Mike Ford (NASCAR crew chief)
Encyclopedia
Mike Ford is the NASCAR
Sprint Cup crew chief for the #11 FedEx
Toyota Camry
driven by Denny Hamlin
. The car is owned by J. D. Gibbs and operated by Joe Gibbs Racing
. Ford was born in Morristown, Tennessee
.
, and scored victories in the Brickyard 400 in 1996 and 1999. The team won a total of 18 races during the four-year period.
In 2000, he worked as crew chief in the last year of Elliott’s tenure as an owner/driver. From 2001-2003, Ford worked as crew chief for Bill Elliott
at Evernham Motorsports
and won four races, including the 2002 Brickyard 400.
Prior to working on the No. 11 car, Ford was crew chief for Dale Jarrett
at Robert Yates Racing during the entire 2004 season and 11 races in 2005 season. Ford hired Russ Salerno as his Pit Crew Coach in 2004 to help with pit crew performance. Ford lead Jarrett to a victory in the 2004 Bud Shootout at Daytona International Speedway
.
with his wife, Robin, and their two children Alec and Austin.
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Sprint Cup crew chief for the #11 FedEx
FedEx
FedEx Corporation , originally known as FDX Corporation, is a logistics services company, based in the United States with headquarters in Memphis, Tennessee...
Toyota Camry
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a series of mid-size automobiles manufactured by Toyota since 1982, and sold in the majority of automotive markets throughout the world...
driven by Denny Hamlin
Denny Hamlin
James Dennis Alan "Denny" Hamlin is an American race car driver. Though originally born in Tampa, Florida, Hamlin was raised for most of his life in Chesterfield, Virginia. After racing in go-karts for a number of years, he worked his way up to Late Models by 2004 and signed a development contract...
. The car is owned by J. D. Gibbs and operated by Joe Gibbs Racing
Joe Gibbs Racing
Joe Gibbs Racing is a group of NASCAR racing teams owned and operated by former Washington Redskins coach Joe Gibbs, who first started racing on the NASCAR circuit in 1991, and J. D. Gibbs, his son...
. Ford was born in Morristown, Tennessee
Morristown, Tennessee
Morristown is a city in, and the county seat of, Hamblen County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 29,137 at the 2010 United States Census. It is the principal city of the Morristown, Tennessee Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Grainger, Hamblen and Jefferson counties...
.
Early career
Ford's racing career began in the late 1980s when he worked at SABCO Racing under the direction of Gary Nelson, who now works as NASCAR's vice president of research and development. Ford’s duties included a little bit of everything, including suspension work and car set-up.NASCAR Sprint Cup
Before joining Elliott’s team, Ford worked as a mechanic and jackman with Jarrett and Yates from 1996-99. During that time, Jarrett never finished lower than third in points, won the 1999 Winston Cup championship, the 1996 Daytona 500Daytona 500
The Daytona 500 is a -long NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held annually at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is one of four restrictor plate races on the Cup schedule....
, and scored victories in the Brickyard 400 in 1996 and 1999. The team won a total of 18 races during the four-year period.
In 2000, he worked as crew chief in the last year of Elliott’s tenure as an owner/driver. From 2001-2003, Ford worked as crew chief for Bill Elliott
Bill Elliott
William Clyde "Bill" Elliott , also known as Awesome Bill from Dawsonville or Million Dollar Bill, is a part-time driver and former champion of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Elliott was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America on August 15, 2007. He won the 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup...
at Evernham Motorsports
Evernham Motorsports
Richard Petty Motorsports is a two-car NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race team owned by seven-time NASCAR champion Richard Petty, Douglas G. Bergeron and financial company Medallion Financial. The team was founded as Evernham Motorsports in 2000, was renamed Gillett Evernham Motorsports in 2007 after...
and won four races, including the 2002 Brickyard 400.
Prior to working on the No. 11 car, Ford was crew chief for Dale Jarrett
Dale Jarrett
Dale Arnold Jarrett is a former American race car driver and current sports commentator known for winning the 1999 NASCAR Winston Cup Series championship...
at Robert Yates Racing during the entire 2004 season and 11 races in 2005 season. Ford hired Russ Salerno as his Pit Crew Coach in 2004 to help with pit crew performance. Ford lead Jarrett to a victory in the 2004 Bud Shootout at Daytona International Speedway
Daytona International Speedway
Daytona International Speedway is a race track in Daytona Beach, Florida, United States. Since opening in 1959, it has been the home of the Daytona 500, one of the most prestigious races in NASCAR. In addition to NASCAR, the track also hosts races of ARCA, AMA Superbike, Grand-Am and Motocross...
.
Personal life
Ford resides in Stanley, North CarolinaStanley, North Carolina
Stanley is a town in Gaston County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 3,053 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Stanley is located at ....
with his wife, Robin, and their two children Alec and Austin.