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NOTE: many of the links in the past news will be old and may not work
decided it was not worth the time to go thru each one on all the Team Past News pages
#17 & #99 to swap crews for 2013? Stenhouse crew chief? UPDATE 2: hearing that the #17 & #99 pit crews will swap for the 2013 season. Current crew chief of the #17, Jimmy Fennig could move over to the #99 Ford of Carl Edwards or go back to his position in Roush Fenway's R&D Department. Supposedly Scott Graves, who currently is Ricky Stenhouse Jr.'s crew chief when he drives the #6 Ford in the NASCAR Sprint Cup, will move over to the #17 Sprint Cup Series ride with Stenhouse when he moves to the Sprint Cup Series in 2013. Edwards could end up with Fenning as his crew chief, or keep Chad Norris. his current crew chief. Also, former Edwards crew chief, Bob Osbourne could return to the #99 pitbox. In September Roush Fenway Racing owner Jack Roush said he didn't expect any crew chief changes for the team in 2013 and that Osbourne's "health is still a question mark.''(11-9-2012)
UPDATE: veteran crew chief Jimmy Fennig will move to the #99 team with driver Carl Edwards. Fennig replaces Chad Norris, who filled in after Bob Osborne stepped down in July due to health concerns. Norris is expected to oversee the #60 Nationwide Series team. Scott Graves, who has been working as Edwards' team engineer, will take the reins for Ricky Stenhouse Jr.'s rookie campaign.(FoxSports)(11-14-2012)
UPDATE 3 Roush Fenway Racing has announced that veteran crew chief Jimmy Fennig will lead Carl Edwards and the #99 Roush Fenway Sprint Cup team in its championship run in 2013. In addition, up and coming crew chief Scott Graves will lead the #17 team and defending Nationwide Series Champion Ricky Stenhouse Jr. during his rookie campaign next season. "We are excited about this change on both fronts," said team owner Jack Roush. "Pairing two highly successful veterans like Carl and Jimmy should be quite a matchup and it is our expectation based on what Jimmy has been able to accomplish with many high profile drivers, that it will provide the spark to get the #99 program and Carl back into championship form. However, we are particularly excited about teaming up Scott Graves and Ricky. Through his extensive research and development work, Scott has an excellent understanding of the new 2013 body style. In his short time as a crew chief he has demonstrated a cunning knack as a leader on the pit box and he is going to be a great match for Ricky as he makes his move upwards into the Sprint Cup ranks."(Roush Fenway Racing)(11-15-2012)
Kenseth will get a new spotter at Joe Gibbs Racing Mike Calinoff will end his long run as spotter for former NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Matt Kenseth at season's end, remaining with Roush Fenway Racing when Kenseth jumps to Joe Gibbs Racing next season. Calinoff has remained mum about his plans for 2013, but Kenseth revealed this weekend that his longtime spotter will move on. Asked via Twitter whether Calinoff will accompany him to JGR and the #20 Home Depot Toyota, Kenseth replied "No, he is a great spotter, I will miss him." Calinoff subsequently confirmed those plans, revleaing that he will spot for 2011 NASCAR Nationwide Series champion Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. when Stenhouse takes the wheel of Roush Fenway's #17 Ford next season. He currently serves as Stenhouse's "eye in the sky" in Nationwide Series competition, and also spots for youngster Nelson Piquet, Jr. on the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.(Godfather Motorsports)(10-7-2012)
Best Buy sponsoring Stenhouse at Charlotte: Roush Fenway Racing's Ricky Stenhouse Jr. will pilot the #6 Best Buy Ford in the October 13th Sprint Cup event at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Stenhouse, along with RFR teammate Matt Kenseth, will form a formidable pair of Best Buy Fords, with Kenseth's #17 Fusion also featuring the Best Buy blue and yellow for the event. It will mark the first time that Best Buy has sponsored two cars in a single race, with race fans treated to both the present and the future of the sport with the unique 'one-two punch' of Roush Fenway's first Sprint Cup Champion in Kenseth and its latest NASCAR Champion in the youthful Stenhouse. The race will be Stenhouse's third Sprint Cup event of the season and his fourth career Cup start.(Roush Fenway)(10-4-2012)
Rancher's Reserve and Safeway sponsoring Stenhouse, Jr.: On the heels of the announcement in Chicagoland proclaiming that Ricky Stenhouse Jr. would pilot the historic #17 Ford Fusion next year in the Sprint Cup Series, the 2011 NASCAR Nationwide champion will make his second Sprint Cup start of the 2012 season at Dover International Speedway this weekend. Earlier this season the Olive Branch, Miss. native made his debut in the famed Daytona 500 finishing 21st. He finished 11th in his Sprint Cup debut in 2011 in the Coca-Cola 600. The 2011 NASCAR Nationwide champion will pull the double-duty this weekend as he defends his title with six races remaining. The tight championship battle shows Stenhouse only four points out of the lead. Rancher's Reserve and Safeway will serve as the primary sponsors for both the #6 Ford Mustang and #6 Ford Fusion.(Roush Fenway)(9-26-2012)
Fifth Third returns to #17 to sponsor Stenhouse in 2013 UPDATE: Fifth Third Bank will sponsor Ricky Stenhouse Jr. in the 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Fifth Third is sponsoring the same car it backed earlier this season, but with a different driver [Matt Kenseth]. Stenhouse will drive the #17 Fifth Third Ford Fusion next season. Fifth Third will be the primary sponsor of Stenhouse at Daytona, Michigan, Kentucky and Martinsville next year and an associate sponsor at all other Sprint Cup races in 2013. It also will be the primary sponsor of Stenhouse's #6 Ford at this year's last Sprint Cup race of the season, the Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway Nov. 18. Jack Roush, co-owner of Roush Fenway Racing, which owns the car, said Fifth Third is one of three main sponsors of Stenhouse and the #17 team. "We have seen Ricky develop into a NASCAR Nationwide Series champion and we're pleased to provide this opportunity for him to begin his Sprint Cup Series career next season with Fifth Third Bank, Best Buy and Zest on board," Roush said. The deal follows a Fifth Third sponsorship announced in May of Matt Kenseth driving the same #17 Fifth Third Ford Fusion for four races this summer (Business Courier ), Kenseth will leave the team after 2012 and drive the #20 Job Gibbs Racing Toyota in 2013.(9-21-2012)
UPDATE: Ricky Stenhouse Jr. will run at least three Sprint Cup races for Roush Fenway Racing Dover, Charlotte and Homestead during the remainder of this season. "Right now, we're organized for three races with him at Dover, Charlotte and Homestead," said Jack Roush, "but if we decide his prospects for winning the Nationwide championship are improved by running more Sprint Cup races, we'll do that, and if we decide there's a sponsor that expresses interest and wants to take a look at him, or to be on board for an additional venue, we'll do that as well."(Gaston Gazette)(9-23-2012)
Stenhouse, Jr to attempt Dover race: [Chicago] capped a huge weekend for Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. Roush announced Friday that Stenhouse was going to drive the #17 Sprint Cup car for Roush-Fenway Racing on a full-time basis in 2013, and that Best Buy was going to be a primary sponsor. Stenhouse will, though, run a Cup race at Dover Sept. 30. "If we felt like running a Cup race would distract us, we wouldn't do it," Stenhouse said. "I just like track time. It doesn't matter in what type of car it is."(Chicago Sun-Times)(9-18-2012)
Roush could bring #6 car back soon: As soon as Roush Fenway Racing owner Jack Roush secures sponsorship for his #6 Ford, he's ready to bring the car back to the Sprint Cup Series with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. as the driver. The #6 has been in mothballs since Stenhouse drove it in the season-opening Daytona 500. "We've got the decal for the top of the roof on that 6 car all organized for Ricky," Roush said Friday night, after Stenhouse won the O'Reilly Auto Parts 300 Nationwide Series race at Texas. "As soon as I can find sponsorship for it, he's good to go. The highest priority we have for this year in the meantime is to defend (Stenhouse's) championship in the Nationwide series but hopefully we can find sponsorship and run the 6 car with him next year -- and we will run some races with him in the 6 Cup car before this year is over."(NASCAR News Service)(4-15-2012)
Roush Fenway Scores Historic 300th Victory with Daytona 500 Win: Roush Fenway Racing officially kicked off it's 25th Anniversary season in grand fashion on Monday night, with #17-Matt Kenseth holding off teammate #16-Greg Biffle as the organization claimed its historic 300th NASCAR victory with its second Daytona 500 victory in the first ever night-time running of the famed event at Daytona International Speedway.
"It feels great," said Kenseth. "We even went overtime a little bit since we didn't quite go the whole distance the first time we won it. We had a really fast car all day and overcame a lot of adversity and problems with the car that we figured out. We had a great pit stop at the end that put us into position. It feels great. I wasn't expecting to win when I woke up this morning so it feels good to be sitting here."
Kenseth and Biffle combined to lead 83 of 200 laps in the race, with Kenseth taking the lead for the final time with 37 laps remaining and holding the point until the race's conclusion with a green-white-checkered finish. With the victory, Roush Fenway becomes the first team in NASCAR history to win 300 races.
