RELATED: Results | Post-Michigan standings | Chase Grid | Day in photos
With each race it hosts in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Michigan International Speedway offers extra incentives to the three manufacturers, given the track’s proximity to the automaker hub of Detroit. With Joey Logano‘s victory Sunday, Ford earned bragging rights and savored multiple historic milestones as a bonus.
Ford took home the track’s Heritage Trophy thanks to Logano’s first Sprint Cup victory of the season in the Team Penske No. 22 Ford. His triumph in the FireKeepers Casino 400 marked the 50th win for team owner Roger Penske during his association with Ford. In fact, 23 of Penske’s 50 wins have come since 2013 — a nod to the dynamic duo that is Logano and teammate Brad Keselowski.
Walt Czarnecki — vice chairman of Team Penske, which is celebrating its 50th year in motorsports — said he spoke by phone in Victory Lane with the organization’s founder, who was watching his IndyCar operation participate in a rain-delayed event at Texas Motor Speedway.
“MIS has such a special meaning and such a special place in the history of our company,” Czarnecki said, “so to win here, it means a lot, and (Penske) was pretty excited, and in fact I told him, I really think the performance today was flawless by the team, and he absolutely agreed.”
The race also resulted in the 100th premier-series win for Roush Yates Engines, the engine-building powerhouse formed after the 2003 season with deep-rooted ties to Ford.
“The win here in Michigan, to make these guys proud of what we do, is something that really means a lot to us,” said Doug Yates, the chief engine builder and son of NASCAR Hall of Fame nominee Robert Yates. “We take a lot of pride in that, and it’s something that is really, really special. As you can tell, I’m pretty emotional and pretty excited about it, and I’m sure my dad and I will go over it. But Ford Motor Company has been a huge part of his career and my career, and we want to keep it going for a long time for now.”
Logano led 138 of the 200 laps in Sunday’s 400-mile race. Of his 15 career victories in the Sprint Cup Series, 13 have come in Team Penske Fords with Roush Yates Engines since the 2013 season.
“This is where I got — (crew chief) Todd (Gordon) and I got our first Cup win together with Team Penske, so it’s been a special place for us,” Logano said. “It’s been a good race track for us ever since then, but it’s nice to be able to break through once again.”
Ford has registered 642 victories all-time in NASCAR’s premier series. Of those wins, 74 have come with the Fusion, which became the manufacturer’s model of choice for NASCAR in 2006.