Ford Motor Company has donated more than $35 million to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) since 1998. Ford is, in fact, JDRF’s only global partner. For the last four years, Ford Customer Service Division (FCSD – Motorcraft/Quick Lane) has contributed to the cause in a most unique way – by raising money through the JDRF Race Car Design Contest, proceeds from which go to JDRF. The end products? This year, fans from around the country voted on designs submitted by children with type 1 diabetes from across the country, raising an incredible $43,000.27 for JDRF. The top five fundraisers are voted on by FCSD representatives and Len and Eddie Wood of Wood Brothers Racing, the host team. FCSD, the Wood Brothers and driver Trevor Bayne, Ford and JDRF announced the winner of this year’s contest – seven-year-old Katie Hahn of Omaha, Neb. – at a press conference at Ford World Headquarters on Thursday. Hahn’s tie-dye paint scheme is sure to stand out at the Pure Michigan 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Michigan International Speedway this weekend.
EDDIE WOOD: HOW DIFFICULT WAS IT TO ACTUALLY PICK YOUR CAR? “It was a really difficult decision to pick one because everybody, especially the top five, were really, really good. We just kind of picked one that kind of stood out as being different from all the rest and for sure this one is different. And that’s basically why we picked it. It’s a really cool thing. It’s kind of a throwback to when I was younger. I remember a lot of that stuff when it was around the first time and it kind of brings it all back, but I’m kind of really into the history part of it anyway.”
YOU TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS BEING A THROWBACK TO WHEN YOU WERE YOUNGER. WHAT IS IT ABOUT THE 60s THAT STANDS OUT IN YOUR MEMORY?
“I just remember the tie-dye colors. The brightness of the colors. That particular time in history was about a lot of change and a lot of things were going on at the time. I was in my late teens, early 20s when all that was going on.”
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO THE MOST WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT WORKING WITH THE FAMILY OF THE WINNER?
“That’s really special too because the Hahn family has never been to a race. And until you’ve ever been to a NASCAR race, it’s really hard to describe it. It’s kind of like if you’ve never been to a NFL game, it’s really different once you get there than what you actually see on T.V. And NASCAR racing is an even bigger difference from the T.V. broadcast because of all the noise, the color and the speed. It’s hard to get a sensation of it from T.V., but when you’re there you really get the heart pounding, excitement of it all. And I think they’re really going to enjoy it.”
FORD IS THE ONLY CORPORATE SPONSOR FOR JDRF. HOW DOES IT FEEL TO DOVETAIL THIS ALLIANCE WITH THE WORK YOU DO WITH YOUR CAR AND YOUR TEAM?
“It’s really special to us and it’s special to Ford Motor Company because we have a 61-year relationship with Ford and anything that they’re involved in, it’s really good for us to be involved in too because we feel like we’re all one big family. So JDRF is kind of a family thing anyway. It touches so many young kids and I think it’s really special. It’s an honor to be involved with it.”
LEN WOOD: HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE PAINT SCHEME AND HOW DIFFICULT WAS IT TO CHOOSE A WINNER?
“The paint schemes were very good this year. It was hard to pick. We wanted something different. I think with the tie-dye paint scheme it’s different all right. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a race car painted like this. We were pleased it was a young girl this time that won. The top five were all good. Any of them would’ve made a good car, but this one stood out more than any of them.”
ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING THE TIE-DYE UNIFORMS ON THE TEAM?
“I don’t know how that’s going to turn out! I hope they look good. Maybe I should’ve worked on this and not got a haircut for a couple months so I could have the long hair like we did back in the 60’s and 70’s. It should be interesting. I think Trevor’s uniform is what I’m waiting on really because he won’t know what to expect. It should be a surprise for him, but he’s good with pretty much anything we throw at him. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a driver in a tie-dye firesuit. The first time he walks out of that hauler and everybody sees him, it should be interesting. But it’s all for a good cause.”
Ford Racing PR
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