Ford Championship Weekend Trophy Preview

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Every race in the NASCAR schedule has their own trophy to award the race winner. Each award has its own history and meaning. While the Ford Championship Weekend trophy design is relatively new, it is not without its own history. Ford and Homestead-Miami Speedway collaborated on the trophy design for all three Ford Championship Weekend races for the first time in 2014. The trophy consists of a brass steering wheel mounted on top of a wooden base, making it a total of 27 inches tall, while the steering wheel measures 14.5 inches in diameter. Fixed on the base is an engraving of Henry Ford and mechanic, Ed “Spider” Huff. Bruce Fox produced the approximately 50 pound trophies in New Albany, Indiana.

While it may look like an ordinary steering wheel, the top of the trophy is an exact replica of the steering wheel from the 1901 race car, Sweepstakes. Sweepstakes is the car that Henry Ford built, raced and won with on October 10, 1901 in Grosse Pointe, Michigan. Ford’s victory over established racer, Alexander Winton, was Ford’s first and final race. Ford used the race win as leverage for gaining investors in his second attempt at forming an automobile company. Utilizing his ideas, knowledge of the industry and investors’ funds, Ford went on to establish the Ford Motor Company in June 1903. 

MILES2MIAMI: New Hampshire

Race Winner: Matt Kenseth
Age: 43
Team : No. 20 - Dollar General Toyota
Owner: Joe Gibbs
Crew Chief: Jason Ratcliff

Matt Kenseth won the 19th Annual Sylvania 300, his 36th victory in 572 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.

This is his fifth victory and 18th top-10 finish in 2015.

This is his second victory and 17th top-10 finish in 32 races at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

Denny Hamlin (second) posted his 12th top-10 finish in 20 races at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.  It is his 15th top-10 finish in 2015.

Joey Logano (third) posted his seventh top-10 finish in 15 races at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

Brett Moffitt (27th) was the highest finishing rookie.

Matt Kenseth leads the point standings by 6 points over Denny Hamlin.

With the completion of the Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, there are now 2,877.58 Miles2Miami. 

Top 3 Reasons to Have a Pre-Race Pit Pass During Ford Championship Weekend

The Chase is on, and it all ends at Homestead-Miami Speedway Nov. 20 -22! Here are our TOP 3 reasons why you should have a Pre-Race Pit Pass during Ford Championship Weekend:

	1. Get Up Close and Personal: Experience all of the weekend action from the pit! Brush shoulders with NASCAR's elite pit crews and even some your favorite drivers. Plus, you'll have a front row seat during the Ford EcoBoost 400 Driver Introductions!
	2. Sign the Start/Finish Line: Leave your mark on the Homestead-Miami Speedway track. Sign your name on the Start/Finish before Sunday's Ford EcoBoost 400!
	3. Watch Qualifying from the Pit: See your favorite drivers qualify for their spot in the NASCAR XFINITY Series  Ford EcoBoost 300 from the pit on Saturday afternoon!

PURCHASE A PRE-RACE PIT PASS

MILES2MIAMI - Chicagoland Speedway

Race Winner: Denny Hamlin
Age: 34
Team : No. 11 - FedEx Ground Toyota
Owner: J.D. Gibbs
Crew Chief: Dave Rogers

Denny Hamlin won the 15th Annual myAFibRisk.com 400, his 26th victory in 353 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.

With the victory, Hamlin advances to the Contender Round.

With the win, Hamlin ties NASCAR Hall of Famer Fred Lorenzen for 27th on the all-time series wins list.

This is his second victory and 14th top-10 finish in 2015.

This is his first victory and fourth top-10 finish in ten races at Chicagoland Speedway.

Carl Edwards (second) posted his fourth top-10 finish in 11 races at Chicagoland Speedway.  It is his 10th top-10 finish in 2015.

Kurt Busch (third) posted his ninth top-10 finish in 15 races at Chicagoland Speedway.

With the first race of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, there are 3,194.98 Miles2Miami.

MILES2MIAMI - Richmond International Raceway

Race Winner: Matt Kenseth
Age: 43
Team : No. 20 - Dollar General Toyota
Owner: Joe Gibbs
Crew Chief: Jason Ratcliff

Matt Kenseth won the 58th Annual Federated Auto Parts 400 , his 35th victory in 570 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.

This is his fourth victory and 16th top-10 finish in 2015.

This is his second victory and 15th top-10 finish in 32 races at Richmond International Raceway.

Kenseth's 352 laps led were the second-highest total of his career (415, Bristol-2 in 2005).

Kyle Busch (second) posted his 15th top-10 finish in 21 races at Richmond International Raceway.  It is his ninth top-10 finish in 2015.

Joey Logano (third) posted his sixth top-10 finish in 14 races at Richmond International Raceway.

Kevin Harvick leads the point standings by 30 points over Joey Logano.

