Logano Well Aware of Ford’s Drought at Martinsville

Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Duralast GT Ford, practices for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series STP 500 at Martinsville Speedway on March 31, 2017 in Martinsville, Virginia. Photo – Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

Though most drivers aren’t consumed with historical statistics, there’s one particular number Joey Logano can’t forget – because the folks at Ford Performance won’t let him.

No Ford driver has won at Martinsville since Kurt Busch took the checkered flag in 2002 in a car fielded by Roush Fenway Racing. Continue reading

The Daytona 500: A Race Like No Other

Photo – Ford Performance

The Daytona 500 is recognized as the greatest stock car race in the world and on February 26, 2017 the 59th running will take place at Daytona International Speedway.  Ever since drivers ran up and down the famed beach course from 1936-58, Daytona has been synonymous with speed.  The first Daytona 500 at the newly-constructed Daytona International Speedway took place on February 22, 1959 with a field of 59 cars and crowd of over 40,000.  Since then, the race has grown to become one of the top sporting events in the country.

The 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season begins on February 26 with the 59th running of the Daytona 500, a race that Ford has won 14 times overall, including four times in the past eight years.

This marks the first in a series of videos that will highlight Ford Performance’s involvement in “The Great American Race”. Continue reading

Busch, Patrick Look Forward to Ford Power

January 24 2017: during the Charlotte Motor Speedway Media Tour at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, N.C. .
Photo – HHP/Andrew Coppley

Stewart-Haas Racing drivers Kurt Busch and Danica Patrick discussed their team’s move from Chevrolet to Ford during the 35th Annual NASCAR Media Tour hosted by Charlotte Motor Speedway on Tuesday at the Charlotte Convention Center.

Busch, who won Ford’s most recent Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series championship while with Roush Fenway Racing in 2004, drove Dodges for Team Penske from 2006-’11. Busch piloted Chevrolets for Phoenix Racing, Furniture Row Racing and Stewart-Haas prior to his return to Ford, the manufacturer with whom he entered the series in 2000.

“It is a special homecoming feeling to head back to work with Ford and to have them (work) with our power and bodies at Stewart-Haas Racing,” Busch said. “It really feels neat to come back to a place where I’ve seen the faces before and the structure has been polished. There’s more depth with Ford Performance. The whole gang is ready and willing to help in all areas and directions.”

Patrick has driven Chevrolets since she debuted in NASCAR’s top series in 2012. SHR’s manufacturer switch, Patrick said, should benefit her team.

“The goal is to do better all the time,” said Patrick, who finished 24th in points in 2015 and ‘16. “Hopefully some of the things that have changed within our team, the big one being changing over to Ford, will open up some opportunities and possibilities and just pure potential for the team and we can improve. Hopefully there’s more room to improve now.

“That’s exciting to me. I’m optimistic and hopefully it will be something that makes a difference.”

Charlotte Motor Speedway

Dalton Sargeant Joins Cunningham Motorsports for 2017 ARCA Racing Series Championship

Photo - Courtesy DSM

Photo – Courtesy DSM

As the 2016 ARCA Racing Series champs, Cunningham Motorsports has a lot to celebrate at the Series banquet later this evening.  But, they certainly aren’t resting on their laurels…they are looking forward to next season, when they plan to contend for back to back championships.

The first order of business at the press conference, held in conjunction with the annual PRI show, was Jeff Clark, speaking on behalf of Ford Performance, announced that the Cunningham organization has been designated as a driver development partner with Ford Performance.
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#FordRacing has a Rich #NASCAR History at #Martinsville Speedway

After having a week off, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series returns to action for the first of two races this season at Martinsville Speedway.  This marks the beginning of a stretch that will see two of the next three events take place on half-mile tracks.  Here’s a look at Ford’s history at Martinsville.

A FIRST FOR FRED
The first time Ford won a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway also marked the first career victory for 2015 NASCAR Hall of Famer Fred Lorenzen.  The date was April 9, 1961 and Lorenzen battled Rex White, who led the first 118 laps after starting on the pole.  Lorenzen, was driving for Holman-Moody when he grabbed the lead on lap 119 and held it until rain came ending the race prematurely after 149 circuits.  Little did anyone know that 54 years later both men would be enshrined into the NASCAR Hall of Fame as part of the same induction class.  Martinsville was a place Lorenzen dominated, winning six times, including four straight from 1963-65.  He was absolutely unbeatable in 1964 as he led 990 out of a possible 1,000 laps (487 in the first and 493 in the second) in winning both races. Continue reading