In 1901, Henry Ford stunned the automotive world when he bested renowned auto designer Alexander Winton in a 10-lap race at the Detroit Driving Club in Michigan. In doing so, Ford’s new company announced itself as a racing brand to be reckoned with. Keep in mind, this was nearly fifty years before NASCAR had even formed.
Ford was there at NASCAR’s inception, and today it still holds one of the most decorated and consistent track records in racing history. All American Ford looks back at just five pivotal days throughout Ford’s storied NASCAR history.
June 25, 1950: Jimmy Florian wins first NASCAR race in a Ford vehicle.
Stock car racer Jimmy Florian made history in two ways when he won the 100-mile race at Ohio's Dayton Raceway in 1950: it was the first NASCAR victory for a Ford vehicle... and Florian won the race half-naked.
The mechanic-turned-racer cruised past the favored, speedy Oldsmobile racers en route to capturing the checkered flag. Upon pulling into the winner’s circle, Florian emerged from his No. 27 Ford in only pants, shoes, and helmet, having ripped off his shirt in the middle of the race amidst the day’s humidity. The feat earned him the nickname “Shirtless” Jimmy, and it caused NASCAR to quickly implement a rule stipulating its drivers must remain fully clothed throughout the duration of the race.
February 24, 1963: Tiny Lund wins first Daytona 500 for Ford.
DeWayne Louis “Tiny” Lund wasn’t even supposed to be behind the wheel of the No. 21 Galaxy 500 the day Ford captured its first Dayton 500. Unfortunately, the car’s prospective driver, Marvin Panch, flipped his Maserati sports car while practicing for a preliminary race at Daytona. Panch suffered severe (though not life-threatening) burns as a result. One of the mechanics who rushed to rescue Panch from the burning wreckage was Tiny Lund.
From his hospital bed, Panch suggested that Lund replace him in the race... a bold proposition, given that the journeyman Lund was winless in 132 Cup Series events. But the team devised a risky strategy that proved just successful enough, as Lund was able to complete the entire race without changing tires, crucially saving himself a pitstop that his competitors were not able to avoid.
February 20, 2000: Dale Jarrett wins Ford’s 10th Daytona 500.
Dale Jarrett spent the largest chunk of his illustrious career with Ford’s Robert Yates racing team. In 2000, he won his third Daytona 500 (and second driving a Ford, after winning the 1996 race in his second year on the team). It was also Ford’s tenth total Daytona 500 victory, nearly 37 years after the underdog Tiny Lund brought home the inaugural win.
At the time, Jarrett became just the second driver to win multiple Daytona 500 races in a Ford. (Bill Elliott was a Ford winner in both 1985 and 1987). Matt Kenseth would later tie their mark thanks to wins in 2009 and 2012. But between Kenseth's wins, Ford would once again intervene...
February 20, 2011: Trevor Bayne wins the Daytona 500 for Ford’s 600th NASCAR victory.
Talk about having yourself a day at the track! Ford nabbed all three podium spots at the 53rd running of the event, as rookie Trevor Bayne, Carl Edwards, and David Gilliland finished the race 1-2-3, respectively. Bayne became the youngest racer to win the Daytona 500, doing so just a day after his twentieth birthday. In doing so, he nabbed Ford their landmark 600th NASCAR victory.
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.
Today, 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 in the circuit.
At this point, chances are your blood is pumping and you want to get behind the wheel of a sleek, performance-first Ford vehicle today. You’re in luck! Race on over to All American Ford and check out our entire selection of new and used cars, trucks, and SUVs. And if you need help taking care of your current vehicle, our Service Center is here for all your maintenance needs. Whether you need new brakes or an oil change, All American Ford is Springville’s ultimate pit stop.