Ford has just announced that it has taken over from General Motors as the official sponsor of the NHRA (National Hot Rod Association) in the states. With Ford being the only major American automaker not recently put through a government-sponsored bankruptcy, it comes as little surprise. The first sign of problems for GM came earlier this year with its bankruptcy filing ended the contracts the automaker had previously heldwith Cagnazzi Racing, KB Racing LLC, Kurt Racing and Pedregon Racing to provide cash, parts and support vehicles.

The new multiyear agreement between Ford and the NHRA means that all official vehicles used by the racing organization will now carry the Blue Oval badge, including trackside safety vehicles. Ford is clearly comfortable with the change and its newly prominent role within the drag racing community. Brian Wolfe, Ford’s North America Director of Motorsports, said in a recent statement: We’re very excited to be partnering with NHRA on this program. We see this as a very good business proposition in terms of being able to actively reach out at-track and online to the NHRA fan base in ways that we haven’t been able to do in recent years. We’ll be able to allow that fan base to see and experience some of our great new products at-track while also partnering with the successful Motorcraft and Quick Lane program to give fans a look at the total Ford ownership experience.