New Ford Focus becomes NASCAR pace car

From the half-mile bullrings to the thrusting amphitheatres of Talladega and Daytona, NASCAR has never been a sport personified by economy or practicality. Over the years, this has been reinforced by the sport’s pace cars. Trans-Ams, SSR pick-ups, Corvettes, Camaros, even the Batmobile; proud US muscle with the economic relevance of an Airbus A380.

As a result, it came as something of a shock that Ford was going to use a new Mark III Focus as the Pace Car for June 19th’s ‘Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips 400’ at Michigan’s International Speedway.

With NASCAR being the self-proclaimed ‘most popular spectator sport in the world’ – with over twelve and a half million US households tuning in for the biggest races – the Focus’ appearance at the front of the top-line Sprint Cup pack will provide unparalleled publicity for the car, especially as most of these households are lower-middle to middle class; a key market for the $18,000-plus car.

Furthermore, Ford makes much of the fact that the Focus could comfortably finish the 200-lap race on one tank of fuel, with the capability of doing 48 further laps before running dry, due to the car’s 40 miles-per-USgallon fuel economy rating.

Jamie Allison, director of Ford Racing, claimed that the company ‘was using this race to promote another one of our fun-to-drive, fuel-efficient vehicles’ whilst Ford’s president of the Americas and the Focus’ driver, Mark Fields, said that ‘Bringing the 43-car field to the green flag will be an honour, but the real highlight of my day will be showing… the country how much fun the new Focus is to drive.’

And if that weren’t enough, Ford has set up an online sweepstake that will see no fewer than 40 entrants win a new Focus should Ford Racing drivers claim victory in the NASCAR Sprint Cup, NHRA Funny Car championships and the World Rally Championship. Register now for a chance to win at www.Ford40MPG.com.