Ford Named Featured Marque for 2026 HSR Classic Daytona 24
Get ready for a double dose of history at Daytona International Speedway. Officials from Historic Sportscar Racing (HSR) and Ford Racing have just announced that Ford will be the Featured Marque for the 12th running of the HSR Daytona Classic 24 Hour, presented by Mission Foods. Mark your calendars for November 11-15, 2026, because this celebration won’t be one you’ll want to miss.
The HSR Classic Daytona 24 Hour is more than just a race. It’s an annual rolling museum, a tribute to the legendary Rolex 24 at Daytona, which began in 2014. It’s where the ghosts of racing past come alive, and in 2026, the spirit of Ford will be leading the charge.
This honor celebrates some truly monumental moments in the Blue Oval’s storied past. It’s a chance to look back at the grit, the innovation, and the sheer will to win that have defined Ford for over a century.
Celebrating 125 Years of Ford’s Racing Dominance
While the 60th anniversary of that monumental 1966 win is a big deal, 2026 marks something even more profound. The HSR event will be the centerpiece of Ford’s celebration of its 125th anniversary of its very first race win. Picture this: October 1901. A young, determined Henry Ford climbs into a machine he built himself, the “Sweepstakes” racer.
He goes up against Alexander Winton, the undisputed top driver of the time, and pulls off a stunning upset at Grosse Pointe Raceway. That single victory secured the financial backing that ultimately led to the birth of the Ford Motor Company.
So yes, 125 years since that win is a massive milestone. What better place to celebrate the birth of a racing giant than at the “World Center of Racing” during the HSR Classic Daytona 24 weekend? It’s the perfect stage to honor Ford’s deep-rooted impact on motorsports.
From GT40s to Modern Mustangs: An Unbroken Legacy
After that initial 1966 triumph, Ford didn’t just rest on its laurels. The brand added four more overall Rolex 24 wins and dominated the GT classes throughout the 80s and 90s with Jack Roush’s seemingly unstoppable Mustangs. That competitive fire is still burning bright.
Today, the Mustang GT3 program is writing the next chapter of Ford’s Daytona story. In a moment that felt like pure poetry, the Mustang GT3 program was announced during the 2022 Rolex 24. Fast forward to this year’s race, and the No. 65 Mustang GT3 didn’t just compete.
It won, claiming its first global sports car victory right where it all started. To make it even sweeter, its sister car, the No. 64, landed on the GT Daytona (GTD) Pro podium in third. It’s clear that when Ford shows up at the 3.56-mile Daytona road course, they come to play.
The HSR Connection: Passion on and off the Track
The HSR series isn’t just for show cars. It’s for icons that are still pushed to their limits. And the passion runs deep, right to the top. Ford’s own CEO, Jim Farley, is a regular HSR competitor. In 2023, he teamed up with none other than Formula 1 design genius Adrian Newey, piloting Newey’s 1965 Ford GT40 Mk I. They didn’t just cruise around. They battled to a hard-fought third-place finish.
That same year, a fire-breathing 1979 De Tomaso Pantera, powered by a roaring Ford engine, stole the show. With Le Mans class winner Ralf Kelleners behind the wheel, the winged beast dominated its group from the very start, becoming an instant crowd favorite. It’s this blend of history, passion, and genuine competition that makes the HSR events so special.
Final Thoughts
Mark Rushbrook, Global Director of Ford Racing, put the HSR event into perspective perfectly: “Daytona International Speedway has always been a very special place to Ford Racing… We aren’t just coming to be honored, though. Like in everything we do when we compete, we will be looking for victory lane.”
That’s the Ford spirit right there. It’s not just about celebrating the past; it’s about continuing to win. This HSR event in 2026 is shaping up to be an unmissable tribute to an American icon that has truly earned its place as America’s Race Team.
