Many rookies come to SCRA with marginal equipment and strained budgets. Fortunately for Josh Ford, his entry was with one of the most successful SCRA teams over the past ten years. This took a lot of pressure away from the driver and his crew to eliminate much of the trial and error period that most rookie teams face. Josh is currently the leading rookie in SCRA and is eleventh in season points. While the skills of the driver must be considered, his family’s racing team alliance with Harlan Willis gave a big boost to this neophyte team.

Let’s start at the beginning in Watsonville, California, where Josh was born twenty years ago. His family has long been associated with strawberry farming on the West Coast and soon relocated to Camarillo, California to establish Aromas Berry Farms, Inc. Growing up, Josh was schooled in the farming business, learning and performing many of the routine tasks, helping to make up a successful operation.

At the age of nine, Josh found an outlet for his recreation time and began racing Go-Karts on road racing circuits throughout the country. As Ford grew and expanded, he won a number of features over the years and one coveted Nationals title. In 2001, Josh was encouraged to start racing in his backyard by former TQ and Midget racer and business associate of Josh’s Dad, George Ito. Taking the wheel of a 360-sprint car with the VRA at Ventura Raceway, Ford garnered one feature win and was named Rookie of the Year. The following year, Josh collected three feature victories and finished fifth in points.

As plans were laid out for the 2003 season, the Fords hoped to advance to SCRA. Forming an alliance with Willis Racing, Josh’s Dad would furnish the equipment and the Willis crew would maintain it. Just ending a nine-year relationship with Cory Kruseman, Willis brought Damion Gardner on board as the replacement. The Ford team would reap the benefit of the long-standing tandem of Harlan Willis and Mike Nigh, plus input from some of the Gardner crew.

Over the past couple of years, Josh has entered a few Midget races on pavement and credits George Ito and Cory Kruseman with helping him to secure these rides. In the meantime, with SCRA Josh continues to do a journeyman job of racing, qualifying well enough to make the heats and running in nearly every feature this season. Exhibiting the ability to work his way through the field, Josh recently scored a season best fifth place feature finish.

Josh is attending Ventura College and plans to transfer to the new Cal. State University-Channel Islands to complete a degree in business. Because of his racing commitment, Ford did not participate in high school sports. Relaxation time will find Josh water skiing or wakeboarding. Tulare and Ventura were named as favorite tracks and Ford looks forward to the tracks he will race on during the NWWC Tour. Racing heroes are Tony Stewart and George Ito. The Ford team operates with TCR chassis that are fitted with Stanton Mopar engines. Rusty Nowlin serves as Crew Chief and has been with Josh since he started in sprint cars. Sponsorship comes from Berry Pack, Willis Machine, Driscolls, Naturipe, ARP Fasteners, Colby Welding, Dynatech Headers, Maxwell Industries, IBDC.net, Stanton Mopar, Advanced Racing Suspensions and Wilwood Disc Brakes.

Josh states that his team mingles well with the Gardner contingent and that Damion has been helpful in overcoming some of the pitfalls. Ford credits Harlan Willis, Mike Nigh, Cory Kruseman, George Ito and his Dad, Keith Ford with being instrumental in his racing success.

An interesting note is that Josh’s younger brother, Jake is currently campaigning a VRA sprinter, and so there may be another Ford in our future.