"This is a special night," said team co-owner Jack Roush. "It feels great. It is very fitting that Matt won the 300th victory that we have had since we started in 1988 and (crew chief) Jimmy Fennig has been with us for most of the time and Matt has been here most of the time as well. It is great to celebrate our 300th win here with the 54th Daytona 500. This is Matt's second 500 win and that makes it special as well."(Roush Fenway Racing)(2-28-2012)
Ford Eco Boost to sponsor Stenhouse in Daytona 500: EcoBoost, the line of Ford production car engines that provides increased power and fuel efficiency while reducing emissions, is coming to NASCAR, but not under the hood. Ford is reaching out to its huge racing audience through a multi-tiered marketing campaign focused on EcoBoost beginning with this month's Daytona 500. EcoBoost, which first appeared on the NASCAR landscape as the paint scheme on the 2013 Fusion race car for its reveal in Charlotte, N.C., January 24, will serve as the primary paint scheme when defending NASCAR Nationwide Series champion Ricky Stenhouse Jr. makes his Daytona 500 debut in the #6 Roush Fenway Ford Fusion at the end of the month. EcoBoost will also be featured for select races on the #17 Fusion of former NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Matt Kenseth throughout the 2012 Sprint Cup campaign. EcoBoost will also appear on the Mustang race cars of Stenhouse Jr. and Roush Fenway Racing teammate Trevor Bayne for select races on the 2012 Nationwide Series schedule. "EcoBoost is one of the smart technologies from Ford that blends performance and fuel economy into one package. That's something all racers and racing fans can relate to," said Jamie Allison, director, Ford Racing. "EcoBoost engines are available now, and they will be widely available on most vehicles from Ford. We want to raise awareness of EcoBoost among NASCAR fans, so they will look for it, and ask about it when they shop for their new Fords." In addition to making appearances on the track, EcoBoost will be featured as the title sponsor for the NASCAR Nationwide Series EcoBoost 300 event March 17, 2012 at Bristol Motor Speedway.(Ford Racing NASCAR), see image of the scheme on the #6 Team Schemes page.(2-15-2012)
Roush Fenway to Commemorate "25 Winning Years" in 2012: Coming off one of the strongest seasons in its quarter-decade history, Roush Fenway Racing will commemorate 2012 by celebrating its 25th Anniversary of racing at NASCAR's highest levels. Roush Fenway kicked off its "25 Winning Years" program this week on Charlotte Motor Speedway's annual media tour, where they asked media to name what it considers the top moment of the organization's celebrated 24-year racing history. "We've had a number of critical milestones since we started in 1988," said team co-owner Jack Roush. "I looked around the room at the media tour at all the trophies we had on display and there is a great deal of emotion that comes to mind when I see each piece. Each trophy has a different story and represents a different milestone and sacrifice. From the first win with Mark Martin at Rockingham in 1989 to our 299th win last season with Trevor Bayne in Texas, they all mean something. Along the way we've won multiple championships in all three NASCAR Series, with Greg (Biffle) getting the first two and Matt Kenseth getting our first Cup championship in 2003." Since founding the company in 1988, Jack Roush has seen the organization amass a record 299 victories. Roush Fenway currently boasts 125 Sprint Cup wins and is the winningest team in both NASCAR's Nationwide and Truck Series'. To properly commemorate the season, Roush Fenway will celebrate four specific areas vital to the organization's success in 2012; performance, people, partners and innovation.(Roush Fenway Racing)(1-28-2012)
Stenhouse honored: Ricky Stenhouse Jr., of Cornelius, N.C., was selected to receive the 19th annual Gorsline Scholarship, presented by Gorsline Company of Rochester, N.Y. At the age of 23, Stenhouse won the hotly-contested 2011 Nationwide Series championship, his first, driving for Roush Fenway Racing. He was honored Sunday at the 42nd annual American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association's (AARWBA) All-America Team dinner in Indianapolis. The Gorsline Scholarship recognizes aspiring drivers and presents a program that provides tools that will assist these drivers in developing skills on and off the track to attain their professional goals. As the scholarship winner, Stenhouse will work with Dr. Jacques Dallaire, Director of Performance Prime, to create an individually-designed performance-enhancement program, courtesy of Gorsline Company. Andy Villa, Gorsline Company partner, and previous Gorsline Scholarship winners Patrick Long and Josef Newgarden accepted the award on behalf of Stenhouse at the AARWBA dinner. The Gorsline Company, headquartered in Rochester, N.Y., pioneered the business of providing insurance for high-risk professionals. The company specializes in providing racing drivers and owners creative, custom-designed insurance packages and estate planning strategies.()(1-10-2012)
Stenhouse to run the Daytona 500: Ricky Stenhouse Jr., who won the 2011 Nationwide Series title, will compete in the 2012 Daytona 500 in Roush Fenway Racing's #6 Ford. The team does not expect to run the unsponsored car for the full season but is locked into the first five races based on owners points from 2011 when the car was driven by David Ragan. The only race confirmed for now is the Daytona 500. The team currently does not have a sponsor for the race, team spokesman Kevin Woods said. Stenhouse will participate in the NASCAR test next week at Daytona International Speedway to prepare for the Daytona 500. Whether he runs a full Nationwide schedule in 2012 has not been solidified, Woods said.(SceneDaily)(1-6-2012)
Roush Yates teams up with Impact: Roush Yates Performance Products has reached a distribution agreement with Impact by MasterCraft Safety to create a 1,500 square foot safety center within Roush Yates Performance Products' Mooresville, N.C. retail center. This partnership will continue Roush Yates' goal of offering "one stop" shopping for drivers and pit crews throughout the racing spectrum. "We're very proud to be associated with a great company like Impact," said Roush Yates CEO Doug Yates. "This new partnership certainly broadens our reach and product offerings as a whole, which should further underscore the fact that Roush Yates Performance Products is truly a complete solution center for any racer of any caliber or series." The safety center will be staffed with personnel well versed in the intricacies of critical safety matters such as helmet fitment, custom race suit measurements, and choosing the proper restraints for specific genres of racing. "We couldn't be happier," said MasterCraft Safety president Robbie Pierce. "While our product lines are different, both Roush Yates and Impact offer premium racing products with absolutely no compromises."(Roush Yates Performance Products/Impact by MasterCraft)(12-27-2011)
Allmendinger to Penske? Ragan to the #43? Rumors floating around that A.J. Allmendinger could be headed to the #22 Penske Dodge and David Ragan to the #43 RPM Ford. If true Allmendinger moves over from the #43 RPM ride and Ragan moves from the sponsorless possibly closed up #6 Roush Fenway Racing Ford.(12-21-2011)
Congrats - Ragan gets engaged: David Ragan made one thing certain this offseason his love for Jacquelyn Ann Butler. The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver recently proposed to his longtime girlfriend and the two have set a 2012 wedding date of Dec. 15 at a Charlotte-area church. Butler and Ragan met Sept. 6, 2006 on the UNC Charlotte campus not far from Charlotte Motor Speedway and the two have been fixtures at the racetrack ever since. Ragan just completed his fifth full year in the Sprint Cup Series and is currently in negotiations with teams in regard to his 2012 season.(FullCircle Ventures)(12-15-2011)
David Ragan named guest of honor for ARCA Awards Banquet: David Ragan will be the Guest of Honor at Saturday's ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards Championship Awards Banquet at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center in Covington, Ky. Ragan made 31 ARCA starts between 2003 and 2008, and won at Lanier National Speedway in Georgia on May 28, 2005. He made his Sprint Cup debut for Roush Fenway Racing in 2006, began racing full-time for the team in 2007, and won at historic Daytona International Speedway for the team this July. Series champion Ty Dillon, Rookie of the Year Chris Buescher, other drivers from the top 20, and the top 10 car owners will be honored Saturday in a program that also features special award winners. In an interesting connection, Ragan is a mentor to and has spotted for Buescher in ARCA competition. Ragan drove for Roulo Brothers Racing while in ARCA, preceding Buescher's tenure with the team.(ARCA)(12-9-2011)
Ragan in line for the #22 ride: been told Ragan has been released by Roush Fenway Racing and Ford to pursue other oppurtunities. Supposedly he was in line to run the #51 Chevy in 2012, but now hearing he will sign a one-year deal to run the #22 Dodge for Penske.(12-5-2011)
AND David Ragan was given his release from Roush Fenway Racing on Monday, opening the door for him to possibly replace 2004 Sprint Cup champion Kurt Busch at Penske Racing. Ragan said he asked for his release Monday morning, after learning that Busch and Penske Racing had mutually agreed to split. He then talked to Penske Racing president Tim Cindric to express an interest in the vacant #22 ride. "I want to be in consideration for that car," Ragan said. Ragan said he had been disappointed when UPS informed Roush Fenway during the season that it was not returning to the #6 car as a sponsor. "Sometimes crazy things happen for a reason. I feel I've got a good shot to have a sit-down talk with the guys at Penske," Ragan said. "We haven't discussed that, but I have reached out to them and hopefully later on in the next week or two we'll have more to talk about." Although Ragan didn't have a Sprint Cup Series ride with RFR for 2012, he remained under contract until he was given the release. The move now clears him to pursue the Penske opening, as well as other potential vacancies in Sprint Cup and the Nationwide Series.
Penske Racing executive Bud Denker acknowledged that Ragan "and others" would be considered to replace Busch, whose behavior on and off the track led to the split. He did not give a timetable, but indicated it could be several weeks, as the process has just begun and sponsor Shell Pennzoil will have to approve the winning candidate. Others drivers who might be considered include David Reutimann and Brian Vickers. Reutimann was released from Michael Waltrip Racing, while Vickers was a part of Red Bull Racing, which is folding its NASCAR operation. Denker said that Sam Hornish Jr. will not be under consideration, as Penske wants the former IndyCar Series champion to focus on a full Nationwide Series run in 2012 before returning to Cup. Hornish drove full time in the Cup Series for Penske from 2008 through 2010, recording only two top-5 finishes and never finishing better than 28th in points.(ESPN)(12-5-2011)
Blickensderfer headed to RCR? UPDATE: Drew Blickensderfer, crew chief for #6-David Ragan, is parting ways with Roush Fenway Racing and is expected to be the new crew chief on the #31 Richard Childress Chevrolet for driver Jeff Burton. An official announcement is expected this week.(FOXSports)(11-21-2011)
UPDATE: Richard Childress Racing has named Drew Blickensderfer as the crew chief for the #31 Caterpillar/Wheaties Racing team with driver Jeff Burton for the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season. Luke Lambert, interim crew chief during the latter part of the 2011 season for the #31 team, will assume a yet-to-be announced new position at RCR. Blickensderfer begins his RCR career after nearly a decade with Roush Fenway Racing. He spent the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season leading the #6 team and has been a crew chief, in the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series, since 2007.(RCR)(11-28-2011)
Roush clarifies Ragan comments: Jack Roush constantly is juggling a bunch of balls but he could be excused for being a little sleep-deprived on Monday morning. So on Tuesday evening, Roush was compelled to reach out and make sure his feelings for David Ragan hadn't been misconstrued in comments that Roush made in a media briefing on Monday morning in conjunction with the Nationwide and Camping World Truck series banquet. Roush expressed his "disappointment and frustration" at Ragan not fulfilling his potential in a five-year stint driving the #6 Ford, which may come to an end if Roush Fenway Racing is unable to secure sponsorship. Tuesday night, Roush said part of the frustration came -- and he's expressed the same emotion in a variety of situations throughout his lengthy ownership tenure -- from his own failure to turn the proper keys. "I have nothing but the highest level of respect for David Ragan both as a person and a competitor," Roush said. "He has been a valuable member of the Roush Fenway family for many years, and has been a great representative of our organization. "The point referred to in my comments was aimed at my sincere disappointment that I have not been able to put the pieces together with David that would have supported the type of success that I feel he is capable. With that said we have watched David grow tremendously as a driver and much of that growth was manifested in his successes on the track this season."(NASCAR.com)(10-25-2011)
Significant layoffs at Roush: Multiple sources have confirmed significant layoffs this week at Roush Fenway Racing. According to sources, more than 100 workers were released by the team Monday and [Tuesday]. One source put the number at 125. Prior to today, the team employed about 440 people. Roush Fenway is expected to reduce its NASCAR Sprint Cup car count from four cars to three next season, with the #6 driven by David Ragan likely to be shuttered. At last report, the team is also without sponsors for the #17 of Matt Kenseth. The team may also reduce the size of its NASCAR Nationwide Series operations from three cars to one or two.(SPEED)(1-22-2011)
40% Chance the #6 and Ragan will be back in 2012, layoffs coming: David Ragan, who has driven Roush's #6 Sprint Cup car for the past five seasons and who already knew the car's current sponsor, UPS, would cut back its involvement in 2012, more than likely won't return. "My expectation right now is that I don't see having something for David next year," Roush said. "We aren't far enough along ... There are some discussions ongoing but they aren't far enough along that I would put more than a 40% chance of having something for David." Ragan's #6 program was the enigma, despite being in a position to win the Daytona 500, winning the non-points Sprint Showdown and then scoring Ragan's first points-paying victory, at Daytona in July. "David Ragan was a frustration and a disappointment for all of us," Roush said, "because he was not able to realize the potential that he had, given what his skill is and what the expectations of the sponsor were, and what the performance that was being demonstrated in the car, and what the engineering package was." Roush said he had not yet decided if the #6 -- which would be a guaranteed starter beginning the 2012 season based on its 23rd position in the final 2011 owners' standings -- would run in the Daytona 500. Roush said he hoped to put Ragan's crew chief, Drew Blickensderfer, in a Nationwide program [side note - looks like Blickensderfer is headed to RCR's #31]. Roush said he has done what he can to help keep Ragan in the Sprint Cup Series. "I have tried to help David," Roush said. "[Would you] characterize what I've done as not attempting to be helpful and to do my very best for David? As far as I know Richard Petty's situation is stable, and either Ricky or Trevor will figure into the Wood Brothers' limited program.
