Ford Clinches Second Straight Manufacturer's Championship

Ford Motor Company claimed its 14th all-time manufacturer's championship by virtue of Dale Jarrett's victory in today's Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn 400 at North Carolina Speedway.

In claiming this years manufacturer's title, eight different drivers scored points for Ford, led by Roush Racing's Mark Martin. The driver of the No. 6 Valvolina Taurus has been Ford's top finisher seven times in 31 races, which includes his victory in the Goody's Body Pain 500 at Martinsville in April. Teammate Jeff Burton and Jarrett are second in manufacturer scoring for Ford with six top finishes while Rusty Wallace has five. Jeremy Mayfield has scored points three times in 2000 while Matt Kenseth has scored twice and Ricky Rudd and Jimmy Spencer once apiece.

The championship is the fifth of the NASCAR Winston Cup modern era for Ford (1972-present) with all of those coming within the last 10 years.

Ford's first title came in 1992 when Geoffrey Bodine clinched at North Wilkesboro after winning the Holly Farms 400. Rusty Wallace scored the clinching points at Martinsville in 1994 when he won the Goody's 500 and Jeff Burton did the same three years later at the half-mile short track after winning the Hanes 500. Mark Martin's second-place effort last year at Phoenix was all Ford needed to clinch its fourth manufacturer's title of the decade.

Ford won it's first manufacturer's championship in 1956 and followed that up with its second in 1957 before running off a string of seven straight titles from 1963-69.

Ford's Previous Manufacturer Championships (Modern Era Only)
1992 -- Clinched at North Wilkesboro by Geoffrey Bodine (won Holly Farms 400)
1994 -- Clinched at Martinsville by Rusty Wallace (won Goody's 500)
1997 -- Clinched at Martinsville by Jeff Burton (won Hanes 500)
1999 -- Clinched at Phoenix by Mark Martin (finished second in Checker Auto Parts/DuraLube 500K)
2000 -- Clinched at Rockingham by Dale Jarrett (won Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn 400)

Ford drivers who have scored manufacturer's points this season: Mark Martin (7 times); Jeff Burton (6 times); Dale Jarrett (6 times); Rusty Wallace (5 times), Jeremy Mayfield (3 times); Matt Kenseth (2 times); Jimmy Spencer and Ricky Rudd (once each).

Ford's Manufacturer Championship Seasons (14): 1956, 1957, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1992, 1994, 1997, 1999 and 2000.