Ford Motor Co. extends partnership with Homestead-Miami Speedway
Ford Motor Co. and Homestead-Miami Speedway announced today that the automaker has signed a five-year contract extension with an option for an additional five years to remain the track's official entitlement sponsor.
Ford has held that position with the track since 2002, and this year the NASCAR campaign concludes Nov. 14-16 at the South Florida facility, with season-ending races in all three of the sanctioning body's national touring series.
NASCAR renews its sanctions with each track on a year-to-year basis. Homestead has hosted the final race weekend every year since 2002, but re-signing its entitlement sponsor does not automatically guarantee that the track will keep the same spot on the schedule in the future. But track officials believe the date will remain.
"We've spent the better part of a year renegotiating this extension and we would not have expended the time and energy that we did had we thought there was any chance that the championship could be leaving Miami in the near future," said Homestead-Miami Speedway president Matthew Becherer. "Now having said that, obviously there are a number of stakeholders that would have to weigh in to a decision of that magnitude. The loudest voice in that conversation is NASCAR's, but the reality is we would not have gone down the path we did if we thought there was a chance that it would leave."
"It's a whole weekend and not just one race, but with the Chase format the way it's now lined up this really sets up for an outstanding and exciting weekend for our fans and of course all NASCAR fans around the world," said Ford executive vice president and president of the Americas Joseph Hinrichs. "We're also really thankful for the partnership that we have. We think the Homestead-Miami team does a great job working with us with our activation on the midway, but also just to make the whole weekend a special event."
The deal was announced Sunday morning at Michigan International Speedway.
"Ford Motor Co.'s agreement with Homestead-Miami Speedway is a five-year deal with an option to renew for an additional five years. Other details were not disclosed," the parties said in a news release.
