Motorcraft Sponsors Wood Brothers for 9 races

Wood Brothers Motorcraft livery

For the ninth consecutive year, Ford Customer Service Division’s Motorcraft brand will team with legendary Wood Brothers Racing to compete in the highest form of stock car racing.

Motorcraft, a Ford Motor Company brand of automotive parts ranging from filters and spark plugs to engines and transmissions, will be the primary sponsor on the Wood Brothers No. 21 NASCAR Sprint Cup Ford Fusion for nine races (see schedule below), beginning in February at the Daytona 500 and culminating with the season-ending Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Bill Elliott, the 1988 NASCAR champion driving a Coors/Motorcraft Thunderbird, is scheduled to be the driver for all of Motorcraft's races. Elliott, Motorcraft and the Wood Brothers first joined forces in 2007.

“We are very proud to continue our long-standing relationship with Wood Brothers Racing and Bill Elliott," said Darryl Hazel, Ford Customer Service Division Vice President. “The Woods are synonymous with Ford, and we are thrilled to be associated with such a tremendous group of people."

“We are very pleased to have Motorcraft back with us for the 2009 season," said Wood Brothers Racing co-owner Eddie Wood. “Motorcraft first sponsored us in 2001 and we value their involvement in the sport for the past nine years. They have been loyal to us, we have always been loyal to them and Ford. It makes you feel good. It makes you feel like family. Without Ford Motor Company, the outlook for this season would probably be different."

The Wood Brothers are acknowledged pioneers in the sport of stock-car racing, and have earned 96 wins in over 50 years of NASCAR competition – second most in Ford Racing history.

“Ford’s appreciation for our loyalty throughout the years is what kept us going, and, in turn, we keep on going for them, too," said Wood Brothers Racing co-owner Len Wood.

The red and black Motorcraft logo appears on the No. 21 Ford Fusion in NASCAR, while two Ford Customer Service Division (FCSD) brands – Motorcraft and Quick Lane – will adorn the Shelby Mustang Nitro Funny Car of Bob Tasca III as he begins his sophomore season in NHRA, starting in Pomona, Calif., on Feb. 5.

Along with sponsoring the No. 21 Ford Fusion in NASCAR and Tasca Racing Shelby Mustang Funny Car, FCSD brings a very aggressive brand awareness campaign with a significant trackside presence at selected NHRA events in the form of the Motorcraft/Quick Lane “Racing Experience." The massive display, spreading out over half a football field, will let race fans connect with Motorcraft, Quick Lane and Ford Custom Accessories in a unique way.

FCSD and its associated brands have won a place in the hearts and minds of racing fans everywhere since the mid-1980s, including sponsoring Ford Hall-of-Fame drag racer Bob Glidden, a 10-time NHRA Pro Stock champion, and NASCAR champions Bill Elliott and Dale Jarrett.

Its brands have visited victory lane and won championships in NASCAR, NHRA, SCORE, IMSA GT and GTO and SCCA Trans-Am throughout the years.

2009 Motorcraft Primary Sponsor NASCAR Sprint Cup Schedule
February 15 – Daytona International Speedway
March 8 – Atlanta Motor Speedway
April 5 – Texas Motor Speedway
May 24 – Lowe’s Motor Speedway
June 14 – Michigan International Speedway
July 11 – Chicagoland Speedway
July 26 – Indianapolis Motor Speedway
September 6 – Atlanta Motor Speedway
November 22 – Homestead Miami Speedway