to its rear Pirellis. With the extra muscle onboard, it was officially ready for a second shot at the naturally aspirated Corvette. It might not seem fair at this point, matching a stock ‘Vette against a Mustang with an aftermarket (but factory backed) power enhancement of 62%, but, as tested, it actually puts the two much closer in MSRP than they were the first time around, with the Mustang now retailing for an all-in price of $90,111 vs. the Corvette’s steeper still $95,405.
[Spoiler Alert!] We usually don’t like to talk about video results around here, but this race is so interesting that we are going to break our rule this time around. If you want to watch the video without knowing what happens, hit play now before continuing to our expert breakdown. You’ve been warned!
The start: Even with a 300+ horse disadvantage, the Stingray leaves the ‘road-raging Mustang for dead, exactly like last time. The difference this time is that once everything hooks up, the blown 5.0 takes over and is able to reel the ‘Vette in by the quarter-mile marker. It’s ultra-grippy Trofeo RS rubber, then precedes to out-class the Chevy’s much milder Michelins (a Cup 2 or 2R would have been a better comp) in breaking and lateral grip before handing the baton back to the SC Coyote V8 for the anchor stretch.
When the dust settled, the “Super Dark Horse” was traveling 138.1 MPH to stop the clock in 32.7 seconds, good for 12th on the all-time list, while the Stingray’s 33.7 @ 128.6 failed to improve on the model’s highwater mark of 33.4 seconds, in a three-way tie for 21st place with the newest BMW M4 Competition and Bentley Continental GT Speed.
Back to the ‘Charged Horse, for a minute. Its time is impressive, sliding in ahead of the Mercedes-AMG GT and the CS version of the M4, just behind a freaking Kawasaki Ninja H2 R, but, even with 50 more horses, it still couldn’t clip the fully stock effort of the previous-gen Shelby GT500 (32.1 sec. @ 148.5) and all of the above trail the similarly priced C8 Eray and Z06’s best ETs of 31.7 and 31.3 seconds, respectively, with the Z06 retaining the American ICE crown.
Two of the top-three times on the board, including 1st overall, belong to AWD EVs designed and manufactured right here in the US of A, and, at the end of today’s All-American showdown, the presenters bring up the car that will look to take them down with twin-turbo V8 power and only two powered wheels, the 2025+ ZR1. If the 1,064-horse King of the Hill wants to grab the gold, it’ll have to surpass the Lucid Air Sapphire and its 27.9-second pass – and the Model S Plaid’s 29.3. With a bit of luck, we’ll know how the LT7 stacks up soon, and even if it can’t drop the pride of Newark, California, off the top of the podium, there’s always the 1,250 HP “X” version waiting in the wings!
Source:
Edmunds Cars / YouTube
Related:
[VIDEO] C8 Corvette Stingray Meets the Mustang Dark Horse on U-Drags
[VIDEO] Watch the C8 Corvette Z06 U-Drag a Maserati MC20
[VIDEO] 2024 Corvette E-Ray U-Drags Twin-Turbo AWD BMW M8 Competition
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Silly race, why not add a supercharger to the Vette and see what happens? I’m shocked that adding horsepower gives you more top end. This is a waste of time.
Why not add a supercharger to the Vette etc, etc? Because the CT5-V Blackwing also beat the Dark Horse at Edmonds. Just slap the same S/C the Blackwing has on the Vette and the story will be the same as the first race. The Vette will win. Isn’t the Musty supposed to shine on the top end? So much for it being quickest light to light. My Blackwing rips Mustys light to light. Then I can show up at the golf course and not be looked down on like a Musty driver.
Didn’t Ford recall cars with the Whipple Supercharger installed on them due to potential engine damage?
I personally would not own one, but Stangs are ok in this world of coal fired EV golf carts. It’s a lot of the drivers that give Stangs a bad image. Just go to a cars and coffee.
Yeah. Not just a little hp difference there. Using equivalent tires on both cars would have also helped make this a more informative comparison.
Even with 300 hp less, the loss gap of the Corvette to the modified Mustang at the end was less than 2 seconds – not all that large.
The original, factory non-supercharged (both cars with approx 500 hp) match-up resulted in a HUGE gap and win for the Corvette.
dumb
Yeah, Cars & Coffee. That’s probably what lead to my daughter’s Dark Horse and brothers fully loaded GT Premium PP Magnaride getting stolen. All this lead my daughter to sell her Dark Horse HP and be done with it altogether. Now they both proudly drive beautiful E-Rays. The pride of America. Put the Hennessy H1000 up against U drags musty. The H1000 (Blackwing Sr) would turn that horse into horse hamburger.
You can spend that same 10 grand on boosting an ER, and it will spank everything outside of EV’s. But sure, enjoy spending 90 grand on a Mustang.
I just traded my DH on a new Vette Z06. Both of them are good cars with a lot to offer. The big deal is that the DH is very heavy, and it takes a toll on everything involving motion.
No question the ‘vette is a faster car, but you can’t take your wife and kids for a drive in it.
This whole argument isn’t germain to anything to do with track, my wife’s ‘vette club has 36 cars in it and not one of them will take their car to the track. They mostly do “cruises” for lunch. Kind of sad. My vette will be going to the track, just like my Mustang did.
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