It all began in 1901, when Henry Ford stunned the automotive world. In a 10-lap race at the Detroit Driving Club in Michigan, the industrialist defeated the heavily favored, renowned auto designer Alexander Winton. In doing so, Ford’s new company announced itself as a racing line to be reckoned with – nearly a half-century before NASCAR had even assembled.
The Ford brand was there at NASCAR’s launch, and throughout the ensuing years, it compiled one of the circuit’s most storied track records. Sky Ford looks back at five pivotal days throughout Ford’s decorated NASCAR history:
June 25, 1950: Jimmy Florian wins first NASCAR race in a Ford vehicle.
Stock car racer Jimmy Florian’s win at the Dayton Raceway in 1950 was a milestone for two reasons: it marked the first NASCAR victory for a Ford vehicle… and Florian crossed the finish line half-naked.
The mechanic-turned-racer cruised past a slew of Oldsmobile drivers en route to capturing the checkered flag. Upon entering the winner’s circle, Florian emerged from his No. 27 Ford in just pants, shoes, and helmet, having torn off his shirt in the middle of the race due to the competitive fire raging inside him (…and also the day’s humidity). The feat earned him the nickname “Shirtless” Jimmy, and caused NASCAR to hastily implement a rule requiring its drivers to remain fully-clothed during races.
February 24, 1963: Massive underdog Tiny Lund wins first Daytona 500 for Ford.
Lund wasn’t even supposed to be behind the wheel of the No. 21 Galaxy 500 the day Ford captured its first Dayton 500. But the Wood Brothers racing team’s top driver, Marvin Panch, flipped his Maserati sports car during practice for a preliminary race at Daytona, suffering serious (though not life-threatening) burns as a result. One of the mechanics who rushed to rescue Panch from the burning wreckage was DeWayne Louis “Tiny” Lund.
From his hospital bed, Panch suggested that Lund serve as his replacement… even though the journeyman was winless in 132 career Cup Series events. Thankfully, the Wood Brothers team devised an expedited strategy that mitigated Lund’s weaknesses. It proved successful (albeit barely), as Lund completed the entire race in one set of tires and made one fewer pit stop than the competition.
February 20, 2000: Dale Jarrett wins Ford’s 10th Daytona 500.
Dale Jarrett spent time with various race teams throughout his illustrious, 24-year career – but his longest stint with the same crew was with Ford’s Robert Yates racing team. In 2000, he won his third Daytona 500 and second piloting a Ford, (he’d previously won the 1996 race in his second year on the Yates team). The win also represented Ford’s tenth total Daytona 500 victory, nearly 37 years after Tiny Lund brought home the inaugural win.
At the time, Jarrett became just the second driver to win multiple Daytona 500’s in a Ford. (Bill Elliott was a Ford winner in both 1985 and 1987). Matt Kenseth would later tie that mark with wins in both 2009 and 2012. But between those victories…
February 20, 2011: Trevor Bayne wins the Daytona 500 for Ford’s 600th NASCAR victory.
Talk about having yourself a day at the race track! Ford took all three podium spots at the 53rd running of the Daytona 500, as rookie Trevor Bayne, Carl Edwards, and David Gilliland finished the race 1-2-3, respectively. Bayne wasn’t even technically allowed to celebrate his win with champagne yet, as he became the youngest racer ever to win the Daytona 500, doing so just a day after his twentieth birthday. With the win, he also nabbed Ford their 600th NASCAR victory. Fair to say, a productive afternoon all around.
June 17, 2013: Greg Biffle wins the Quicken Loans 400, Ford’s 1000th NASCAR win.
Though the race itself was just one of many events in NASCAR’s Cup Series in 2013, Biffle’s win marked a major milestone for Ford: 1,000 combined victories in the Sprint Cup, Nationwide, and Camping World Truck Series.
Fast forward a decade to the present day, where Ford continues to dominate the NASCAR circuit. The past two Cup Series champions – Joey Logano in 2022 and Ryan Blaney in 2023 – are both members of Team Penske, who fields Ford Mustangs.
At this point, you’ve probably come down with a case of racing fever – and the only cure is to get behind the wheel of a sleek, performance-first Ford vehicle today. Race on over to Sky Ford and check out our entire selection of new and used cars, trucks, and SUVs. If you’re already a driver, schedule your next service appointment with us. Whether you need new tires, brakes, or an oil change, Sky Ford boasts the best pit crew in all of Linn County.
Connect with us