Roush Fenway senior vice president of business operations Steve Newmark confirmed the ongoing discussions and said "the ideal would be for David to remain under the Roush Fenway umbrella. We've had some discussions with him, looking at the Nationwide level." Newmark said as of Monday RFR would field one full-time Nationwide program and another part-time effort in 2012, and whichever of Stenhouse or Bayne didn't compete full time in Nationwide would compete in the legendary #21 Ford fielded for a partial Sprint Cup schedule by Wood Brothers Racing, a Roush Fenway ally. With Edwards, who secured the 2011 Nationwide owners' championship for Roush, ceasing to run full-time in Nationwide and the status of the #6 Sprint Cup program unsure, Roush said "we've got some people that will be displaced, though those decisions haven't been finalized, so I wouldn't care to speculate." Newmark confirmed the organization would scale back but he was not in a position to cite any numbers or definite layoff dates.(NASCAR.com)(11-22-2011)
Blickensderfer headed to RCR? Drew Blickensderfer, crew chief for #6-David Ragan, is parting ways with Roush Fenway Racing and is expected to be the new crew chief on the #31 Richard Childress Chevrolet for driver Jeff Burton. An official announcement is expected this week.(FOXSports)(11-21-2011)
Different look for the #6: The roof of the #6 UPS My Choice Ford of David Ragan will be painted white and have a red number to support Coca-Cola's Arctic Home program. Polar Bears have been a part of the Coca-Cola brand for decades and this holiday season Coke is turning its iconic red cans white to help raise awareness and funds polar bear conservation efforts. For every fan that donates, Coke will match it up to $1 million (RFR)(11-10-2011)
Roush Fenway expects to have 3 teams in 2012: Roush Fenway Racing expects to shrink from four full-time Sprint Cup cars to three in 2012. "The most likely scenario is three,'' RFR president Steve Newmark said before Sunday's race at Martinsville Speedway. "We're still plugging away at the fourth, but we all recognize the realities that when you're this late in the season it makes it more difficult to secure that. Only the #99 car of Carl Edwards and #16 of Greg Biffle is fully sponsored for next season. The #17 of 2003 Cup champion Matt Kenseth has no sponsorship for 2012, and Newmark said "nothing is eminent'' but added RFR is prepared to run that car unsponsored if necessary. Newmark said the #6 car driven by David Ragan could run limited races but was non-committal on whether Ragan, Nationwide Series points leader Ricky Stenhouse Jr. or Trevor Bayne -- or a combination of two or three -- would get those races. He said the plan is for Bayne, the defending Daytona 500 champion, to run a limited Cup schedule in the #21 for the Wood Brothers. Newmark said RFR hopes to field two Nationwide Series cars, with at least one of them fully sponsored. No decision has been made on who would fill those seats, although Stenhouse has been promised a ride for RFR next season.(ESPN)(10-31-2011)
Ragan wants to stay in Cup, but open to Nationwide ride: David Ragan believes he likely will compete in NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series in 2012. For whom he will be driving, though, has yet to be determined. UPS, Ragan's current primary sponsor on the Roush Fenway Racing #6 Ford, announced earlier this week that the company would scale back it's racing program next season. Minus funding, Ragan said Saturday he isn't sure in which direction his career is headed. While he's hopeful that funding can be found that will allow him to remain at Roush Fenway, Ragan knows the odds are less than favorable. But he says he's "confident" that he will run in Cup. "With a competitive team," he said. "I'm not going to be in a back-marker car just to say I'm driving a Sprint Cup car," Ragan, who won his first Cup race at Daytona in July, said. "I'm not too proud to go back to the Nationwide Series and contend for a championship. Ragan, 25, is under contract to Roush Fenway for 2012, meaning Roush could "loan" the driver to another Ford organization next season. But he said it's not a given that he would end up with a Ford team.(Scene Daily)(10-30-2011)
UPS renews with NASCAR; Moves to associate sponsor with Edwards: UPS and NASCAR have signed a multi-year agreement for UPS to remain the sport's official logistics partner, providing critical pick-up and delivery services for race teams, vendors and suppliers at every NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event throughout the season. In addition to its official partnership, UPS will continue its relationship with Roush Fenway Racing as a full-season associate sponsor of the #99 Ford, driven by Carl Edwards. The decision to continue with NASCAR in an official capacity for a 13th season and Roush Fenway Racing as a sponsor for a fourth season was driven by the positive growth UPS has enjoyed through its direct involvement in the sport. UPS also will continue its successful customer and employee hospitality activations at select events throughout the year in addition to serving as primary sponsor on the #99 Ford at Kentucky Speedway.(UPS)(10-27-2011)
New look for the #6 for rest of season: Beginning this weekend in Talladega and running through the end of the season, UPS My Choice will be featured as the primary design on David Ragan's #6 UPS Ford. UPS My Choice is a game-changing new service introduced by UPS in October that dramatically increases the likelihood of a successful package delivery on the first attempt by providing package recipients delivery alerts, specific delivery time frames, reroute options, visibility tools and electronic signature release, all by accessing ups.com through a computer or mobile phone.(Rosuh Fenway Racing)(10-19-2011)
Roush Yates Engines and Freescale Semiconductor partner on technology: Roush Yates Engines and Freescale Semiconductor announced a new partnership grounded in a shared vision for the expanding role of technology in motorsports. This partnership brings together two industry leaders in automotive and motorsports. Freescale, as one of the world's largest providers of automotive electronics, provides the processing power behind NASCAR's 2012 Sprint Cup Series switch to fuel injection and is the Official Automotive Semiconductor of NASCAR. Roush Yates is recognized as one of the premier engine manufacturers, and both of these companies have a long history in automotive and motorsports innovation. Together, Roush Yates and Freescale look to discover new ways in which technology can be used to improve the team, driver and fan experience within NASCAR and other racing series.(Roush Yates)(10-18-2011)
UPS Freight on the #6: David Ragan will run a special UPS Freight car this weekend in Charlotte. This is the second time UPS Freight will be featured on the #6 Ford this season and the new design was chosen by UPS employees. Ragan will be driving the same car that sat on the pole in Texas and finished seventh.(Roush Fenway), see an image of the car on the #6 team paint schemes page.(10-12-2011)
Could Roush drop to three teams in 2012? UPDATE: this week Jack Roush addressed the topic of Rosuh Fenway Racing dropping from a four-car to a three-car team in a SiriusXM Satellite Radio interview. "We're looking for a sponsor for #6-David (Ragan), but right now I can't tell you who that's gonna be," Roush told host Claire B. Lang. "I'll say that I'm not real close on it. So David has not been encouraged to not talk to other teams going forward for things that they might have or an interest because right now I don't see how I'm gonna run the fourth car unless things turn dramatically." #16-Greg Biffle, #99-Carl Edwards and #17-Matt Kenseth are RFR's other Cup drivers. Roush said he expected to remain active in the Nationwide Series but more likely with two cars than three. He has self-funded in large part the programs of Trevor Bayne (who won the Daytona 500) and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (who is on pace to win the Nationwide title), and even Edwards hasn't had full backing.(Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)(10-7-2011)
UPDATE: Roush concedes that, while he is still looking for a sponsor to keep Ragan in his current ride, there are still no great prospects. And Roush says he's told Ragan to start looking for a new deal, because without major sponsorship Roush says he won't be able to run four full-time Cup teams in 2012. Speculation is that Ragan could be penciled in for a ride with Kevin Buckler [#71 TRG Ford], the sports car racer turned NASCAR team owner, and a Ford man. But Ragan himself says he's focused more on finishing this season as strongly as he can. "Right now I am not focused on 2012 just yet," Ragan says. "I think it's important for us to finish this season strong. And the stronger we can finish 2011, that will only help our chances of finding a sponsor and a package to go racing next year. Everyone at Roush Fenway is working hard at selling sponsors for us and for Matt. They have to sell some sponsorships for us to go racing next year. Jack has always done a good job of selling our race cars. Even though it's come to the last minute, we have confidence we'll be out on the track racing (next season). And hopefully we can find a partner we can announce, sooner rather than later.(MikeMulhern.net)(10-8-2011)
David Ragan not worried about future: David Ragan has lost some of the momentum he brought through the month of July. The #6 Roush Fenway Racing team scuffled through August and now sits with only a slim chance at making the Chase, despite Ragan's breakthrough win in July's Coke Zero 400 at Daytona. Friday, news surfaced that UPS was cutting its sponsorship back from 36 races to four to six [eight] races and may take that money over to Carl Edwards' #99 Ford or even to another team. The bad news did not shock Ragan. "I think we've known for a while that UPS was going to cut back a little bit.," Ragan told News/Talk WSB just after posting the 15th-fastest time in Sprint Cup Series Happy Hour practice. "They are still going to be involved in the sport in some way, shape, or form. Hopefully, we can do the right things and keep them around Roush Fenway in a small capacity. We knew they had a different mindset of how they want to spend some of their marketing dollars. We've had a good relationship and I hope we can keep that going - just not in the same way we have today." Despite rumors that now swirl about Ragan's future in the sponsor-lacking #6, the 25-year-old remains confident that his future is in that seat. "We've got a lot of irons in the fire. It's just a matter of which one materializes.We've got a lot of meetings with a lot of companies. It's just a matter of finding some sponsorship. We've got to fill out the 6 car with some extra races. That's what we're working on and we're positive we can get that done."(WSB Radio)(9-4-2011)
UPS to cut back NASCAR sponsorship UPDATE: UPS plans to cut back dramatically on its support of Roush Fenway Racing's #6 Ford driven by David Ragan in 2012, SportsBusiness Daily reported. Sources familiar with the company's plan said it will drop its full-season primary sponsorship of the #6 car and sponsor 4-8 races at RFR in '12. The company is in talks to shift its sponsorship to Carl Edwards, who drives the team's #99 Ford. RFR president Steve Newmark declined to comment and said the team is still in discussions with UPS. The company did not return a call seeking comment. The move will further reduce the number of sponsors paying for their logo to appear in all 36 NASCAR races. UPS was one of seven sponsors slated to be on the same NASCAR hood for all 36 Sprint Cup races. The other full-season primary sponsors are #11-FedEx [34 races, Sports Clips at Darlington, Charter Comm at Atlanta], #20-Home Depot, #48-Lowe's, #27-Menard's, #2-Miller Lite and #56-NAPA Auto Parts. (Red Bull and Furniture Row own the teams that feature their logos.) Though UPS won't renew its full-season primary sponsorship at RFR, sources said the company is expected to renew its official partnership with NASCAR. It has been the sport's official delivery company since 2000.(Sporting News/SportsBusiness Journal)(9-2-2011)
UPDATE: If UPS is in talks to become part of Carl Edwards' sponsorship program next year, the driver of the #99 Ford hasn't been part of the discussions yet. Edwards was aware of Friday's Sports Business Daily story that indicated UPS, which currently sponsors David Ragan in the #6 Roush Fenway Racing Ford, would reduce its commitment significantly next year and is talking with RFR brass about sponsoring Edwards for four to eight races. "I read it, too, and I don't know anything other than what it said," Edwards told Sporting News on Saturday at Atlanta Motor Speedway, when asked about the report. "I still don't know that it's anything more than a rumor. Nobody's come to me and said, 'Hey, here's what's happening; here's what's going on.' I wish I knew."(in ppart from the Sporting News)(9-3-2011)
Jack Roush ready to resume flying: It was a year ago when Sprint Cup car owner Jack Roush arrived at MIS with facial injuries, making his return to the series after he had crash-landed his plane in Oshkosh, Wis., the previous month. Roush, 69, enjoys flying his planes as much as he loves motor sports, and that is why he's so excited to return to piloting this week at Willow Run Airport for the first time since the crash. "I'm totally recovered," said Roush, of Livonia, wearing his trademark Panama-style hat while signing autographs. "I just got my medical back from the FAA, indicating that I'm medically sound and I'm without restriction. I have one more validation flight for the (injured) eye and I have that Tuesday. Once I get that done I can fly anything I did before. I plan to fly Tuesday." Roush suffered a ruptured left eyeball, broken jaw, damaged left cheekbone and had a compression fracture in his back from the crash. He said at the time "that everything will come back except the sight in my left eye."(Detroit News)(8-22-2011)
Tuesday testing: hearing that several drivers are testing Tuesday at Carolina Motorsports Park, including David Ragan and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. in a Grand AM GT car, Alex Tagliani in a Penske Dodge Nationwide car and Marcos Amborse in a Nationwide car.(8-9-2011)
Ragan Cautiously Optimistic About 2012: While #6-David Ragan is signed with Roush Fenway racing for a couple of more years, big money sponsor UPS' contract is up at the end of the season, and Ragan and the #6 team's results since pairing with the Atlanta company in 2009 have been less-than-stellar. Previous good finishes and Saturday's win give Ragan tempered optimism. "I'm not worried about the program next year. I certainly think about it some. UPS has been a great partner of ours and will continue to be," Ragan said, before appearing on-stage before a group of fans. "They've got some decisions to make in the next couple of months. I think we're on the right path to bring those guys back; we're happy we got that win for them that certainly helped. The Fords are the strongest they have been in a long time. Jack [Roush, owner] and I are on the same page and UPS is happy."(WSB Radio)(7-6-2011)
UPS happy with win: Well after the [#6-Ragan, UPS driver, won Coke Zero 400] victory, UPS sent a statement to the media, which is highly unusual. "We're very proud to have David Ragan as UPS Racing's brand ambassador and are excited to congratulate him on his first win," said Ron Rogowski, UPS vice president, sponsorships & events. "David has a great future ahead of him and we look forward to many more trips to Victory Lane with him."(Daytona Beach News Journal)(7-5-2011)
David Ragan wins at Daytona: #6-David Ragan won the Coke Zero 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway for his 1st career win. With the win, Ragan now moves into 17th in the drivers points and is currently in the 2nd Chase Wild Card spot. The win is the first for a UPS sponsored car since Dale Jarrett won at Talladega in Oct. 2005.
