Ford Brothers Racing Kickstarts New Season with Podium Trip at Daytona 

(Daytona Beach, Florida. March 7, 2023) – Daytona International Speedway, renowned as the "World Center of Racing," has been an integral part of motorsports history since the early 1900s. From the start of auto racing on the sandy beaches of Daytona to the iconic Bike Week introduced in 1937, the speedway has remained an essential hub of excitement and competition. In 1974, the first Daytona Supercross was held, the first motocross event associated with Bike Week. Over the years, the event has undergone significant changes, evolving into the spectacular event it is today. In 2015, the Daytona ATV Supercross was introduced to the lineup, becoming the first-ever ATV motocross event within the historic banks of the Daytona International Speedway. As the most competitive AMA ATV Pro Class field in recent memory geared up, the anticipation for the Daytona ATV Supercross reached an all-time high. This year's event promised to be more thrilling than ever before!

For the ninth consecutive year, one day of Daytona’s infamous “Bike Week” is headlined by ATV motocross. One could not dream of a better setting to kick off another highly anticipated season of ATV racing featuring the best racers on the planet. Bryce Ford, Ford Brothers Racing’s fourth-year pro, entered the highly anticipated 2023 season with the momentum of a spectacular run of performances dating back to the conclusion of the last season. After a podium finish at the Loretta Lynn's ATV Motocross season finale, followed by an impressive performance helping Team USA win the Quadcross of Nations, topped off with a victory the inaugural Huevos Pro Invitational – it was the offseason of Bryce Ford. But could he maintain this momentum as the gate dropped on a brand-new season? Bryce wasn’t resting on his laurels, working hard this offseason as he was eager to maintain his momentum with the season set to begin. 

Excited to unveil some exciting adjustments to his race program for the new season, Bryce Ford took to the track and showcased his patented speed to start the day qualifying second-fastest, trailing only defending champion Joel Hetrick. The field of 21 elite athletes was divided into two groups, and Bryce Ford quickly established himself as a top contender by securing the holeshot in Heat 1. The youngest Ford brother engaged in a thrilling three-way battle for the lead, but ultimately settled for a hard-fought runner-up finish behind Chad Wienen, an eight-time series champion and ATV racing legend. Bryce Ford had successfully maintained his offseason momentum heading into the first points-paying race of 2023. It was main event time.

All day long, youngster Bryce Ford had looked like a podium contender and the main event only further confirmed just that. The #4 Ford Brothers Racing Yamaha shot out of the gate in second place sandwiched between the two legends and former series champions. Eventually, Wienen would make the pass on Bryce, but his third-place podium position was never in doubt. Bryce Ford had earned a well-deserved spot on the podium inside victory lane at Daytona. Surrounded by his family and closest supporters, Bryce and the Ford Brothers Racing family cherished their first ever professional podium finish at Daytona International Speedway! 

Pictured alongside his younger brother Bryce in photos from the podium celebration is Cody Ford. The eldest Ford brother, now embarking on his fifth season as a professional, really paved the way for his younger brother. Following his unbelievable podium finish at Sunset Ridge in his rookie season of 2019, Cody has transformed himself into one of the most consistent racers in all the sport. Entering the 2023 season opener, Cody Ford has earned eyepopping top ten finishes at sixteen of the last twenty events he’s competed in dating back to the 2021 season. Cody Ford is the definition of a “pro’s pro” and is a phenomenal role model for his younger brother who promised to be a main contender in this series in 2023 and beyond. 

Quite a formidable racer in his own right, Cody Ford started the day at Daytona with a strong 11^th place qualifying position. Having earned a good gate pick for the heat race, Cody used that to grab a respectable 7^th place finish heading into the main event. In consistent Cody Ford fashion, the rider nicknamed “The Foreman” raced near the top ten for the entirety of the twenty-lap main event, eventually earning a respectable twelfth place finish when the checkered flag flew. He then went to the podium to join his family and celebrate his brother’s third place podium finish. I can’t imagine a more special moment for the Ford Brothers Racing crew! 

“[It was] a great start to the 2023 season! Thank you to everyone who supports me, on and off the track!” Bryce Ford posted to his official social media pages. The Ford Brothers Racing Team kept it short and sweet, adding “[Bryce Ford] put it on the box for round 1 of the 2023 ATV MX season”. 

The Daytona ATV Supercross has become known for its unpredictable nature and prompting craziness on the racetrack, but the Ford Brothers Racing Team avoided any of the sort at this 2023 season opener. Having made it through Daytona safe and sound, the focus now shifts to rugged outdoor tracks all across the nation that make up the rest of the series. That being said, this is a memory that all involved will cherish for long into the future. The series will head outdoors to Gatorback Cycle Park in nearby Alachua, Florida, on the weekend of March 18/19. See you next week as the ATV Motocross National Championship series returns to this nostalgic stop on the tour for the first time in nearly two decades. See you there!