Motorsports Hall of Fame recognizes Edsel B. Ford II

The Motorsport Hall of Fame of America has recognized Edsel B. Ford II with the Bob Russo Heritage Award at its 2024 induction ceremony.

The award named for a motorsports journalist is the Daytona, Florida-based organization's highest honor next to induction in recognition of the recipient's contributions to motorsports. Ford, a great-grandson of Henry Ford and cousin of Ford Motor Co. Executive Chairman Bill Ford Jr., is known as the "godfather" of Ford Motor Co.'s racing efforts, according to a Ford news release.

“Outside of my family, the sport of motor racing has been one of the great passions of my life and to be honored by the MSHFA in this way is humbling,” Ford said in a statement. “I have said many times that the sport produces such amazing people and personalities, and it’s been my honor to have been around so many of the people who have been inducted into this Hall of Fame, and, better yet, to consider so many of them my friends.”

In a statement, Ford CEO Jim Farley said Edsel Ford II has been the "architect and chief supporter of Ford Performance Motorsports."

Ford witnessed his first race when he was 17 year old with his father, Henry Ford II. It was the 1-2-3 finish by Ford GT40s at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1966, and he was there again when the Ford GT won Le Mans 50 years later. Ford spent a summer travelling the SCCA Trans Am circuit with the Bud Moore Engineering race team and another cleaning transmission parts for Carroll Shelby’s race team.

Ford is the owner and chairman of Pentastar Aviation in Waterford. He previously sat on the Dearborn automaker's board of directors for 33 years and held roles starting in 1974 in product planning, marketing and sales, including as president of Ford in Australia, where he kicked off Roush Racing sports car efforts with Capri, Merkur XR4Ti and Cougar.

As president and chief operation officer for Ford Motor Credit starting in 1991, he helped bring Ford Quality Care and Ford Credit brands to NASCAR. He also helped bring Robert Yates and Jack Roush together to form Roush Yates Engines.

bnoble@detroitnews.com

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