#17-Kenseth finished second followed by #20-Logano, #4-Kahne, #18-Busch, #24-Gordon, #29-Harvick, #27-Menard, #42-Montoya and #43-Allmendinger.
Pole Sitter #5-Martin was inovled in the first 'big one' late in the race and finished 33rd. Daytona 500 winner and outside pole sitter, #21-Bayne, wrecked on lap 5 and finished 41st.
The points leader going in to the race, #99-Edwards, wrecked early in the race and finished 37th and lost the points lead to #29-Kevin Harvick, who leads the points by 5 points.
There were 57 lead changes among 25 drivers; 6 cautions for 21 yellow flag laps. The attendance is listed as 115,000 same as last July.
Scheduled Race Re-Air: SPEED, Wednesday, July 6 at 12:00pm/et
See race results, awards, laps led and more on Jayski's Daytona Race Results/Awards page.
See drivers championship points standings on Jayski's Drivers Points Standings page.
For the owner points standings, see my Owners Points Standings page.(7-2-2011)
UPS honoring Ned Jarrett with special scheme at Brickyard: UPS will pay tribute to Ned Jarrett's recent induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame with a commemorative design on David Ragan's #6 UPS Ford at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The throwback paint scheme was unveiled at Infineon Raceway and resembles Jarrett's 1965 championship-winning Ford Galaxie. UPS sponsored Jarrett's son and current broadcast analyst Dale Jarrett from 2001 to 2008 and both father and son appeared together in one of UPS's memorable "race the truck" NASCAR commercials. During the Indianapolis race weekend, Ragan's UPS Ford will feature a classic candy apple blue base design while also paying homage to Jarrett's nickname - Gentleman Ned - along the rear quarter panel. The #6 Ford will feature retro white wheels, which will stay on the car until the team's first pit stop, and showcase the UPS logo as it appeared in 1965.(Just Marketing/UPS Racing)(6-25-2011)
see an image of the scheme on the #6 Team Schemes page.(6-29-2011)
Roush supportive of Childress: Jack Roush drew a few laughs after his team's NASCAR Nationwide victory, when he was asked his view of the fine handed down to fellow owner Richard Childress. Childress was fined $150,000 earlier this month for an altercation with Kyle Busch at Kansas Speedway. Childress was upset that Busch bumped into Joey Coulter on the cool-down lap after a race. "It was pretty high," Roush said about the fine. "I guess that pretty much puts the nail in the coffin of, 'Have at it, guys.' Maybe that was a boy and a man. I am not sure. Maybe that is different than the boys having at it. Kyle has been pretty rough on my cars over a period of time and for Richard to stand up for himself was OK," Roush said.(Associated Press)(6-19-2011)
Drivers test at Infineon: Sprint Cup Series drivers #00-David Reutimann, #6-David Ragan, #71-Andy Lally and #66-Michael McDowell, as well as West Series driver and Hayward native Jessica Brunelli, completed a one-day test session at Infineon Raceway on Tuesday in preparation for the Toyota/Save Mart 350, June 24-26. Reutimann completed approximately 50 laps around the 10-turn, 1.99-mile road course. Reutimann will compete in his fourth NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event at Infineon Raceway next weekend. He posted a best finish of 20th in 2010. Reutimann was joined at the test session by Lally, who will race the #71 entry for Petaluma-based TRG Motorsports. Lally, who has competed in Sonoma in the American Le Mans Series and Grand-Am Series, will make his first Toyota/Save Mart 350 attempt. All four Sprint Cup Series drivers piloted late-model stock cars provided by a Northern California-based race team.(Infineon Raceway PR)(6-15-2011)
UPS On The Move? Now that Kasey Kahne has Farmers Insurance as his primary sponsor for the majority of races next season, it eliminates one of the potential candidates for the UPS sponsorship. UPS is one of the top sponsors in the sport left to make its decision on where it will be in 2012. Its contract ends this year with Roush Fenway Racing and driver #6-David Ragan. Roush Fenway still needs to sign #99-Carl Edwards, and that could result in him wearing the UPS colors next season along with Aflac, depending on how much money each company wants to fork over for the current series points leader. That wouldn't be the preferable scenario for Roush Fenway but might be the only way it can keep Edwards in the organization. Another possibility for UPS would be #33-Clint Bowyer, whose personality would be a good fit with the company. General Mills has yet to re-sign with Richard Childress Racing and Bowyer, whose contract also is up at the end of this year.(Scene Daily)(6-15-2011)
IEG will measure ROO for new Roush sponsors: Roush Fenway Racing [#'s 6,16,17,99] has hired IEG's sponsorship measurement division to provide independent, third-party return-on-objective analysis to new sponsors. The race team and sponsorship analysis company are labeling the new service RoushFenwayOnTrack. IEG has never partnered with a team or property to do similar research in the past. Roush executives hope the service enables sponsors to better evaluate the value of their sponsorships with the race team. Roush will pay for the service from IEG and include it in its sponsorship packages alongside assets such as driver appearances, production days and show car programs. Sponsors will be able to hold independent meetings with IEG to define their objectives and develop measurement tools to track their sponsorship's performance. IEG will share the results with the partner. Four of Roush's major NASCAR Sprint Cup partners were up for renewal this season. 3M [#16 ]is the only one to renew to date, and IEG measurement services weren't included in the deal. The team remains in negotiations with Diageo's Crown Royal [#17], Aflac [#99] and UPS [#6].(Sports Business Journal)(6-13-2011)
Roush Fenway to Host Annual Spring Fan Day Event: Matt Kenseth, Carl Edwards, Greg Biffle, David Ragan, Trevor Bayne, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. & Jack Roush are scheduled to sign autographs as part of Roush Fenway Racing's 2011 Fan Day event on Thursday, May 26, 2011 at its corporate headquarters in Concord, North Carolina. Fans are invited to participate in an array of activities that kick off with autograph sessions by all seven Roush Fenway drivers and legendary team owner Jack Roush. In addition, Sirius NASCAR Radio will broadcast live on site and Roush Fenway will host its second annual fan tweet up at the event, featuring RickyvsTrevor.com. Autograph sessions are as follows:
11:30am -- Trevor Bayne, Carl Edwards, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Jack Roush
12:30pm -- Matt Kenseth, Greg Biffle and David Ragan
Tickets for both autograph sessions are limited and will be distributed on a first come, first serve basis beginning at 8:00am/et on the day of the event. In addition to the above activities, fans will be able to tour the Roush Fenway museum, shop in the store and peruse a variety of displays from Aflac, Scotts, Kellogg's, Avon and Blackwell Angus. There will also be live music performed by Luke Kauffman, as well as food and drink vendors so fans are encouraged to make a day of the festivities. Roush Fenway Racing address is; 4600 Roush Place, Concord, NC. For more information, visit the Roush Fenway Racing website.(5-14-2011)
Pole is Ragan's first in 153 starts: 102 is the number of starts #78-Regan Smith will have in the Cup series when he takes the green flag on Saturday at Texas Motor Speedway, making him the full-time active Cup driver with the most starts without a pole in the Sprint Cup Series. #6-David Ragan had the most starts among active Cup regulars without a pole until he grabbed the poled Friday for Saturday's Samsung Mobile 500, which will be his 153rd Cup start.(Sporting News)(4-9-2011)
UPS Freight for Ragan at Texas: Ragan will drive the UPS Freight Ford in Texas. It will be the first race this season that Freight has appeared on the #6.(Roush Fenway)(4-7-2011)
Part owner of Roush Fenway changes name: The parent company that owned the Boston Red Sox, Liverpool FC and half of Roush Fenway Racing has changed its name to Fenway Sports Group. The umbrella group owned primarily by John W. Henry and Tom Werner was formerly known as New England Sports Ventures. Company officials said it was assuming a new corporate name to better reflect its reach into NASCAR and English Premier League soccer. Fenway Sports Group had been the name of NESV's marketing arm. It will now go by Fenway Sports Management.(Associated Press)(3-23-2011)
Ragan to visit Shriners Hospitals for Children: David Ragan named Shriners Hospitals for Children his charity of choice in 2008 and has continued to support their great cause over the years in everything that he does. One highlight of Ragan's relationship with the Shriners is getting a chance to visit the different hospitals and get a firsthand look at the innovative medical advances that the Shriners are doing to help children in need. On his way out to Auto Club Speedway on Thursday, March 24th Ragan will make a stop in Los Angeles to visit with the children at the Shriners Hospitals for Children. Ragan will take a tour and spend the afternoon participating in a racing-themed day with the children and their families. Ragan has started the process to become a Shriner himself and though he hasn't officially been inducted he has done a lot with the organization over the years.(Roush Fenway Racing)(3-22-2011)
Valvoline renews oil partnership with Roush Fenway: Roush Fenway Racing and Valvoline, two organizations with long histories of excellence in automotive performance, announced an extension of their NASCAR partnership. Valvoline, the leading innovator and supplier of quality, high-performing automotive products, will continue to be the exclusive motor oil provider for Roush Fenway Racing and all of its NASCAR entries. Valvoline and Roush Fenway Racing are used to finding victory lane in NASCAR competition. In 14 seasons as the team's official motor oil, Valvoline has played an integral role in 46 Roush Fenway Sprint Cup Series victories. In 2011, the relationship continues into its 15th season.(Roush Fenway)(3-3-2011)
Raybestos signs on with Roush Fenway Racing: Roush Fenway Racing announced a multi-year marketing partnership with Raybestos that will see its four NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams run Raybestos brake packages, beginning with short track and road course events in 2011. While Raybestos has provided Roush Fenway with brakes for many of its 291 NASCAR wins and five NASCAR championships, 2011 marks the beginning of a larger technical and marketing partnership. "We had a very successful test with the Raybestos brakes last year, and the feedback from all of our drivers was very positive," said team owner Jack Roush. "This is the first time as an organization that we've designated a single supplier to meet all of our needs - and I think that speaks volumes about the quality products that Raybestos is producing." Roush Fenway will run Raybestos Sprint Cup short track and road course brake packages, including Raybestos legendary high-friction racing brake pads. The ultra-lightweight aluminum alloy Raybestos six-piston calipers are the stiffest and lightest calipers available in NASCAR.(RFR)(3-2-2011)
Forbes names most valuable NASCAR teams & highest paid drivers: The weak economy has pummeled NASCAR over the past three years, with sponsorships, merchandise sales, race winnings and subsidies from automakers falling. Fans have tuned out, sending TV ratings down 24% since 2006 and leaving more than 40,000 empty seats at some races last year. One of its longest-tenured teams, Richard Petty Motorsports, was scrambling for cash on a week-to-week basis so it could race on weekends last fall. Is NASCAR headed for a full-blown meltdown? Hardly. Yes, the value of the top 10 teams slid 5% in 2010, on average, to $136 million by [Forbes] count, as prize money dropped and sponsors dialed back their commitment, but a rebound in 2011 for the sport is a strong possibility. NASCAR's strongest and most valuable team remains Hendrick Motorsports. With a valuation of $350 million on revenues of $177 million in 2010, Hendrick is worth 56% more than the next-highest-grossing team, Roush Fenway Racing, which [Forbes] value at $224 million on revenues of $140 million last year. Hendrick earned a NASCAR-high $18 million in operating income (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) in 2010. Richard Childress Racing was third on the list, followed by Joe Gibbs Racing and Penske Racing. Rounding out the top 10: Stewart-Haas, Michael Waltrip Racing, Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing, Richard Petty Motorsports, and Red Bull Racing.
