NASCAR’s roots may extend back to the days of bootleggers speeding away from law enforcement, but that effort from the pioneers of stock car racing unearthed a growing spirit of competition that sent ripple effects throughout the automobile industry, and thus, motorsports.
Healthy competition has long been an integral component of several aspects of advancements in society, from the economy, to brand promotion, to taste and luxury, and even who the fastest kid on the school playground is.
The unraveling stages of competitiveness spilled over into the automotive industry as manufacturing innovation began to blossom across the market. And as soon as gearheads began fancying what alterations they could make to squeeze in a little more horsepower in their “toys,” those auto companies took advantage through upstart series like NASCAR in the 1950s, seeking to outdo one another concerning car design.
That led to some of the most iconic rivalries in the American market, involving brands such as Chevrolet, Ford, Dodge, Plymouth, Oldsmobile and just about any American car maker you could name. While only some of those companies still exist today, the rivalry between Ford and Chevrolet has blazed on throughout the decades.
In the 1950s, drivers such as Curtis Turner, Joe Weatherly and Buck Baker were stars for Ford Motor Company, which has had a presence in the sport since its founding. Turner and Weatherly both approached the Dearborn, Mich.-based company to advocate for Ford to support Wood Brothers Racing in its racing operations.
Ford listened, and the two sides joined forces in the mid-’50s, leading to one of the most tight-knit partnerships in motorsports history, one that still stands today as the longest-running team-manufacturer relationship in the sport as the team celebrates its 75th anniversary in NASCAR.
“We’ve always been loyal [to Ford],” WBR co-founder Leonard Wood told Frontstretch. “That’s all we’ve ever run, is Ford products. Ford was out of racing there for a little while, and we got offers to go to another brand, but I never did want to, and we never did. I’ve always preferred the Ford brand. I’m not opposed to [other manufacturers], people can drive whatever they want. I have friends from all kinds of different model cars that people drive, but I prefer the Ford brand myself.”
That brief absence Wood alluded to references Ford’s dispute with NASCAR in 1966, leading to a boycott that spring and summer. The dispute circulated around Ford’s 427 SOHC engine, a response to Chrysler’s Hemi Cammer 427 that kept them afloat. NASCAR initially banned Ford’s engine, then allowed it with a weight requirement, leading to Ford’s brief departure.
How did the team navigate those uncharted waters? Through its exceptional quality that the group never ran short of: innovation.
“We built that little, red modified back there,” Wood said, pointing to a modified No. 21 that is on display at the team’s museum in Stuart, Va. “I took a ’66 Ford frame, laid it in the floor, narrowed it and shortened it to fit a ’37 Ford body on top of it. First of all, it had coil springs in the front and leaf springs in the back. The coil springs all the way around, but then I ended up putting leaf springs in the back and a straight axle in the front.”
The ingenious creation didn’t starve for speed either, as Wood recalls Donnie Allison holding off newly-inducted NASCAR Hall-of-Famer Ray Hendrick in a modified race, continuing its winning tradition.
The Wood Brothers’ loyalty to Ford, as well as that sustained partnership, circles back to the core of what has allowed the team to reach the pinnacle of success while maintaining a admirable level of respect throughout the garage: relationships.
“If I picked one single person and relationship that had nothing but positive implications, it would be the friendship that my dad [Eddie Wood] and Edsel Ford [II] have,” WBR co-owner and president Jon Wood said. “That one came about in total happenstance. They have a lot in common, they have a lot not in common. They came from two completely different backgrounds and worlds, but when they’re together, you’d never know it.”
“I think because of that, Edsel had a lot of positive influence in the direction of our team. Not only did he help us, but he helped with guidance as well and helping my dad make positive decisions that affected us more-so down the road than in the immediate. That one friendship probably, in the current era we’re in today, would be why we’re here today.”
Ford II, the great-grandson of the company’s founder, Henry Ford, has always considered the Wood Brothers family, and both sides have been interdependent on one another through thick and thin.
“They’ve been there in good times. They’ve been there in bad times,” Ford II said in an article by Autoweek. “They’re a part of the fabric of our company, especially when it comes to NASCAR. Since they are a part of the fabric of our company, I can’t imagine them not being there. They’re always around when we need them.”
