Ford racing fans rally behind a clever acronym: First On Race Day. The Blue Oval’s racing heritage spans short tracks and drag strips alike, and soon, it will take to the open wheel scene thanks to its new Formula One partnership with Red Bull Racing. Mark Rushbrook, head of Ford Performance, recently sat down to explain what motivates the automaker to hit the track every week.
Ford Performance competes in all manner of motorsport, and Rushbrook said that racing serves three purposes. First, of course, it’s good for the brand.
“Take our entrance into F1,” Rushbrook said. “Our collaboration with Oracle Red Bull Racing and Visa CashApp Racing Bulls from 2026 will showcase our leadership in technical innovation to an audience of over 1 billion F1 followers.”
It’s also good for business. Rushbrook touted the Ford Mustang Dark Horse R, which gives customers a relatively accessible springboard to help launch their own racing endeavors. After starting with the Dark Horse R, prospective racers can jump to the likes of the Mustang GT3 and Mustang GT4, both of which have been making waves in international sportscar racing.
Finally, Ford Performance racing helps the automaker gather data and information that can then be applied to its roadgoing line. For example, “ultra-tough” competition like the FIA World Endurance Championship and even the Baja 1000 help engineers innovate. After all, if vehicle tech can withstand the demanding conditions of motorsports, it can surely perform on the street, too.
“Whatever the theater, we’re there to show the world what Ford can do when there’s a challenge to be tackled, and we’re enormously proud of what we’ve achieved,” Rushbrook said. “Yet, despite being so varied, our Ford Performance programs are chosen carefully. Strategy is at the heart of any successful racing campaign, and we’re equally strategic about how and why we race.”
In short, Ford Performance does race just for the sake of racing, but it’s also a way for the automaker to prove itself in front of a global audience.
It has remained with the original owner's family since new, too.
Another nicely kept example of the newer Ranger.
The '26 Escort is still not happening.
It's always the ones you least expect.