AND: Despite his lack of success in recent years on the track, Dale Earnhardt Jr. remains NASCAR's highest-paid driver, earning $29 million in 2010 thanks to merchandise sales that are the best in the sport and reportedly account for one-third of all NASCAR licensed merchandise sales. Other income streams include an annual salary from Hendrick and a 50% share of his $4.9 million in winnings and bonuses in 2010 from Sprint Cup races. Earnhardt also has a bevy of personal endorsements, including Chevrolet, Nationwide and Wrangler. Hendrick teammate Jeff Gordon follows Earnhardt in the NASCAR money standings with earnings of $25 million last year. It is a clean sweep for Hendrick at the top with five-time Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson, the third-highest-paid driver at $24 million. The rest of the top 10: Tony Stewart, Kevin Harvick, Carl Edwards, Kyle Busch, Kasey Kahne, Denny Hamlin, and Matt Kenseth.(Forbes)(2-24-2011)
Ragan signed thru 2014: some previous reports had #6-David Ragan of Roush Fenway Racing as a free agent after this season. According to Roush Fenway Racing, the UPS sponsorship is up at the end of 2011, however, Ragan's contract extends throught 2014 (FoxSports)(2-4-2011)
Edwards wants to move forward with contract renewal: UPDATE: Name your price. That's what Carl Edwards is in position to do as the highest-profile free agent in Sprint Cup racing. That notion, however, runs contrary to Edwards' desire to wrap up contract talks quickly and decisively, the way he did in 2008 when he announced an agreement with owner Jack Roush on May 2, put contract questions to rest and concentrated on driving the #99 Ford. "I'd like to be able to get it done, so that we can just keep focused on winning, and that's the most important thing," Edwards told Sporting News on Wednesday during a Sprint Cup media tour stop at the Roush Fenway hangar at Concord airport. Doubtless Edwards will test the market, and he'll choose his next ride - or decide to stay at Roush Fenway - based on the situation he believes will provide the best opportunity for success.(Sporting News)(1-28-2011)
UPDATE: Team co-owner Jack Roush did not mince words when it came his driver lineup beyond 2011. Carl Edwards, Greg Biffle and David Ragan are all up for renewal. Roush "expects" all three drivers to return. "Preliminary discussions are underway with David, with Carl and with Greg and last year we made a decision going forward with Matt," Roush said. "But Jack Roush is not front-line when negotiating with the drivers. I try to keep my focus and my attention on the drivers not based on competitive, commercial interest but on the things that we can do cooperatively to improve our competition prospects on the racetrack. "The fact is I don't know what the windows are for negotiations for our drivers, I don't need to know because Steve Newman and the other people in his area are looking into that. When I need to sign something or make an approval for an agreement that's on the table, they'll bring it to me. Until then I'm blissfully ignorant of what's going (on)." With mediocre results, Ragan's future will be predicated on performance.(Fox Sports)(1-28-2011)
Roush adjusting to life with one eye: Jack Roush took a good ribbing at the end of last season about being "one-eyed Jack." Well, now he in a way is back to two eyes. Roush lost the vision in his left eye in a July 27 plane crash. He had a prosthetic eye put in around Thanksgiving. "My prosthetic eye is doing very well," Roush said Thursday during the Sprint Media Tour. "I haven't had any infection from it, I haven't had any problem of any kind with it. Nine days ago, I had some cosmetic surgery so I've still got a little swelling for that," Roush said. "I've had no complication at all from any of the surgeries I had. I sleep well. My corrected vision with my reading glasses is 20/15 and I've adjusted to having one eye as well as [I could]."(Scene Daily)(1-28-2011)
Roush Fenway partners with Navistar: Roush Fenway Racing has announced a multi-year organization-wide partnership with Navistar. The agreement will see all Roush Fenway haulers transported to all tests and races behind Navistar's International LoneStar Series Diesel Trucks.(Roush Fenway Racing)(1-27-2011)
Roush Fenway Racing names new President: Roush Fenway Racing has announced that Steve Newmark has been named president of its multi-car racing organization. Newmark will succeed Geoff Smith in the position; Smith is retiring at the end of December after serving in the role for the previous 13 years. Newmark, who previously was a shareholder at the law firm of Robinson, Bradshaw and Hinson, joined the organization as senior vice president of business operations in April. He brings an innovative skill set and fresh approach, highlighted by extensive NASCAR and outside sports and entertainment experience, to the position. We are excited about Steve coming on board as our president, said Roush Fenway owner Jack Roush. Steve has a solid background working in all areas of sports and brings new ideas and insight into our organization. Importantly, he has been part of the Roush Fenway family for many years, beginning as outside counsel and then as head of our business operations this year. Geoff Smith did an outstanding job of running the business affairs of our company for the past 20 years and we could not have done this without him. Geoffs leadership has set the bar high and we believe that Steve is the right person to ensure that we remain a leader in the marketplace and in the garage. Since his arrival, Ive been extremely pleased with his business acumen, work ethic and his desire to engage in all aspects of our business. We are certainly excited to move forward with Steve at the helm.(Roush Fenway Racing)(12-20-2010)
Roush cuts jobs: ith its Nationwide program contracting and the need for fabricators shrinking, Roush Fenway Racing has decided to lay off as many as 60 employees, a source close to the situation told Sporting News. Roush will run three Nationwide teams next year, full-time entries for #60-Carl Edwards and #16-Trevor Bayne and what the company hopes will be a full-time ride for 2010 series rookie of the year #6-Ricky Stenhouse Jr., pending sponsorship. Roush ran four full-time Nationwide cars in 2010. In addition, with Roush affiliate Richard Petty Motorsports contracting from four teams to two next year, Roush is overstaffed when it comes to building the cars it supplies to RPM.(Sporting News), other teams that have laid off employee's recently include Richard Petty Motorsports and Penske Racing.(12-4-2010)
No major changes planned at Roush: While only two of his four teams made it to victory lane in 2010 and accounted for just four of the seasons 36 race wins, team co-owner Jack Roush says he doesnt anticipate wholesale changes within the Roush Fenway Racing organization during the offseason. That doesnt mean there wont be movement, but its unlikely there will be major changes involving all four of the organizations NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams. Were re-evaluating everybodys job, from crew chiefs to engineers to tire changers for all four of our programs, Roush said Tuesday while attending the Raybestos Rookie of the Year awards luncheon at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Well certainly build on the strength we have had, but if we have a weakness or see an opportunity
again, promoting from within whenever possible and generally that is our trademark. We will be looking for ways to improve ourselves. Roush Fenway Racing fields Sprint Cup teams for four drivers #16-Greg Biffle, #99-Carl Edwards, #17-Matt Kenseth and #6-David Ragan. Biffle, Edwards and Kenseth qualified for NASCARs Chase For The Sprint Cup while Ragan finished 24th in points.
Kenseth's team was one of two for Roush Fenway that had notable personnel changes take place during the season. After starting the year with crew chief Drew Blickensderfer, Todd Parrott was named crew chief following the Daytona 500. In June, veteran Jimmy Fennig replaced Parrott. Ragan finished outside the top 20 in points for the second consecutive year after finishing 13th in 2008. His team also saw a change in crew chiefs during the year as Blickensderfer returned to the top of the pit box in September, replacing Donnie Wingo. There could be changes to members of the pit crews. As for his organizations Nationwide Series program, Roush said he hopes to field three teams in 2011 for Edwards, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Trevor Bayne.(SceneDaily)(11-28-2010)
Some Spotters on the move: Silly season is just starting for NASCAR spotters.
Keith Barnwell goes from #1-Jamie McMurray to spotting for #56-Martin Truex Jr.
Lorin Ranier goes from the #6 Ford of David Ragan to the #1 team and McMurray.
Brett Griffin, fomerly Elliott Sadler's sponsor on the #19 RPM team that will close, replaces Rocky Ryan as the spotter for the #31
Chevy of Jeff Burton and is expected to continue his spotter duties with Elliott Sadler in the Nationwide Series.
Rocky Ryan could be a possible replacement for Ranier on the #6 car with David Ragan.
Kevin Hamlin started spotting for #33-Clint Bowyer at Texas in November.(FoxSports)(11-19-2010)
Edwards wins with FR9 Engine, will run all races in 2011: Carl Edwards Ford Fusion has been on an impressive winning streak, earning front row starting positions and capturing the win in the last two Nationwide Series races. Edwards also qualified on the pole during this weeks Sprint Cup Series race at Phoenix International Raceway and swept the weekend by winning the Kobalt Tools 500. Edwards drives the #99 Aflac Ford Fusion powered by Roush Yates new FR9 engine. The FR9 is the first Ford purpose-built race engine ever engineered and produced at Roush Yates Engines in Mooresville, NC. The new Ford engine has been integrated slowly into the Sprint Cup Series throughout the second half of the 2010 season with help from Roush Fenway Racing and Richard Petty Motorsports cars racing the engine intermittently. It has been a remarkable learning period for the FR9, with a total of 5 poles and 3 wins, including Edwards win this weekend that required both horsepower and efficient fuel mileage to beat Championship contenders Jimmie Johnson and Denny Hamlin. The new FR9 engine that Ford helped us with certainly was a factor today, said Jack Roush, owner of Roush Fenway Racing. The fact that we were able to save gas and still have enough speed to maintain position on the race track was all very good. Im thrilled to be in Victory Lane this weekend. Even though a Championship is out of reach for Ford this year, the FR9 engine has shown an impressive increase in performance and reliability throughout the second half of the 2010 Sprint Cup season. These improvements bring enthusiasm to the Ford Racing and Roush Yates Engines camps, as they plan to run the FR9 in all Ford cars for the full 2011 Sprint Cup Season.
