After rumors, suggestions, and hints that the Ford Mustang would be making a triumphant return to NASCAR, we were sure that this was pretty much a done deal. After all, the Mustang was once a cornerstone of stock car racing, and while NASCAR may not be the same sport it was forty years ago, even we were excited at the prospect of America’s favorite pony car returning to the track.

But alas, it is not to be. FoxSports reports that Ford has decided to keep the Ford Fusion sedan racing in the top-tier Sprint Cup Series, and the Mustang will race in the Nationwide Series…for now.

The move is admittedly a bit baffling, as the Sprint Cup Series is the highest tier of NASCAR racing. Ford has fielded several Fusion Sprint cars over the years, and there were rumors abound that they were working on a Mustang to take the place of the Fusion in the Sprint Cup. But instead, Ford brass has decided that the Mustang will racing in the Nationwide “minor leagues” for the time being, and the Fusion Sprint cars will stay on board for now.

Ford even went so far as to submit a Mustang design for the Sprint cup…but ultimately decided that the Ford Fusion, essentially, needed the extra exposure from the Sprint Cup Series. Which is a shame because, as much as we like the Ford Fusion, we’d much rather see Mustangs, Camaros, and Challengers duking it out like they did back in the old days.

Do you guys agree?