Both sides can point to those periods where the other’s support was critical — “life-saving,” even. In addition to the 1966 drama, Ford briefly pulled out of NASCAR in 1971 due to a new corporate strategy to slash costs. By pulling factory support, they hoped to encourage more independent teams to run off Ford parts at a lower cost while being funded by sponsors. However, most companies didn’t have the leverage to foot what would be at least a $150,000 bill.
The consequences included the demise of two-time championship-winning powerhouse Holman-Moody Racing, a three-year hiatus for Junior Johnson (who returned in 1974 with Chevrolet) and the departure of WBR’s star driver, Cale Yarborough, who left for USAC. The Wood Brothers only entered 15 races that season. Yet the team remained loyal to the Blue Oval during that crisis.
In its early years, the Wood Brothers were called upon by Ford to test parts and set-ups, as well as find ways to save time in the pits, leading to the invention of the modern-day pit stop. The team’s pit choreography paved the way for them to be invited by Ford to pit Jim Clark‘s 1965 Indianapolis 500 car, a race Clark went on to win.
As the sport transitioned into the 21st century, it was Ford’s time to return the favor. After nearly two decades of sponsoring WBR, Citgo left the team following the 2000 season. To make matters worse, the team was enduring an eight-year winless drought and hadn’t finished in the top 10 in points since 1994.
That’s when Ford stepped up to the plate.
“We were in another one of those crisis points,” Jon Wood said. “We had lost our Citgo sponsorship and were left without anything, and I wasn’t old enough to know what was going on at that point in time, but we ended up with the Motorcraft deal in 2001.”
Motorcraft is a parts, accessory and fluid company that was launched by Ford in 1972. The brand signed on to support WBR and Elliott Sadler, leading to a turning point for the team.
“Elliott Sadler goes out there and wins Bristol [Motor Speedway], and that was our first win with them in our first season, and it’s just been good ever since,” Jon Wood said. “A lot of people come and go within that company, but most everyone that we’ve worked with has come to appreciate us not only as people, but someone to work with, in a professional sense, and we’re still chugging along.”
The partnership is one of the longest-running sponsor/team pairings among active organizations, and Motorcraft has become synonymous with the red-and-white scheme, accompanied by the gold No. 21, that has been solidified as one of the most iconic schemes in racing. The sponsor has ridden along for five of the team’s 101 wins, including the 2011 Daytona 500 upset with Trevor Bayne.
“The Wood Brothers aren’t just another race team to us; they’re family,” said Chris Wallace, the U.S. product category sales director of the Ford Customer Service Division. “Their history with Ford goes back more than 70 years, and they’ve been a huge part of our brand story in NASCAR. Since Motorcraft became their primary sponsor in 2001, we’ve built a relationship that’s about more than just logos on a car. It’s about shared passion, tradition, and a commitment to performance.”
Both the Wood Brothers and Ford/Motorcraft’s shared passion and vision for motorsports has fueled a partnership that is tighter than the strongest glue. And for the brand, that loyalty is what stands out above all qualities.
“It really comes down to trust, loyalty, and a shared love of racing,” Wallace said. “A lot has changed in NASCAR over the years. There are new rules, new technology, and new ways of doing things, but through it all, our relationship with the Wood Brothers has stayed rock solid. That’s pretty rare in this sport.
“What makes it work is that we’re in it for the right reasons. The Wood Brothers represent everything we love about racing—history, innovation, and the drive to win. We’ve given them the support they need, and they’ve continued to show up and compete at the highest level. It’s been a true partnership.”
Manufacturer loyalty among NASCAR’s fan base has been reserved to a shadow of what it was at the height of manufacturer wars. Much of that can be attributed to technology advancements in the auto industry, the auto economy, and the fact that the cars are only stock in name anymore.
Yet, the respect and bond between Ford and the Wood Brothers gives glimpses of that old-school rivalry and loyalty that once defined much of what transpired in the sport.
Just like the history of the team itself, it is a partnership that is as beautiful of a tale as old as time.
Entering his fifth year with Frontstretch, Luken Glover is the author of The Underdog House, shedding light on the motivation and performance of NASCAR's dark horse teams as they strive to fight to the top. Additionally, Glover reports for the site at various events, and he contributes in the video editing department.
A 2023 graduate of the University of the Cumberlands, Glover is a middle school math and PE teacher, as well as a basketball coach. He is passionate about serving in his church, playing/coaching a wide variety of sports, and researching motorsports history.