Im excited to be running the FR9 in all Fords for the entire 2011 Sprint Cup Season and soon to come for the Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series, said Doug Yates, CEO of Roush Yates Engines. Carls win at Phoenix is just another testament to the power Roush Yates FR9 engine is capable of. Everyone at the engine shop has been working hard to get this engine just right, and we are extremely proud of Roush Fenway Racing and their accomplishments with it this year. I look forward to watching the FR9 race at Ford Championship weekend next week at Homestead, as well as the 2011 Sprint Cup Season.(Roush Yates Engines)(11-15-2010)
Love of Logistics on the #6 at Dega: UPS will bring its love of logistics to NASCAR as the company spotlights its newest advertising and communications campaign, "We Love Logistics," on the #6 UPS Ford piloted by David Ragan during this weekend's Amp Energy 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. UPS launched the global campaign last month, but the Talladega race will mark the debut of 'We Love Logistics' iconography and messaging on the race car and in other elements of the company's racing program. The broader campaign focuses on UPS's unique ability to help companies of any size harness the power of logistics to drive growth, improve efficiencies and enhance customer relationships. But logistics also plays an important role in motorsports. The dedicated logistics paint scheme in Talladega is a completely new look for the shipping leader. The addition of blue and green to the traditional brown and gold look on the car is symbolic of the multiple services UPS can provide customers.(Just Marketing / UPS PR)see an image of the car on my #6 team paint schemes page.(10-27-2010)
United Way on the #6 at Charlotte: UPS will feature the United Way logo in a special design this weekend in Charlotte on the #6 Ford that David Ragan will drive. The tribute to the charitable organization follows a United Way announcement earlier this summer that UPS had become the first corporate donor ever to surpass $1 billion in contributions to United Way. David Ragans fire suit and helmet from the weekend will be available for auction beginning Friday, October 15 at www.liveunited.org/thanksUPS.(RFR)(10-13-2010)
Bayne could make Sprint Cup debut at Texas: Roush Fenway Racing is working on having Trevor Bayne make his Sprint Cup debut next month, most likely at Texas Motor Speedway. Bayne possibly could end up in the #21 Ford of Wood Brothers Racing, although Roush Fenway could field a fifth car for Bayne since he is a rookie. By running Texas, the 19-year-old Bayne would be in a good position for approval for the 2011 Daytona 500. He is approved for any Cup race the remainder of this year except for Talladega. I know if I were to run the Cup race next year [at Daytona], it would be something I would have to be approved for, Bayne said Saturday at Auto Club Speedway in California. That would be a process that could include that, but I dont know what the ultimate plan is yet. We have talked about running a Roush car at Texas, but I dont know [what will happen]. Bayne is ninth in the Nationwide Series standings. He signed with Roush Fenway last week after starting the year with Diamond-Waltrip Racing. He will run the rest of the Nationwide Series season for Roush Fenway and full time in 2011 with likely select Cup races.(SceneDaily)(10-9-2010)
Wingo replaced as Ragan's crew chief? UPDATES: Hearing that Donnie Wingo is no longer the crew chief for #6-David Ragan and that Drew Blickensderfer moves up from Roush's Nationwide program as Carl Edwards crew chief, with Mike Beam taking over there. No word on Wingo's plans.(9-21-2010)
UPDATE: Jack Roush has promoted Drew Blickensderfer once again. Blickensderfer will return to the Sprint Cup Series this time on top of the #6 UPS Ford pitbox for driver David Ragan, sources told FOXSports.com. Most recently Blickensderfer was crew chief for Carl Edwards and the #60 in the Nationwide Series. Blickensderfer replaces Donnie Wingo, who joined the organization in 2008 as Jamie McMurray's crew chief. He was reassigned to Ragan's team at the end of last season. Veteran Mike Beam is expected to replace Blickensderfer atop the box for the #60 Nationwide Series team.(Fox Sports)(9-22-2010)
UPDATE 2: Roush Fenway Racing has announced that Drew Blickensderfer will take over as crew chief on the #6 Sprint Cup team with driver David Ragan effective immediately. Mike Beam will replace Blickensderfer as crew chief of the #60 Nationwide Team, with driver Carl Edwards. Beam had previously served as competition director of Roush Fenway's Nationwide program. With the move Blickensderfer returns to the Sprint Cup series where he served as Matt Kenseth's crew chief in 2009, leading the #17 Sprint Cup team to two victories, including the famed Daytona 500. In addition to wins in the Sprint Cup Series at Daytona and California, Blickensderfer boasts 12 wins in the Nationwide Series. In 2008 he guided Edwards' team to a Nationwide Series runner-up finish and in 2006 he helped Danny O'Quinn Jr. capture the Nationwide Raybestos Rookie Award. Beam, a 30-year NASCAR veteran, has served at Roush Fenway as a crew chief in the Camping World Truck Series and Nationwide Series. He most recently served as director of competition for Roush Fenway's Nationwide program.(Roush Fenway)(9-22-2010)
Roush Fenway Remains a Leader in Sustainablity: Its no secret that Roush Fenway Racing recycles 96 percent of every race car but its their continued efforts to become more sustainable that is really paying off for the environment. In 2009 the team recycled 65 tons of plastics, metal and paper and implemented small but impactful changes across all its facilities. These efforts helped the team meet its goal of an overall 10 percent improvement in indoor air quality; reduction of water consumption; increase in waste reduction and recycling; and improvement in energy usage over the last year.
In total the team recycled 26,660 pounds of plastic in 2009, up from 12,427 pounds in 2008. The increased number reflects a company-wide education and an increase in the number of items that were recycled beyond drink bottles. The team also recycled 11,335 pounds of paper, down from 19,628 pounds the year before in part because of the efforts to either not print documents or use auto-duplexing.
Additionally, the team has switched to biodegradable soy-based products where practical (instead of harmful chemical degreasers); eliminated Styrofoam cups; switched from 400w bulbs to 360w bulbs; mandated a managed forestry content for all paper, envelopes, etc.; and added additional occupancy sensors in the race and fabrication shops to reduce energy consumption. The effort doesnt stop at the shop though, Roush Fenway is extending its efforts beyond the race team as well.
Roush Fenway is a participant in the Cabarrus Sustainability Council, a joint effort between the Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce and Cabarrus Economic Development that works to promote sustainability through public and private collaborations. Just this week, the Council announced a partnership between local school systems, the business community and local government to bring a comprehensive recycling program to local schools beginning this school year.(RFR)(8-29-2010)
NTSB issues preliminary report on Roush crash: The National Transportation Safety Board issued its preliminary report on Jack Roush's plane crash that happened last month at Oshkosh, Wis. The report does not assign blame for the incident but does provide a few more details of what happened. In the report, it states that Roush's "airplane appeared to overshoot the runway centerline during this turn (a left turn for the runway) and then level its wings momentarily before entering a slight right bank simultaneously as the nose of the airplane pitched up. The airplane then turned left toward the runway centerline and began a descent. During this descent, the airplane's pitch appeared to increase until the airplane entered a right bank and struck the grass area west of the runway in a nose down, right wing low attitude.'' The report -- remember this is a preliminary report, a final one will come later -- did not mention the traffic "conflict'' he encountered upon landing that he said contributed to the incident. Such details are likely to be examined in the final report. The preliminary report stated that air traffic controllers were interviewed, amateur video was reviewed, the NTSB spent two days examining the plane before giving it back to Roush and found "no preimpact malfunctions or anomalies'' in the on-scene inspections of the "airframe structure, flight control systems, or two turbo-fan engines.'' The report also states that "several non-volatile memory devices were removed from the airplane and were retained for future download. A cockpit voice recorder was recovered and shipped to the NTSB Vehicle Recorder Division in Washington, D.C. for readout."(Hampton Roads)(8-15-2010)
Jack Roush back at the track: NASCAR team owner Jack Roush was back at the racetrack Friday, having permanently lost vision in his left eye but otherwise feeling lucky to survive yet another plane crash. And yes, he expects to fly again. Roush, who crashed his jet just over two weeks ago while trying to land at an air show in Wisconsin, said he ruptured his left eyeball in the crash and doesn't expect to ever be able to see out of it again. "Everything will come back, except for the eye," he told reporters at Michigan International Speedway. Roush then joked that he uses his right eye to examine spark plugs anyway. Wearing sunglasses and his trademark Panama-style hat, Roush was present on pit road for qualifying. He had left the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., earlier this week. In addition to his eye injury, Roush said he broke his jaw, sustained a compression fracture in his back and hurt his left cheek.(Associated Press)(8-13-2010)
Roush released from hospital: Jack Roush, co-owner of Roush Fenway Racing and chairman of ROUSH Enterprises, was released from Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., yesterday. I would like to thank everyone for the outpouring of support and concern I have received the past two weeks, Roush said. Our teams and drivers have not missed a beat in my absence, and I am proud of the effort they have put forth. I look forward to rejoining them at the track soon. It has not yet been determined when Roush will return to the race track.(Roush Fenway PR)(8-12-2010)
Roush hopes to make it to Michigan: Angelique Chengelis reported on ESPN's NASCAR Now Sunday morning that team owner Jack Roush is hoping to be at the Michigan race next weekend. He continues to recover from his airplace accident at the Mayo Clinic and his attendance at the track will depend on his progress this week.(8-8-2010)
Decals on Roush cars: To show support for the boss, Jack Roush, who was injured in a airplance accident this past week, all the Roush Fenway Racing stock cars competing this weekend will sport a special decal. This can be seen on the four NASCAR Sprint Cup Series cars at Pocono Raceway as well as the NASCAR Nationwide Series entries at Iowa Speedway.(roushperformance.com
Roush has more surgery; no word when back to the track: Multi-team owner Jack Roush had another surgery Saturday and a time frame for him to return to the race track has not been determined, Roush Fenway Racing General Manager Robbie Reiser said Sunday. Roush was involved in a plane crash Tuesday at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wis. The Roush Fenway Racing co-owner was able to walk away from the crash but pictures showed a bloodied face. Reiser said he was unsure of the full extent of the injuries. Roush, 68, is being treated for facial injuries at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., according to the team. I know there was a surgery done yesterday, but most of it is an evaluation of what theyre going to do and I think youll see a lot of updates coming this week, Reiser said prior to the Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500 at Pocono Raceway. Its going to be a while [before he returns]. Theyve got some work to do there. They havent really discussed that with us right now. Reisers role will increase some with Roush in the hospital. Roush typically visits the race shop each Tuesday and then is at the track on the weekend. Jacks a big part of our company and has been for a long, long time, Reiser said. Whenever something like this happens, everybody has to pick up a little bit and help along. Jack has always taken care of a lot of stuff we have had at the race track, so I am here for him not being here. Roush called Reiser on Friday and they talked about the organizations performance as it still looks for that first Cup win of the season.(more at SceneDaily)(8-1-2010)
Thursday update about Jack Roush's condition: Jack Roush, co-owner of Roush Fenway Racing and chairman of ROUSH Enterprises, was transferred to Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., Wednesday evening. Following surgery Tuesday night related to the facial damage sustained in the accident, he remains in serious, but stable condition. Roush was injured in a plane accident at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wisc., on Tuesday. He will continue to be treated at Mayo Clinic for his facial injuries. The Roush organization would like to thank the physicians and staff at Theda Clark Medical Center in Neenah, Wisc., for the care and treatment provided during his stay. Roush Fenway Racing would also like to thank everyone for the outpouring of support and well wishes. Those wishing to make a charitable donation in the name of Jack Roush are encouraged to contribute to Speedway Childrens Charities at www.speedwaycharities.org. Please identify your contribution as Jack Roush in the notes section (Roush Fenway Racing)(7-29-2010)
Roush suffers minor injuries in plane crash UPDATE 2: NASCAR team owner Jack Roush was in serious but stable condition after walking away from a plane crash at Whitman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wis. on Tuesday night. "There are injuries. Possible surgery," Roush Fenway Racing president Geoff Smith said in a text message to The Associated Press. "But he walked out of the plane." Smith said Roush's injuries include facial lacerations. Roush was flying his private jet, a Beechcraft Premier 1A from Detroit. The jet made hard contact on landing and cracked the fuselage. Brenda Strickland, a friend of Roush's, also was on board the plane. NASCAR journalist Bob Margolis, who is writing a book about Roush's life, was told that Roush and Strickland were not seriously hurt. "Jack got out and had some blood on his face," Margolis said. "Apparently he bumped his head. They both were taken to a local hospital for observation, but I've been told they are OK." Roush, an aviation buff, was attending the Experimental Aircraft Association's annual AirVenture in Oshkosh this week.
