Wood Brothers Paying Tribute To Clark’s Indy 500 Win

Josh Berry's Team Lotus-inspired throwback scheme for Darlington Raceway in April. (Photo Courtesy of Ford Performance)

DEARBORN, Mich. — Wood Brothers Racing revealed its Darlington (S.C.) Raceway throwback on Thursday from the Henry Ford Museum, about 14 miles west of Detroit, spotlighting a landmark moment in the team’s lengthy history.

To the intrigue of those in attendance, next to the covered car sat a dark green Ford-powered Lotus, which was driven to victory in the 1965 Indianapolis 500 by two-time Formula One champion Jim Clark. It was the first rear-engine car to win the famed 500-mile race.

Josh Berry, fresh off his maiden NASCAR Cup Series victory last weekend at Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway, will pilot a fitting tribute to the open-wheel legend April 6 during the Goodyear 400.

Berry’s Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Mustang Dark Horse will don the iconic green and yellow stripe made famous by Team Lotus, as well as the classic bubble numbering for the No. 21 at “The Track Too Tough to Tame”.

The story of how the throwback came to fruition is as special as those involved. Clark drove the No. 82 Ford-powered Lotus to victory in the 49th Indianapolis 500 in large part thanks to the innovative pit-road expertise of Glenn, Leonard, Delano, and Ray Lee Wood.

The Wood Brothers were also joined by Jim Reed and Kenny Martin on the historic crew roster.

Not only did they provide the crew for Clark, but also helped pit for Clark’s teammate Bobby Johns and supplied innovative pit-stop strategies for both drivers. Since that historic day, the connection between Wood Brothers Racing and the lengthy history of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway has run deep.

Jim Clark with his Team Lotus entry ahead of the 1965 running of the Indianapolis 500. He'd go on to win the historic race. (IMS Archives photo)

Those historical ties made recreating the iconic colors special, providing a tip of the cap to the past, while also ushering in the future of both Wood Brothers Racing and Ford Motor Company.

“This was a really fun project to work on with the team, from sorting all the details to making sure it properly reflected such an important moment in history,” said Jon Wood, president of Wood Brothers Racing. “It’s always special to run a throwback, but this one carries extra meaning because of the connection our family had to that Indy 500 win.

“Unveiling it at The Henry Ford, right next to the original car, made it even more special. Seeing the No. 21 in those colors is a great way to honor that history, and I think it’s something fans will really appreciate.”

Perhaps most notably, the original conversation about the Wood Brothers coming to IMS to pit Team Lotus in the ‘500’ actually happened at Darlington, during a mid-1960s NASCAR event when Ford Motor Company’s John Cowley approached Glenn Wood with the unique proposition.

“When we were asked by Ford Motor Company to pit Jim Clark’s car for the Indy 500, it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our family,” said Leonard Wood. “We were just a group of guys from Stuart, Virginia, working on stock cars, and suddenly, we were part of something that would become a unique part of our history.

“We had already won the Daytona 500 in 1963, so what we did then was get our minds set on preparing the car for a pit stop,“ continued Leonard. “Indianapolis was a big event, with 300,000 people and all the people crowded around you, but we concentrated on doing our thing.”

“To see that same scheme now on our No. 21 Ford Mustang for throwback weekend at Darlington is really special. It brings back a lot of memories, and it’s a great way to honor that moment.”

Berry’s Cup Series starts at Darlington include a 30th-place effort in 2023 for Hendrick Motorsports while filling in for the injured Alex Bowman, an impressive third-place finish last spring with Stewart-Haas Racing, and a crash with 24 laps to go in last year’s Southern 500 that left him 31st.

However, it’s his most recent effort at Las Vegas that has the NASCAR garage buzzing, after Berry gave the Wood Brothers team its 101st Cup Series victory and first since Daytona (Fla.) Int’l Speedway last August. Now, he’ll look to add make even more history with the organization in an iconic scheme.

“The Wood Brothers have such a rich history in racing, and their role in the 1965 Indy 500 is one of those stories that really stands out,” said Berry. “Getting to drive a throwback that represents such a unique moment for the team is really special. The scheme looks amazing, and I can’t wait to hit the track at Darlington with it.”

Broadcast coverage of the Goodyear 400 at Darlington is slated for Sunday, April 6 at 3 p.m. ET, live on FS1, the Motor Racing Network, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, channel 90.