NASCAR Ford EcoBoost 400 Trophy Honors Henry Ford
The winner of this Sunday’s Ford EcoBoost 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Homestead-Miami Speedway will be taking home a trophy, but in this case, the new trophy represents a unique part of Ford Racing history. The NASCAR Ford EcoBoost 400 Trophy Honors Henry Ford, with a replica of the steering wheel found on his own racer, known as “Sweepstakes.”
Homestead-Miami Speedway and Ford Racing collaborated on a special race winner’s trophy unlike any other in the sport, which is a first. This is the final race in the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup season, and in addition to one racer winning the new trophy, a champion in the series will also be crowned. This is the first year for NASCAR’s new chase format, and four drivers, Joey Logano, Kevin Harvick, Ryan Newman and Denny Hamlin all have a shot at the title
According to Ford, The trophy is topped with an exact replica of the steering wheel of Henry Ford’s first race car—the 1901 Sweepstakes racer—currently on display at Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan. For enthusiasts know that Henry Ford actually raced Sweepstakes in his one and only race on October 10, 1901, where he scored an upset victory that helped attract the investors who ultimately helped him start Ford Motor Company in June, 1903.
“We’re pleased that the winner of the Ford EcoBoost 400 will get such a unique trophy,” said Edsel B. Ford II, a member of the Ford board of directors and great-grandson of Henry Ford. “The steering wheel visually represents the start of the Ford Racing program 113 years ago, and the winner of it will need to do the same thing great-grandfather did that day – defeat the best drivers in America.”
The trophy also features a unique plaque with an engraving of Henry Ford and his riding mechanic, Spider Huff, replicating them racing in 1901.