In a statement on the EAA website, officials said a Beechcraft Premier business jet registered to Roush Fenway Racing, LLC was involved in a landing accident at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh. The accident occurred at approximately 6:15 pm/ct, the statement said. According to the EAA, the National Transportation Safety Board and Winnebago County Sheriff's Department confirmed that two occupants on board were Roush and Strickland of Plymouth, Mich. "Each exited the aircraft following the accident," the statement said. "Both were transported to local hospitals, with Roush in serious but stable condition and Strickland with non-life threatening injuries. The NTSB is leading the investigation into the accident."(ESPN, see an image of the plane at avweb.com)(7-27-2019)
UPDATE: Jack Roush, co-owner of Roush Fenway Racing and chairman of ROUSHÛ Enterprises, has been hospitalized following a plane accident at Wittman Air Field in OshKosh, Wisc. Roush, in town for the annual EAA AirVenture show, was landing his Hawker Beechcraft Premier jet when the accident occurred. He was transported to a local hospital. Dr. Kevin Wasco, the attending physician, says that Roush is in serious but stable condition. His injuries are not life threatening.(Roush Racing)(7-28-2010)
UPDATE 2: Jack Roush remains hospitalized in serious, but stable condition following a plane accident at Wittman Air Field in Oshkosh, Wisc., yesterday. He is currently under observation for facial injuries sustained in the accident. His passenger, Brenda Stricklin, was treated and released from a Wisconsin hospital this afternoon. The entire Roush organization would like to thank everyone for the outpouring of support and well wishes. Those wishing to make a charitable donation in the name of Jack Roush are encouraged to contribute to Speedway Childrens Charities at www.speedwaycharities.org. Please identify your contribution as Jack Roush in the notes section.(Roush Fenway Racing)(7-28-2010)
Roush Fenway Hits One Million-Mile Mark in Sprint Cup: On February 14, 1988 Jack Roush launched into his first official foray into the big-time world of NASCAR racing. The day would be a short one - lasting just under 50 of the scheduled 500 miles of the world's biggest race. It was a humble beginning for what would grow into one of the most successful organizations in professional sports. Today - almost 25 years later - Roush Fenway Racing has covered over one million miles in Sprint Cup action, enough miles to cover the Earth 40 times over. The miles were turned by 16 different Cup drivers over a 23-plus year period. During that span, Roush Fenway has fielded 2,688 Sprint Cup entries, captured 116 wins, while collecting 632 top fives, 1102 top 10s and 65 poles. The organization has churned 768,810 laps, leading 32,754 laps along the way, while capturing two championships and finishing the season top two on nine occasions.(RFR PR)(7-23-2010)
Tire test at Bristol: NASCAR drivers #42-Juan Pablo Montoya, #11-Denny Hamlin, #82-Scott Speed and #6-David Ragan participated in a Goodyear tire test Tuesday at Bristol Motor Speedway in preparation for the August NASCAR Sprint Cup Series IRWIN Tools Night Race.(BMS)(6-30-2010)
Ragan helps guide Mustang to 1457 laps on tank of gas: The 2011 Ford Mustang, which made history when it became the first car ever to deliver more than 30 mpg and 305 horsepower, has set a new record by running 1,457 laps at Bristol Motor Speedway while averaging 48.5 mpg. The Mustang 1,000 Lap Challenge was designed to demonstrate that a stock production Mustang V-6 could run 1,000 laps and 533 miles on a single of tank of fuel. With the aid of fuel efficient driving techniques by Ford engineers, the Mustang far surpassed its goal of 1,000 laps. The Challenge team, which included NASCAR star David Ragan and four Ford Mustang engineers, completed the challenge in 17 hours and 40 minutes, showing off the 2011 Mustang V-6s class-leading fuel economy by averaging 48.5 mpg over the course of the 776.5 miles logged during the Challenge. That distance is more than the two complete NASCAR Sprint Cup events that take place in Bristol every year. Ragan pushed the Mustang past the 1,000-lap mark at 7:26 p.m., 12 hours and 26 minutes into the Challenge, but the car wasnt close to being out of fuel. Mustang engineer Seong Park was behind the wheel when it finally came to a halt (on the backstretch) of the famed NASCAR track at 12:41 a.m. local time. Other Mustang Challenge team drivers included Tom Barnes, Jonathan Mehl, Carl Ek, who along with Park each took one-hour driving stints during the event, which took place at the worlds fastest half-mile track. More than 51,000 consumers registered their guesses for the event at www.mustang1000lapchallenge.com. One lucky consumer that correctly guessed 1,457 laps will be randomly drawn from all correct entries and will win their own 2011 Mustang V-6.(Ford)(6-24-2010)
Ragan & Conway to test at Infineon: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers #6-David Ragan and #34-Kevin Conway will take part in a half-day test session next week at Infineon Raceway in preparation for the Toyota/Save Mart 350, June 18-20. Ragan and Conway will test the 10-turn, 1.99-mile road course on Tuesday, June 8, in late-model stock cars provided by a Northern California-based race team. Conway will be coached by road-course veteran Chris Cook, who has also worked with NASCAR drivers Joey Logano and Los Gatos' AJ Allmendinger, among others. Ragan has posted a best finish of 24th (2008) in three starts at Infineon Raceway; this will mark Conway's first race in Sonoma. For special ticket packages to the Toyota/Save Mart 350, including Kasey's Korner, the 24 Special and the Jimmie Johnson 4-Pack, call 800-870-RACE or visit infineonraceway.com.(6-5-2010)
Ragan and UPS stay with Roush thru 2011: While rumors swirl that David Ragan and sponsor UPS might be on the move, Roush Fenway Racing President Geoff Smith said he expects the #6 Ford to have the same driver and sponsor in 2011 as it does now. UPS has a contract through 2011 with Roush Fenway and Ragan has a contract that includes options for 2011.(SceneDaily)(5-31-2010)
Roush Fenway Racing spring Fan Day: Roush Fenway Racing is scheduled to host their spring Fan Day event on Thursday, May 27, 2010 at their headquarters in Concord, N.C. Fans are invited to Roush Fenway to participate in activities that will include two autograph sessions, with the first session starting at 11:30 a.m. featuring Roush Fenway Racing drivers Carl Edwards, Greg Biffle, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., and Colin Braun. The second autograph session will start at 12:30 and feature Jack Roush, David Ragan, and Matt Kenseth. A limited number of tickets for each session will be handed out at 8:00 a.m. that morning. To qualify for an autograph ticket, fans must bring two non-perishable items or a monetary donation to help support our local Cabarrus County food pantries. There will be sponsor displays and food vendors for fans to enjoy outside and the Roush Fenway museum (with new displays) and store will be open for fans to peruse and shop. The Roush Fenway Racing store and museum will be open with special extended hours during the May and October race weeks. For times and more info see roushfenway.com.(5-4-2010)
Jack Roush to be Honored with Robert E. Petersen Lifetime Achievement Award: On Friday, March 12 Jack Roush will receive the highest compliment in the hot rod world as he will be presented with the Robert E. Petersen Lifetime Achievement Award. The ceremony takes place during the grand opening breakfast of the 12th Annual HotRod & Restoration Trade Show in front of nearly one thousand attendees at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis. "Being named a recipient of the Robert E. Petersen Lifetime Achievement Award is obviously a tremendous distinction and something completely unexpected," Roush said. "I remember Robert (Petersen) always being a great ambassador for the auto industry and hot rods. It is an honor to be mentioned among the many legendary names who have received this award in the past." The Robert E. Petersen Lifetime Achievement Award has been presented annually since 2002. Previous recipients include Wally Parks (NHRA), Carroll Shelby, George Barris, Vic Edelbrock, the Ford family, Alex Xydias (So-Cal Speed Shop), and "Speedy" Bill Smith (Speedway Motors).(Roush Fenway)(3-10-2010)
Ragan to take flight: David Ragan, driver of the #6 UPS Ford, will fly with the Thunderbirds Thursday, February 25th at Nellis Airforce Base.(RFR)(2-24-2010)
Roush Fenway Fords to Carry Special Decal: Roush Fenways race cars will each carry a special decal honoring the life and cause of Olympic medalist skier and multiple sclerosis (MS) advocate, Jimmie Heuga, in this Sundays Daytona 500 race at Daytona International Speedway. Heuga passed away Monday at the age of 66 in Colorado; 46 years to the day that he won his bronze medal in the 1964 Winter Olympics. Heuga, a college skiing teammate of Roush Fenway President Geoff Smith at the University of Colorado, was a bronze medalist in the 1964 Olympic games, but will most be remembered for founding Can Do Multiple Sclerosis (formerly The Heuga Center for Multiple Sclerosis) a national nonprofit organization that has served as a leading provider of innovative lifestyle empowerment programs for people with MS and their support partners. Heuga became one of the first two Americans -- along with teammate Billy Kidd -- to win an Olympic medal in Alpine skiing. He was diagnosed with MS in 1970 at the age of 26, but refused to succumb to the neurological disease. He instead became a champion for others suffering from the disease, and his campaign to demonstrate that MS did not necessarily mean a life of inactivity is credited with helping to change the mindset about MS and exercise. For more information on the Can Do Multiple Sclerosis organization, visit: www.mscando.org.(RFR)(2-14-2010)
Bill Elliott to run #6 car in Shootout? Sirius NASCAR Radio's Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody has learned that talks are underway to put former NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Bill Elliott behind the wheel of Roush-Fenway Racings #6 UPS Ford in the February 6 Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway. Elliott ran a partial schedule with Wood Brothers Racing in 2009, and is expected to do so again this season beginning with the season-opening Daytona 500. The Woods have no plans to compete in the Bud Shootout, however, leaving Elliott free to drive for another team. Ragan is not eligible for the race, while Elliott qualifies as a former Sprint Cup, Daytona 500, Coke Zero 400 and Budweiser Shootout champion. Negotiations are reportedly in their preliminary stages, awaiting the approval of sponsor UPS. A call to Roush-Fenway Racing in search of comment was not immediately returned this afternoon. (Sirius Speedway)(1-6-2010)
NOTE: as of Feb 1, 2010, no word if Elliott will run the #6 Ford, the #21 Wood Brothers Team does not plan to run the event.(2-1-2010)
Jack Roush to Be Inducted Into NMPA Hall of Fame: Jack Roush will be one of four honorees to be inducted into the National Motorsports Press Association Hall of Fame this Saturday night in Concord, North Carolina. Roger Penske, Rusty Wallace and Robert Yates will also be welcomed into the NMPA Hall of Fame this weekend. "Jack Roush's induction to the NMPA Hall of Fame is a well deserved honor for a man who has impacted not only NASCAR but racing with his innovations and ingenuity throughout his career, remarked Dustin Long, President, National Motorsports Press Association. It will truly be an honor to be welcomed to the list of NMPA Hall of Fame inductees, said Roush. The role of the media who cover NASCAR has certainly evolved over the years but I think we would all agree that now more than ever the job of informing the world about our great sport is of tremendous importance. I know the members of the NMPA are among those who care the most about both the history and the future of our sport so I consider this induction into their Hall of Fame a most cherished honor.(RFR)(1-14-2010)
Menard to run full Nationwide season: Roush Fenway will field four full-time teams in the 2010 Nationwide Series -- including a #98 Ford for Paul Menard, who races for Richard Petty Motorsports in the Cup Series -- and RFR president Geoff Smith said Wednesday that the stable sold has more than 75% of the sponsorship of its eight-car fleet in NASCAR's two top national series. Menard will run his first complete schedule since 2006, when he finished sixth in the championship for the second consecutive season before stepping into the Cup Series full time. That car is fully sponsored by the Menards home improvement store chain and a variety of partners. Smith said RFR's other three Nationwide programs had varying sponsorship gaps. Former series champion Carl Edwards will again compete full time in both Cup and Nationwide, running a #60 Ford sponsored by Fastenal and Copart in the secondary series. Smith said Edwards' car has "four open races." Colin Braun and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. will run full schedules as rookie of the year candidates in the #16 and #6 cars. Braun's car has 18 races with Con-way Freight and two more with 3M, leaving 15 of the series' 35 races unsponsored. Stenhouse has 18 races with CitiFinancial backing, leaving "the remainder for sale," Smith said. Biffle is part of a previously announced deal to run a partial Nationwide schedule for Baker Curb Racing, but "at this point in time David Ragan, Matt Kenseth and Greg Biffle are not doing Nationwide races with us."(NASCAR.com)(1-14-2010)
Roush Racing helps out NC Auto Racing HOF: For many, being able to give to others during this holiday season will be a difficult task. But it is not always the gift of tangible goods or money that can mean the most to its recipient. A recent event took place at the North Carolina Auto Racing Hall of Fame in Mooresville, NC. On Thursday, November 19th, the NC Auto Racing HOF mailbox on Knob Hill Road was struck and destroyed by a customer. One of the museum's volunteers, an 80-year-old man, went outside to try to resurrect the mailbox. Watching him struggle with this task from across the street was someone from Roush Fenway Racing, who dispatched a group of their shop workers to come over and help. They poured cement for the new post, fabricated the mailbox, and installed it on the same day. All of this was done without their being asked to do so, and without any payment whatsoever. Replacing a mail box doesn't seem like a big expense but to small non-profit organizations like the Hall of Fame, it has an impact.(NCARHOF)(11-25-2009)
Wingo named Ragan's crew chief: Roush Fenway Racing announced that Donnie Wingo has been named crew chief of the #6 UPS team with driver David Ragan. Wingo joined Roush Fenway at the beginning of the 2009 season as crew chief for Jamie McMurray and the #26 team. The duo most recently captured a win earlier this month at Talladega and Wingo is looking to build on that momentum with Ragan heading into the 2010 season.
"It's an honor to have the opportunity to work with David Ragan next season as well as our sponsor UPS, said Wingo. UPS has been a great sponsor in NASCAR for years and I'm truly looking forward to the chance to get the #6 Ford the finishes it deserves. I'm glad to remain with Roush Fenway Racing because I believe in the success we'll be able to achieve in 2010."
