Henry Ford’s ‘Sweepstakes’ to Mustang GTD: Relive the Moments That Built Ford Racing’s Legacy

Throughout the past 122 years, Ford Motor Company has been one of the world’s leaders in motorsports, with its first victory coming nearly 125 years ago in an unexpected triumph by company founder Henry Ford. With the anniversary of that fateful win upon us, we’re taking a look back at some of the most significant moments in Ford Racing history. 

1901: Henry vs. Goliath and the founding of Ford Motor Company 

The biggest win in Ford Motor Company history actually happened before the company’s formation, taking place on a dirt horse track near Detroit on Oct. 10, 1901. 

For his effort, Henry Ford, then just 38 and undeterred by a failed first attempt at starting an auto company, earned the financial backing to start what would become Ford Motor Company as a result of his upset victory. 

Ford won the 10-mile event with his 26-horsepower car – nearly 50 horsepower less than the favored race car driven by Alexander Winton. Called “Sweepstakes,” the car was purchased and restored, and replicas were created for demonstrations, as part of Ford’s racing centennial celebration in 2001.

1909: Model T Wins transcontinental clash 

Before the Model T put the world on wheels, Ford’s transformational universal car made the three-week trek across the U.S. on the nation’s primitive early roads to claim the first American Transcontinental Race. 

Although Henry Ford was not at the wheel, two Model Ts reached Seattle on June 23, 1909, after making the more than 4,000-mile voyage from New York. Like the Sweepstakes victory, the Ford entries in the transcontinental clash bested a field that included much higher-horsepower entries.

1963: Tiny comes up big for Ford at Daytona 

Fast-forwarding through history, the 1960s were filled with landmark victories for Ford Racing. The first came in 1963, when Tiny Lund, a replacement driver, took Ford’s first victory in NASCAR’s Daytona 500. Lund drove the Wood Brothers’ Ford Galaxie to victory lane, leading to a top five sweep for Ford, which went on to win three more Daytona 500s in 1965, 1967, and 1969. 

1964: Mustang roars Tour de France Rallye Victory 

Mustang’s history in motorsports can be traced back to its 1964 debut in the eight-race, 10-day, 3,500-mile Tour de France, an event which had previously been dominated by Jaguar. The Alan Mann-racing prepared Mustangs took a 1-2 finish in the touring class – which would have been a clean sweep if not for the disqualification of a third Mustang entry. The win helped establish Mustang’s legacy of success in motorsports that continues today.

1965: Ford’s first Indy 500 win changes the sport forever  

Ford’s first Indianapolis 500 win, which came as an engine builder, ended up transforming the sport in the process. Jim Clark’s rear-engined Lotus-Ford was the first such car to win at the Brickyard, turning in a record speed of 150.685 mph. The Lotus-Ford married a Formula 1-inspired lightweight chassis with a large Ford V8 engine, which other Indy racers soon modeled their cars after. 

1966: Ford breaks through at Le Mans 

Ford had set its sights on Ferrari and the 24 Hours of Le Mans after being spurned in a failed acquisition bid early in the decade. After a couple of developmental entries, 1966 proved to be Ford’s year. Bruce McLaren and Chris Amon led a podium sweep in the first of four straight wins for the GT40 at the famed endurance race, with the 1966 victory marking the first for an American-built car. The saga inspired the 2019 film “Ford v Ferrari.” Earlier this year, Ford announced it would renew this challenge with its own in-house developed and operated Ford Racing Hypercar program. The return to the highest level of endurance sports car racing, the FIA World Endurance Championship and the 24 Hours of Le Mans, will take place in 2027. 

1967: Ford Cosworth DFV engine becomes one of F1’s best

Ford has not competed in Formula 1 racing for more than 20 years, but the company returns as powerplant partner to perennial championship favorite Oracle Red Bull Racing in 2026. Despite the two-decade absence, Ford remains one of the sport’s most successful engine manufacturers thanks to the Ford Cosworth DFV engine. Its first of 155 F1 wins, including drivers’ and manufacturers’ championships, came at the Dutch Grand Prix in 1967. Legendary drivers, including Jim Clark, Mario Andretti, Emerson Fittipaldi, and Jackie Stewart, drove DFV-powered cars to World Championships before the engine was replaced in 1983.

1969: Bronco goes wild at Baja

Just a couple years after its introduction, Larry Minor and Rod Hall took a Bill Stroppe-prepared Bronco to class and overall victories at the Baja 1000, becoming the first stock 4x4 to take an outright win there and helping establish Ford’s off-road racing roots. Indy 500 winner Parnelli Jones drove a modified 1970 Bronco known as “Big Oly” to victory in the Mexican 1000 race in 1971 and 1972. Today, Ford Raptor takes on off-road challenges around the globe including the Baja 1000 and Dakar. 

2016: Ford GT wins in return to Le Mans 

Ford’s first win at Le Mans was historic, and its 2016 repeat was another feat for the company. The latest iteration of the Ford GT was reincarnated with a 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine capable of producing more than 600 horsepower. Four Ford Chip Ganassi Racing Ford GTs started the race with the No. 68 GT in the pole position. Ford took the win in the GTE-Pro class, as well as a third-place finish, on the 50th anniversary of the famous 1-2-3 finish. 

2025: Mustang GTD makes mark at ‘The ‘Ring’ 

The Mustang GTD recently became the first vehicle from an American manufacturer to record a sub-seven-minute lap at the famed Nürburgring Nordschleife, one of the world’s most challenging courses. Created to be the most advanced and most audacious Mustang ever, Mustang GTD earned Ford a place among the world’s best. 

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