There are 3,194.98 miles until the Championship finale Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway November 22.

Top 5 Reasons to Attend Jimmie Johnson's Kids Q&A

Jimmie Johnson returns to Homestead-Miami Speedway on Sunday, Nov. 22 to take part in an exclusive kids Q&A session! Here are our TOP 5 reasons why you and the family need to be there:

	1. Go Behind-the-Scenes: Experience all of the NASCAR action in the PIT. The Jimmie Johnson ticket package comes complete with pre-race pit passes for Sunday's Ford EcoBoost 400! >> Package Includes 2 Pre-Race Pit Passes
	2. See 6-Time IN PERSON: See one of the greats at the place where Champions are made. Submit questions via social beforehand and we'll pick a select few for Jimmie to answer during his Q&A session. >> Join the Conversation
	3. Make it a PERFECT Weekend with the Kids: Kids get in free for Friday and Saturday's races, and the Jimmie Johnson ticket package includes one children's ticket for Sunday's Ford EcoBoost 400! >> View Kids Pricing
	4. Experience ALL #FordChampWknd Has to Offer: Racing isn't the only thing we do during race weekend. Don't miss live music, interactive displays and family-friendly activities throughout the weekend. >> Customize Your Schedule
	5. Witness History... with Your Whole Crew: Only one with RISE as we crown a new NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion on Sunday, Nov. 22. The Jimmie Johnson ticket package includes 2 tickets to the 2015 Ford EcoBoost 400.

PURCHASE TICKET PACKAGE

RACE RECAP - Darlington Raceway

Race Winner: Carl Edwards
Age: 36
Team : No. 19 - ARRIS Toyota
Owner: J.D. Gibbs
Crew Chief: Darian Grubb

Carl Edwards won the 66th Annual Bojangles' Southern 500, his 25th victory in 398 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.

This is his second victory and ninth top-10 finish in 2015.

This is his first victory and eighth top-10 finish in 12 races at Darlington Raceway.

Brad Keselowski (second) posted his third top-10 finish in seven races at Darlington Raceway.  It is his 17th top-10 finish in 2015.

Denny Hamlin (third) posted his eighth top-10 finish in ten races at Darlington Raceway.

Matt DiBenedetto (25th) was the highest finishing rookie.

Kevin Harvick leads the point standings by 42 points over Joey Logano.

Carl Edwards has two wins (2008, 2010), five top-five finishes, seven top-10 finishes and two poles (2005, 2011) at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Successful Test for Teams Ahead of The Chase

When NASCAR testing and Mother Nature went head-to-head at Homestead-Miami Speedway on August 26, it looked like testing would finish second on the day. Yet, all 10 NASCAR Sprint Cup teams who attended were able to complete their testing under the lights late Wednesday in preparation for the 2015 Ford EcoBoost 400 on November 22.

The initial start time of 9:00 a.m. for the NASCAR Open Test was pushed back two hours due to perpetual rain. After the track had been dried, teams were able to acquire over two hours of valuable data capture and analysis as conditions allowed; however, this would not be the case for the majority of the day. The early afternoon brought back heavy rain with severe lightning and thunder further halting progress in testing and placing the rest of the session in doubt. The rain eventually subsided in the early evening and teams were able to complete testing without needing to come back the following day.

Driver quotes:

Martin Truex Jr., driver of the No. 78 Chevrolet SS for Furniture Row Racing-“This is going to be, obviously, a huge race. It’s the biggest race of the year if you really think about what it all comes down to so we’re planning on making that final four with our Furniture Row Chevrolet and hopefully if we get to do that we’ll be ready,” “We’re just trying to learn all we can to get down here and be prepared for that, and hopefully we’ll be one of those guys.”

Joey Logano, driver of the No. 22 Ford Fusion for Penske Racing- “We learn a lot of things. A lot of things we can’t typically learn on a normal race weekend. We can put data on our race cars and be able to really dissect what each part and piece does,” “So overall, it’s key for us to get the most out of this as we don’t have them (testing) very often. And, obviously, coming down here to Homestead – it can be the most important race of the year.”

Drivers who attended the testing session:

       

         Joey Logano, No. 22 Ford Fusion, Penske Racing
         Dale Earnhardt Jr., No. 88 Chevrolet SS, Hendrick Motorsports

         Kyle Larson, No. 42 Chevrolet SS, Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates

         Kevin Harvick, No. 4 Chevrolet SS, Stewart-Haas Racing

         Clint Bowyer, No. 15 Toyota Camry, Michael Waltrip Racing

         Martin Truex Jr., No. 78 Chevrolet SS, Furniture Row Racing

         Trevor Bayne, No. 6 Ford Fusion, Roush Fenway Racing

         Ty Dillon, No. 31 Chevrolet SS, Richard Childress Racing

         Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing

         Ryan Blaney, No. 21 Ford Fusion, Wood Brothers Racing



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