More than 50 years after Glen Wood and his 1958 Ford Fairlane No. 21 tried out the pavement on the then-new Daytona International Speedway, the No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Fusion with Trevor Bayne behind the wheel will test the brand new asphalt on the historic track.
Bayne and the Wood Brothers are among 18 drivers and teams that are set to participate in a Goodyear tire test on Dec. 15-16.
This week’s test is the first time that race cars have run at speed on the track since the track was repaved for just the second time ever.
Team co-owner Eddie Wood said he’s particularly proud that his team is among the participants.
“Anything that’s brand new is exciting,” he said. “And it’s special for us because our dad drove on the new asphalt in 1959, when the track was built, and here we are all these years later running at Daytona with a 2011 Ford Fusion and the same number 21.”
Wood also said he and his team are looking forward to working with Bayne as he adjusts to driving a Sprint Cup car on Daytona’s high banks. Bayne’s only previous experience at the Cup level came at Texas Motor Speedway in November when he finished an impressive 17th in the Wood Brothers’ Ford Fusion.
“This will be a good chance for us to work together with Trevor and get to know each other better,” Wood said.
The Wood Brothers and the No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Fusion will make their official return to the track in February with the 53rd running of the Daytona 500.
