It’s a time-honored tradition in NASCAR racing for competitors to have family members as guests at a team’s home track. It’s only fitting that as the No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane team competes this weekend at the sponsor’s home track, Michigan International Speedway, the iconic No. 21 Mustang will carry the names of 163 individuals who achieved their 20-Year Senior Master Technician status in 2020.
Having established the Senior Master Technician Program in 1999, Ford honored the first class to reach the 20-year milestone at the 2019 MIS race. Ford Senior Master Technicians are experts in engines, drivetrains and chassis. Each year, senior master technicians take part in new required training to improve upon their expertise.
Working together with Ford is a big part of the history and heritage of Wood Brothers Racing, which has fielded Ford vehicles exclusively throughout their 71 years in the sport.
For the past 21 years, the team has been sponsored by Ford’s Motorcraft division. Over those years, the No. 21 team has worked with Ford to help attract and retain highly skilled individuals that are needed for the automotive technician field.
New Ford Tech is an avenue for high school and technical college students to pursue a career as an automotive technician. Multiple programs, including Ford’s Automotive Student Service Educational Training (ASSET), partner with colleges across the country for education and job placement upon graduation. Learn more at newfordtech.com. Some of Ford’s 20-Year Senior Master Technicians being honored this week began their careers in the ASSET program.
Eddie Wood said years of turning wrenches on the family race cars have given him and his family a special appreciation for those members of the Ford family who service passenger cars.
“Recognizing these incredibly skilled and loyal technicians was a great honor back in 2019,” Wood said. “We are glad to be able to do this again this year, because these are the men and women who keep our cars safely on the road every day.”
Matt DiBenedetto said he and the entire Motorcraft/Quick Lane team are working hard to make it a special weekend for their fellow members of the Blue Oval team.
He said he and spotter Doug Campbell are hoping to capitalize on restarts, as they did at MIS last year en route to finishes of 15th and seventh in the two Cup races there.
“Doug and I study really hard for this one and treat it like a superspeedway as far as being prepared for restarts,” DiBenedetto said. “That’s a big key to success for the race.”
He also said the team is hoping to build on its recent string of strong finishes. His fifth-place finish on Sunday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway was the team’s fifth finish of 11th or better in the past five races.
“Our Motorcraft/Quick Lane team has really been clicking so well,” he said. “My crew chief Jonathan Hassler and the whole team have been doing an excellent job.”
“Hopefully we win one of these things. That’s the main goal.”
There will be no practice or qualifying prior to the start of Sunday’s FireKeepers Casino 400, which is set to get the green flag just after 3 p.m. Eastern Time.
NBCSN will carry the TV broadcast, and there will be Stage breaks at Laps 60 and 120.
About Motorcraft:
Motorcraft offers a complete line of replacement parts that are recommended by Ford Motor Company. From routine maintenance to underhood repairs, Motorcraft parts offer value with high quality and the right fit at competitive prices. Motorcraft parts are available nationwide at Ford and Lincoln Dealers, independent distributors and automotive parts retailers, and are backed by the Service Parts Limited Warranty of Ford Motor Company. For more information, visit www.motorcraft.com.
About Omnicraft:
Omnicraft is part of the Ford lineup of parts brands: Ford Parts, Motorcraft and Omnicraft. Omnicraft is the exclusive non-Ford/Lincoln parts brand of premium aftermarket parts. With over a century of parts heritage to build upon, Omnicraft provides excellent quality and fit and is a preferred choice of professional automotive technicians. To find out more about Omnicraft, visit www.omnicraftautoparts.com or contact your local Ford or Lincoln Dealership.
About Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center
Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center offers extraordinary service for routine vehicle maintenance including tire repair and replacement with a Low Tire Price Guarantee and a full menu of automotive services including oil and filter, brakes, alignments, batteries, and shocks and struts on all vehicle makes and models. Service is performed by certified technicians at more than 1,000 locations worldwide while you wait, and no appointment is necessary. For more information about Quick Lane, please visit www.quicklane.com.
About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is a global company based in Dearborn, Michigan. The company designs, manufactures, markets and services a full line of Ford cars, trucks, SUVs, electrified vehicles and Lincoln luxury vehicles, provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company and is pursuing leadership positions in electrification, autonomous vehicles and mobility solutions. Ford employs approximately 200,000 people worldwide. For more information regarding Ford, its products and Ford Motor Credit Company, please visit www.corporate.ford.com.
Wood Brothers Racing
Wood Brothers Racing was formed in 1950 in Stuart, Va., by Hall of Famer Glen Wood. Wood Brothers Racing is the oldest active team and one of the winningest teams in NASCAR history. Since its founding, the team won 99 races (including at least one race in every decade for the last seven decades) and 120 poles in NASCAR’s top-tier series. Fielding only Ford products for its entire history, the Wood Brothers own the longest association of any motorsports team with a single manufacturer. Glen’s brother, Leonard, is known for inventing the modern pit stop. The team currently runs the Ford Mustang driven by Matt DiBenedetto in the famous No. 21 racer.
