But the rear-drive cars - Ford Mustangs, Mercury Cougars and Ford Thunderbirds from the 1994-95 model years - were excluded.

Ford said the company's Lorain, Ohio, car plant, which builds Ford Thunderbirds and Mercury Cougars, will close this week, laying off about 2,700 workers.

In 1991 and 1992, Gordon went on to the Busch Series driving Ford Thunderbirds for Bill Davis Racing.

They began 1992 with no top-ten finishes, and later switched to Ford Thunderbirds, allowing Hamilton to get two top-ten finishes and finish 25th in points.

"I have owned exclusively Ford Thunderbirds ever since I was able to drive," he said.

In 1989, the team switched to Ford Thunderbirds.

For 1997 the team again fielded Ford Thunderbirds for Stevie Reeves.

"Specialty vehicles, like Ford Thunderbirds, won't have them," Mr. Honiotes said.

Both drove Ford Thunderbirds.

This left the two Ford Thunderbirds of Allison and Shepherd to race for the win, finishing in this order.