Blueoval City to be put in the spotlight at Bristol Motor Speedway
Ford’s Blueoval City will be in the national spotlight this weekend when Ford NASCAR Cup Series driver Aric Almirola takes to the Bristol Motor Speedway with Blueoval City on the hood and sides of his No. 10 Mustang.
Almirola will be competing in the annual Bristol Night Race Saturday evening in Bristol, Tennessee, showcasing the Blueoval city wrap at one of the most popular races in NASCAR.
Ford plans to invest $5.6 billion in the 3,600-acre campus in Stanton to produce all-electric trucks and manufacture electric vehicle batteries in partnership with SK ON. The project is expected to create 5,800 jobs and open in 2025. Ford is also developing the Blueoval SK Battery Park in Central Kentucky.
The auto manufacturer has announced it intends to invest $50 billion into EVS by 2026 and hopes to produce 2 million electric vehicles annually by then. That’s about a third of the company’s global volume.
Almirola said as a driver, it’s been interesting to watch the move toward electrification and see and drive the electric vehicles Ford is producing.
“It’s fascinating to me, because I feel like we’re living in one of those eras to where like, you’re getting ready to see something spectacular, and you’re getting ready to live through it,” he said.
Kel Kearns, Electric Vehicle Center plant manager at Blueoval City, said the facility would be at the forefront of the company’s electric future.
“We know how much Tennesseans love motorsports, so to be on Aric’s car
this weekend for one of the most popular events of the season is a wonderful way to spread the message of who we are and the arrival of Blueoval City,” he said in a statement.
In a later call with reporters, Kearns said electric vehicles were the future of the automotive industry, but racing would always remain core to the Ford brand.
“Electrification is the future. It’s the next generation. It’s exciting new technology, but that doesn’t change what Ford is what it’s about,” he said. “We’re going to showcase that this weekend as we move forward and showcase Blueoval City on the number 10.”
Almirola had announced his retirement at the start of the season but recently announced he’ll be returning in 2023. He’s been with Ford for 11 years.
“One of the things I’ve learned during my time driving in NASCAR is that when you become a Ford driver, you become part of the Ford family,” he said in a statement. “We know how important electrification is to Ford’s future and after driving vehicles like the Mustang Mach-e, I can see why. I’m excited to represent Blueoval City and hope I can give them a good run on Saturday night in Bristol.”
In a call with reporters Tuesday afternoon, Almirola said that, driving for Ford, he had witnessed the progression of the company over the past decade. He’s been able to get first peeks at new vehicles (after turning his cell phone over to security) and spend time driving the all-electric Mustang Mach-e.
“It has been so much fun for me to kind of be able to see behind the curtain,” he said.
The race is scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m. and will be aired on USA Network.