Roush Fenway is looking to build the strongest possible teams and sometimes we do that by restructuring personnel, said owner Jack Roush. Jimmy Fennigs experience and judgement are impeccable so we made the decision to re-assign him to head up our testing operations to try and make that department stronger. The requirement for us to reduce from five to four Sprint Cup teams allowed us to move Donnie Wingo to the #6 to fill that void. I think Donnie brings a wealth of experience to our organization having won races for multiple teams including our organization and we are anxious to see if he can challenge David Ragan and help him to realize the potential he showed in 2008. I think these moves will help our organization overall and were hopeful that David and Donnie will together take UPS and the #6 Ford to victory lane in 2010. Former #6 UPS crew chief Jimmy Fennig will continue at Roush Fenway Racing by overseeing the teams R&D testing efforts.(RFR)(11-24-2009)
Roush's Smith not retiring: Roush Fenway Racing president Geoff Smith has decided to delay his retirement. Smith said because of tough economic times and the merger between partner Yates Racing and Richard Petty Motorsports that he will stay on at least through the 2010 season. Smith is handling a lot of the paperwork in the merger that he said is agreed to on all major issues and should be announced soon. He also plays a major role in bringing sponsors to the cars for the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series. Smith has yet to wrap up a full season of sponsorship for the #17 of Matt Kenseth.(see more at ESPN Insiders)(11-17-2009)
New Ford engine to run at Homestead: Ford will run its new engine next week at Homestead, said Doug Hervey, who oversees Ford's North American racing operations. The plan is for #6-David Ragan to run the car at Homestead, Hervey said. It will be the second race for the engine. The restrictor-plate version was run at Talladega with Ragan and #17-Matt Kenseth. This will be the first time the unrestricted version has run in competition.(Roanoke Times)(11-17-2009)
Wingo to stay at Roush UPDATE Fennig? #26 Crew chief Donnie Wingo appears to be headed back to Roush Fenway Racing next season in a capacity still to be determined. Wingo's future with the organization has been uncertain since it was revealed in late July that driver Jamie McMurray's #26 team would go away and sponsor Crown Royal would move to Roush driver Matt Kenseth's team next year.
The breakup of McMurray's team is part of a downsizing by Roush Fenway to conform to NASCAR's new four-car limit set to take effect in 2010. Asked on Saturday at Texas Motor Speedway if there would be a place for Wingo next season at Roush Fenway, team co-owner Jack Roush said, "The answer to that is yes." Wingo later backed up his boss' assertion. "I don't think the plan is finalized for next year but we have spoken and he says he's got a place for me there next year and I'm real happy about that," he said. "It's where I want to be right now and I hope I can end my career here. ... I'm just looking forward to whatever they have for me in the future, whatever I can do to help."(SceneDaily), on SPEED's Happy Hour coverage, it was mentioned at Jimmy Fennig, crew chief of the #6 Ford of David Ragan with Roush Fenway Racing, will go to Roush's R&D area and Donnie Wingo will become the crew chief of the #6 team.(11-8-2009)
UPDATE: #6-David Ragan doesn't expect Jimmy Fennig to be his crew chief in 2010. "Yeah, I would say there will be some change in the crew chief role,'' Ragan said on Friday at Phoenix International Raceway. "As far as who and when and all that stuff, that's to be determined. We still feel like we don't want to lose focus on the last two races and start planning for 2010 too early. As soon as the checkered flag falls on Homestead all of our thoughts will be on 2010 and preparing a stronger team.'' Ragan said Fennig, who has been at Roush Fenway Racing for 13 years, wants to head up an R&D department for the organization. "He's been a teacher and crew chief and mentor and really taught me a lot the last couple of years,'' said Ragan, in his third full season in the Sprint Cup series. "Ninety percent of what I know today I learned from Jimmy Fennig. A lot of things are changing at Roush Fenway. I'm sure right after Homestead, Jack [Roush] and [general manager Robbie Reiser] will make those decisions.'' Fennig said he is waiting for management to tell him what he will be doing next season.(ESPN)(11-14-2009)
#6 car to support Boys and Girls Clubs: The #6 UPS Ford of David Ragan will carry a special Boys and Girls Clubs of America design in the Dickies 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. The UPS Foundation and BGCA launched a program - Road Code- this year to help teach teens across the country the importance of safe driving. On Nov. 5, NASCAR driver David Ragan will unveil his newly designed UPS-sponsored race car which sports a Boys & Girls Club logo and the handprints of Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas members who participate in the UPS Road Code safe driving program. These Club teens were on hand to assist Ragan in presenting his new Ford Fusion car and to enjoy watching a racing demonstration in Dallas. The Salt Lake City UPS Freight Center will be the featured Maximum Center at Texas Motor Speedway. The center will have its three-letter alpha code, SLC, on the wing of the #6 UPS Ford.(Roush Fenway Racing)(11-4-2009)
150 Talladega starts for Roush: Roush Fenway will make its 150th Sprint Cup start at Talladega this weekend. Talladega is the eighth track in 2009 that the team has accomplished this feat. The first seven were Bristol, Charlotte, Daytona, Dover, Martinsville, Michigan, Pocono and Richmond.(Roush Fenway PR)(11-1-2009)
Roush to visit RPM: Jack Roush is scheduled to take a tour of the Richard Petty Motorsports facility on Wednesday. Other managers from Roush Fenway Racing will join Rosuh on the tour of the Statesville, N.C., shop. There have been ongoing talks since before September of a merger between Yates Racing, a sister organization of Roush Fenway, and RPM. Regardless of whether RPM merges with Yates, majority team owner George Gillett has said his team will be running Fords in 2010. Given that Roush is the principal supplier of Ford engines, RPM will be working directly with RFR in one form or another.(FoxSports), see an image of a real #9 Budweiser Ford for 2010 on my #9 Team Schemes page.(10-14-2009)
Are NASCAR Drivers smarter than a 5th grader?: Comedian Jeff Foxworthy hosts the all-new half-hour version of "Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader?" The fast-paced game show, where knowledge of grade-school level questions is tested, welcomes NASCAR drivers #55-Michael Waltrip, #6-David Ragan, #99-Carl Edwards, #2-Kurt Busch and #11-Denny Hamlin. On October 6, Michael Waltrip will be in the classroom to play the game to raise money for the Victory Junction Gang Camp. Hell also be joined by Roush Racings David Ragan. The special back-to-back episodes will premiere on MyNetworkTV (8:00pm/et/pt). On October 26, NASCAR week kicks off on the new nationally-syndicated edition of "Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader?" Michael Waltrip, Carl Edwards, Kurt Busch, and Denny Hamlin are among the contestants playing the game for their charities. Check your local listings for exact air time.(10-5-2009)
Roush keeping an eye on the Henrick cars in question: Car owner Jack Roush [#'s 6,16,17,26,99 Ford's] says he understands that the two cars in question [Hendrick Motorsports #5 and #48 Chevy's] were in fact slightly "out of tolerance," in being off-set a bit to the right (which would help in aerodynamics in corner handling), although Roush said the specific 'miss' was probably too slight to be of any significant advantage. "I've been fined a lot of times for a lot of different things and if the cars were out of tolerance by a quarter of an inch, which is what I've heard well, the rest of the garage is held to a much tighter tolerance than that," Roush said. "So we'll see what NASCAR ultimately does about it."(mikemulhern.net)(10-5-2009)
Different look for Ragan's #6 at Kansas: For the second and final time this season, UPS Freight will be featured on the #6 Ford that David Ragan drives. Ragan ran the same design earlier this season at Richmond im May. The Wichita North Center (SLIC - 6720) in the Kansas District was selected as the UPS Maximum Center featured on Ragans car at Kansas Speedway. The centers 6720 SLIC number will be featured on the wing of the #6 UPS Freight Ford.(RFR), see images of the scheme on my #6 Team Schemes page.(9-30-2009)
Crew chief changes at Roush? UPDATE: There is supposedly a meeting planned at Roush Fenway Racing featuring General Manager Robbie Reiser and representatives from Ford. Could crew chief changes be in RFR's future? One rumor circulating NHMS Sunday morning had veteran crew chief Jimmy Fennig connecting with former Roush racer Jeff Burton at RCR. Not so, Fennig said. "After 13 years with Jack, my goal is to retire from Roush Racing," Fennig said. "But I'm getting too old to be on the road." Another scenario places Fennig in a research and development role. Fennig says testing suits him just fine.(FoxSports)(9-21-2009)
UPDATE: Car owner Jack Roush says that any personnel moves among his non-Chase teams will be made after the season since he's focused on the championship with Carl Edwards and Greg Biffle. "I will re-evaluate every person and every position on every team this winter as I do every year,'' Roush said. He said he would make a change on a Chase team immediately if it could help that team contend for the championship.(Roanoke Times)(9-27-2009)
Ragan to make 100th career start: #6-David Ragan will make his 100th Cup series start Saturday night at Richmond Inyernational Raceway in the Chevy Rock and Roll 400. His best finish at Richmond came in the fall of his rookie year in 2007 where he qualified eighth and finished third.(RFR)(9-12-2009)
Roush's Smith talks about 2010 plans: Sunday on "The SIRIUS NASCAR Radio Pre-Race Show", SIRIUS XM's Claire B. Lang spoke with Roush Fenway Racing president Geoff Smith about the possible changes to the team's roster of drivers before next season.
Geoff Smith: "If you're asking about our team plans for 2010, we're settled that Carl Edwards and Aflac, Greg Biffle with 3M, and David Ragan with UPS will be staying put and that sponsorship is going to kind of determine whether or not the #17 or the #26 are going to have to be the teams we shut down and move, if we can."
Smith: "There are difficulties. You just can't assume that a team can transfer intact just because you want it to. There are sponsors that get to vote as to what organization they're going to sponsor. So we have to work through that, which is what I've been saying. I expect, now that the DeWalt cloud has been removed, we're going to move very quickly to lock in the sponsorship and then that sponsorship will determine [whether] the #17 stays or goes."
Host, Claire B. Lang: "Meaning that we could see a past champion, Matt Kenseth, moving?"
Smith: "It all depends on the sponsorships. Our objective is to keep both of those teams (the #17 and the #26) in the Ford Motor Company community. We're hoping that we don't have to keep one and then lose one out of the Ford community entirely. So if we can keep them both in the [Ford] community by shuffling the #17 we would do that. Pretty unlikely that Matt Kenseth or the #17 will move at this point."
(SIRIUS NASCAR Radio)(7-27-2009)
Ragan the odd man out at Roush? UPDATE nope? Who will be the odd man out at Roush Fenway Racing? According to published reports, Roush Fenway president Geoff Smith is putting together a sponsor package that would keep #26-Jamie McMurray in the fold. McMurray, whose contract expires after this season, has been speculated as the most likely to be moved to satellite team, Yates Racing, to get Roush to four teams. If McMurray stays then #6-David Ragan becomes the top candidate to leave because #17-Matt Kenseth, #99-Carl Edwards and #16-Greg Biffle signed new deals within the last year. A decision on restructuring should come by September at the latest. Roush has until the end of this season to move from five to four teams as NASCAR mandated when it put a cap on teams.(ESPN Insider)(7-21-2009)
UPDATE: With #99-Carl Edwards, #17-Matt Kenseth and #16-Greg Biffle all signed to long term contracts, multiple sources say that #6-David Ragan will be the fourth driver at the team next year. "Absolutely, I can confirm that David Ragan will be driving for UPS in the #6 Roush Fenway car," said Zak Brown, CEO of Just Marketing International, which handles the UPS marketing account. According to NASCAR rules, RFR has to downsize from five to four teams by the end of this year. #26-Jamie McMurray, the fifth driver at RFR, is likely headed across the street from the Roush shop to Yates Racing, which is a satellite organization of RFR. However, another option appears to be a reunion with former boss Chip Ganassi.(FoxSports)(7-25-2009)
Testing at Road Atlanta: Hearing that drivers testing at Road Atlanta today include #99-Carl Edwards, #6-David Ragan, #16-Colin Braun (subbing for Greg Biffle), #42-Juan Pablo Montoya, #47-Marcos Ambrose, #2-Kurt Busch, #77-Sam Hornish Jr., #12-David Stremme, #13-Max Papis and Boris Said (in John Wes Townley's #09 Nationwide Series Ford which he will run at Watkins Glen).(7-21-2009)
AND: told #7-Robby Gordon was also at the track.(7-21-2009)
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