Ford Nascar Teams Ready to Race in the 58th Daytona 500

Ford Race Fans; “Start Your Engines,” it’s time to warm up for NASCAR 2016. The Daytona 500 runs on February 21st this year, but activities at the “World Center of Racing” get started this month with Speedweeks events highlighted by front row qualifying for the 58th edition of “The Great American Race” on Sunday February 14, 2016. The Can-Am Duel Qualifying races will once again run under the lights with a

7:00 pm starting time on Thursday February 18th. If you’re planning a trip to Daytona to cheer on your favorite Ford Performance Racing driver check out the new look grandstands on the front stretch in this time-lapse video entitled “Daytona Rising.” The $400 million re-imaging of this iconic speedway, the jewel of American stock car racing, promises fans the ultimate race day experience. 

Expectations are high for the Ford multi-car teams of Roush-Fenway Racing, Team Penske, Richard Petty Motor Sports, and Front Row Motorsports. Aric Almirola, who just missed qualifying for The Chase last year, returns to drive Richard Petty’s 43 Ford Fusion seeking his second opportunity at making the playoffs, NASCAR style. Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski give Roger Penske two opportunities at having a Ford bring home the Sprint Cup Championship Trophy; with Logano being the odds-on preseason favorite to win it for “The Captain.” Greg Biffle looks to improve on last year’s 20th place finish in the 2015 Sprint Cup standings with new sponsor KFC on the hood and fender for Daytona and select races.

Fan favorites, the Wood Brothers will field the famous 21 number with Ford Performance returning as an anchor sponsor for 2016 along with Motorcraft/Quick Lane badges. Another single car entry sure to garner fan attention is the number 32 Ford from Go Fas Racing. Die-hard NASCAR followers will remember the 32 car as a seat for road racing specialist Boris Said and former NASCAR Champion Terry Labonte. Long time NASCAR crew chief Frank Stoddard and his FAS Lane Racing team merged with Nationwide Series owner Archie St. Hilaire and his Go Green Racing team to form the Go Fas entry. Terry’s brother Bobby Labonte is set to drive the car in all four restrictor plate races while Rookie of the Year candidate Jeffery Earnhardt will run as many of the remaining Sprint Cup races as possible with sponsorship from Daytona Duel title sponsor Can-Am. Jeffery is the grandson of NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt and Ford Racing fans are sure to be excited about having an Earnhardt behind the wheel of a Fusion in 2016.

It promises to be a great year, Look to the Lasco Press for continuing coverage of the entire NASCAR season from the perspective of Ford drivers and owners. We hope to provide a unique viewpoint into some of the series most popular cars, teams and drivers.