First on Race Day was inspired by the Chip Ganassi Racing FORD GT record performance in the IMSA/WEC LM GTEPro racing category. It features the 2016 Le Mans LM GTE winning CGR #68 on background of the flag of the United States.

When I was a kid, a common acronym for “FORD” was “First on Race Day”. The 1960’s Ford’s development program saw a wresting of the the manufacturers crown from Ferrari at LeMans (as recounted in the films Ford vs Ferrari, The 24 Hour War & Shelby American). FORD GT, fifty years after the 1-2-3 dominant finish in 1966, CGR took 1st, 3rd & 4th in the 2016 24 Hours of LeMans LMGTE Pro class, nearly duplicating history.

The CGR Ford GT’s were numbered 66, 67, 68, 69 – the years (1966, 67, 68, and 1969) Ford won Le Mans having dethroned Ferrari.

That car’s success and admiring Chip Ganassi’s love of racing and competitive drive to excellence, coupled with Dad’s passing along the FORD acronym, is why I painted this original.