Homestead-Miami Speedway Allows Ford Motor Company To 'Go Further'

MIAMI, June 15, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Homestead-Miami Speedway announced today that there is a Ford in their future. Ford Motor Company has extended its partnership with the South Florida motorsports facility in a multi-year deal. Ford Motor Company has been the official entitlement sponsor of Homestead-Miami Speedway since 2002. Homestead-Miami Speedway President Matthew Becherer, Ford Executive Vice President and President of the Americas Joseph Hinrichs, and Director of Ford Racing Jamie Allison made the announcement.

"Ford is our longest running partner. We are incredibly proud to continue our mutually beneficial long partnership with Ford Motor Company and look forward to many thrilling moments on and around the track in the years to come," said Becherer. "Ford is the winningest manufacturer since we started hosting NASCAR's Championships twelve years ago, and it is only fitting that their name is attached to our championship race weekend in November. History will be made and the drama will be at an all-time high this year with the new format in the Chase for the Sprint Cup Championship during the Ford EcoBoost 400, starting with what will likely be the most compelling qualifying session of the year on Friday night before the Ford EcoBoost 200.  I can't think of a better partner to have than Ford Motor Company as we enter this new era at Homestead-Miami Speedway."

The partnership was announced at Michigan International Speedway, the racetrack that Greg Biffle gave car owner Jack Roush his 13^th victory in Michigan in 2013 aboard a Roush Fenway Racing Ford Fusion. That victory was the 1,000th across NASCAR's three national series for Ford Motor Co., which won the first NASCAR-sanctioned race 65 years ago.

Ford Motor Company's agreement with Homestead-Miami Speedway is a five-year deal with an option to renew for an additional five years. Other details were not disclosed.

Ford will continue to introduce fans to its award-winning product line, such as F Series trucks, Mustang, Explorer and Fusion through a 20,000-square-foot display during Ford Championship Weekend Nov. 14-16. Ford also uses the official pace car program as an opportunity to showcase its latest products, and will announce the unique pace vehicle for the Ford EcoBoost 400 later this year. Among the pace vehicles in recent years include the Fusion Hybrid, the Bullit Mustang, a Ford Police Interceptor and the "hero Mustang" from the movie "Need for Speed."

"Extending this long-term sponsorship agreement with Homestead-Miami Speedway is great opportunity for Ford," said Hinrichs.  "The Ford Championship Weekend has been a very successful event for us over the past 12 years, especially the chance for the fans to take part in our interactive consumer display with our latest production cars and trucks.   With the exciting changes to NASCAR's Chase playoffs this year, we know this should be a big weekend for all of us."

Throughout Homestead-Miami Speedway's thirteen years of hosting championships in NASCAR's premier series, Ford has dominated the Sprint Cup Series scene. Winning seven of the thirteen Ford EcoBoost 400 races, Ford is the winningest Sprint Cup Series manufacturer at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Five of those race wins came in consecutive years, with Greg Biffle winning in 2004, 2005 and 2006, Matt Kenseth winning in 2007, and Carl Edwards winning in 2008.

The Ford EcoBoost 400 will again serve as the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championship race. However, for the first time in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series history, four drivers will battle it out for the title, after surviving a grueling nine-race elimination series in the Chase For The Sprint Cup, before making their way to Homestead-Miami Speedway to compete for the championship. Driving in a race-within-a-race, the four drivers will compete in a full 43-car field, and fans have the opportunity to be a witness to the historic finish to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season that can only be seen at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Ford Championship Weekend will be held on November 14-16 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. For ticket purchases, or for more information, please visit www.HomesteadMiamiSpeedway.com.

About Homestead-Miami Speedway
The Speedway has been open since 1995 following an initiative to spur economic recovery in the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew.  The 650-acre facility is active more than 280 days per year and will host NASCAR's championship races during Ford Championship Weekend (November 14-16, 2014) for the 13^th consecutive year.  The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship Ford EcoBoost 400 is broadcast live on TV and radio to 200 countries in 24 languages.  Homestead-Miami Speedway, featuring a 1.5-mile oval and 2.21-mile road course, generates more than $250 million annually for the region.

The 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion will be crowned Sunday, November 16. The Ford EcoBoost 400 race winner will receive a custom boat built by industry icon Contender, a Homestead-based company.

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SOURCE Homestead-Miami Speedway