CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Edsel B. Ford II was named winner of the Landmark Award for Outstanding Contributions to NASCAR as part of the 2020 NASCAR Hall of Fame Inductee announcement Wednesday afternoon.

Ford is a member of the Ford Motor Co. board of directors and was selected over fellow nominees Alvin Hawkins, Mike Helton, Dr. Joseph Mattioli and Ralph Seagraves.

Ford reacted to earned the award Wednesday evening.

“It means a great deal to me. I’m honored to be given this award and I feel I have an ambassadorial role within Ford Motor Co. and NASCAR, so it’s wonderful,” Ford said. “I’m truly honored.”

Ford said he was surprised to be recognized.

“It was surprise. I love this sport. I love being around NASCAR,” he explained. “I told my boys when they were growing up I said, ‘From my experience the one group of people that won’t disappoint you are racers.’ I say that because they’re transparent, they’re frank, they bring their families to the races. I’ve known a lot of race car drivers all my life. I’m going to Jackie Stewart’s 80th birthday in two weeks, so I’ve known them a long time. My kids love racing as much as I do, so it’s fun.”

Ford is the great-grandson of Ford founder Henry Ford.

“I think he’d be thrilled,” Edsel Ford II said. “He was a racer and he knew the benefit of automobile racing, so I think he would be thrilled. At least I hope he would be.”