Drivers’ Visit Leaves Ford Employees Feeling Like Champions

A mechanical issue with a plane couldn’t stop Ford’s latest group of racing champions from joining more than 20 Ford team members to celebrate their feats. NASCAR Cup Series Champion Joey Logano, NASCAR Truck Series Champion Ty Majeski, and Formula Drift Champion James Deane visited Ford’s World Headquarters for an intimate breakfast gathering and Q&A before departing for a tour of Ford facilities for the remainder of the day. 

The trio’s visit also included an up-close look at the new Mustang GTD and walk-around hosted by Ford President and CEO Jim Farley after a visit to the newly restored Michigan Central Station in Detroit. Majeski and Deane also had the opportunity to visit employees at Dearborn Truck Plant, one of the locations where the Ford F-150 is produced, while Logano visited the Bill Brown Ford Dealership in the Detroit area. 

The breakfast gathering was hosted by former longtime Ford Motor Company Board member Edsel B. Ford II, globally recognized as “the Godfather of Ford Racing.” Ford Performance Motorsports Global Director Mark Rushbrook, Ford Performance General Manager William Clay “Will” Ford III, and Ford Performance driver and RTR team owner Vaughn Gittin Jr. were also in attendance, as were members of the drivers’ teams, including crew chiefs and owners.

Winning the lottery

Tennille Taraszkiewicz, who works in truck program management, is a big NASCAR fan and took great pride in the company’s third consecutive Cup Series championship in 2024. Taraszkiewicz said she felt like a lottery winner by being selected to attend the event. She said Ford’s success in motorsports is a positive reflection on the company as a whole.

Autumn Schwalbe, a planning strategist for Ford Performance Parts, was grateful for the opportunity to meet the drivers, get their autographs, and connect with some of her colleagues. 

“This opportunity is so unforgettable,” said Schwalbe, who won an autographed Ford Performance flag, which was one of several raffle items awarded at the event. “It’s so awesome that Ford is allowing myself and other colleagues to be here. It’s just [a] really, really one-of-a-kind opportunity that I’ll never forget.”

Schwalbe said winning on the track shows Ford employees a direct connection to our production vehicles.

“For them to go out and win these championships for our company, for our group, it just shows (employees) that they are a part of the team as well,” she said.

Committed to Mustang

Flat Rock Assembly Plant Supply Chain Team Manager Mike Iott, a passionate Mustang enthusiast, was joined by Jeff Barnes, an engineering team manager in the plant’s Body Shop. Iott said Ford’s commitment to motorsports is reflected in the production of the Mustang. 

“Ford’s commitment to keeping Mustang relevant means a lot, especially to the people at Flat Rock who are building the car,” he said.