Michael Kranefuss

Michael "Mike" Kranefuss is a German-born American former head of Ford Motor Company's International Motorsports division for 12 years. After leaving Ford, he became a NASCAR team owner.

Kranefuss led Ford Motor Company's worldwide racing efforts from 1980 to 1993 as their Director of Special Vehicle Operations. At that time, Ford was the only manufacturer to be involved in World Rally Cars, NASCAR, Formula One, and Champ Car. Kranefuss began working for Ford in 1968 as an assistant for Ford's German Competition Department. He became Ford's German manager 1972 when he developed on the Ford Capri. The Capri won two European Touring Car Championships and he became Ford's European head in 1976. Ford joined the World Rally Championship and won the 1979 championship with a Ford Escort. When he started, he resurrected Ford racing from a single IMSA sports car.

Kranefuss-Haas Racing debuted in 1994 at Michigan International Speedway with driver Robby Gordon, finishing 38th; Geoff Brabham drove for the team in the inaugural Brickyard 400 that year as well. Kranefuss's original full-time NASCAR driver was John Andretti, who drove the #37 Ford for the team in 1995 and most of 1996. In late 1996 Kranefuss's team and Cale Yarborough's team essentially swapped drivers as Jeremy Mayfield took over driving the #37 and Andretti started driving for Yarborough's #98 team. For 1998, Kranefuss merged his team with Penske Racing and the team changed their car number to #12 to more closely match Penske's flagship #2 car. Late in the 2001 season, Jeremy Mayfield was fired with eight rounds remaining in the year. Mike Wallace, Rusty's younger brother, was brought in to finish the season in the #12 car. At the end of the year, Penske bought out Kranefuss's interest in the #12 team and put Ryan Newman in the #12 car full-time for 2002. As an owner, Kranefuss won three victories – all under the Penske-Kranefuss banner and with Mayfield driving.

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