• April 16, 2012

Ford's Focus Electric is the first all-electric pace car to ever lead the field for a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at the Richmond 400. The all-new Focus Electric will be the pace care at Richmond International Raceway on April 28.

“Ford research shows the majority of Americans would consider buying an electrified vehicle but do not yet understand the different technologies,” said Mark Fields, president of The Americas, in a statement.

Ford research says 35% of new car intenders are motorsports fans and 78% of them support NASCAR. The study says race fans are 67% more likely to consider Ford products than general market consumers.

Ford was also the first manufacturer to compete with a four-door sedan as its flagship model in 1998, and was first to use a hybrid to start a NASCAR event when the Fusion Hybrid served as pace car for the Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway in 2008.

In January, Ford became the first manufacturer to show off its 2013 NASCAR race car when it unveiled the new 2013 Fusion racer to media in Charlotte, N.C. “The Ford Focus Electric is a major statement of Ford’s commitment to bring green innovation and performance together, demonstrating for NASCAR fans how conserving the environment, creating jobs and strengthening our country can be made to happen without compromise,” said Mike Lynch, managing director of Green Innovation for NASCAR.