Archive for May, 2019

Reaching for Mid-Ohio Redemption After Last Year’s Frustrating Finish for Ford Chip Ganassi Racing

Posted on: May 2nd, 2019
Location: post

Reaching for Mid-Ohio Redemption After Last Year’s Frustrating Finish for Ford Chip Ganassi Racing

  • Joey Hand will once again pass driving duties off to Sébastien Bourdais in order to focus on Le Mans
  • Ford Chip Ganassi Racing seeks its first victory of 2019 as IMSA arrives at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and the ‘regular season’ of the WeatherTech Championship; finished fourth and fifth at the track last year
  • Four years ago, the first race weekend in May saw the new Ford GT, driven by Richard Westbrook and Ryan Briscoe, pick up its first global victory in the IMSA race at Laguna Seca
  • All four Ford Chip Ganassi Racing Ford GTs are in action this weekend, as WEC team also runs the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps
  • Bourdais returns for a second consecutive race in a fill in role for Joey Hand, who is focusing on recovery efforts to ensure he’s prepared for Le Mans

LEXINGTON, Ohio, May 2, 2019–Can history repeat itself?

Four years ago, on this very same first race weekend of May, Ford Chip Ganassi Racing accomplished a landmark achievement when Richard Westbrook and Ryan Briscoe took the No. 67 Ford GT to victory lane at Laguna Seca in Monterey, Calif., the first global win for the then-new Ford GT race car.

This weekend, Westbrook and Briscoe will join teammates Dirk Mueller and Sébastien Bourdais in seeking to return a Ford GT to IMSA victory lane for the first time since last summer’s race at Road America.

Bourdais returns for a second consecutive race in a fill in role for Joey Hand, who is focusing on recovery efforts to ensure he’s prepared for Le Mans.

“It’s really been a rough few weeks dealing with this very strong virus,” said Hand. “Under doctors’ orders, I’ve had to rest with no physical activity whatsoever. Only this week have I felt well enough and been given the okay to do light training and resume preparation for driving again. Having missed my home race at Long Beach and now effectively out of the drivers’ championship points chase, my main priority and focus is to be 100% for Le Mans.

“It’s so tough to miss another race,” he continued. “But with the unknown of how I would feel getting back into the racecar later this week for Mid-Ohio, I certainly did not want to jeopardize and compromise Dirk’s and the team’s chances of success. So we’ve made the collective decision to wait one more event before I get back behind the wheel. Fortunately having Seb available again, means the team still has a great shot at the win! I’ll be cheering the boys on.”

In 2018, IMSA returned to Mid-Ohio for the first time since 2013’s GRAND-AM race. The pair of Ford GTs qualified sixth and seventh before subsequently finishing fourth and fifth. After coming up short in the first three races of 2019, the Fords are looking to capitalize during this midwestern foray and gain momentum heading into next month’s Le Mans 24 Hours.

“The Ford GT program has been an immense success overall,” said Mark Rushbrook, global director, Ford Performance Motorsports. “But on top of the great development learnings we’ve gained from this program, we obviously want wins when we show up at a race track. We struggled a bit at this race last year and have come up just shy of a win at all three IMSA races so far this year, but we think we have a good shot at redeeming both those situations this weekend.”

The first three races of the IMSA season feature a twice-around-the-clock race at Daytona, a once-around-the-clock race at Sebring and a brief 100-minute sprint around the streets of Long Beach.  Mid-Ohio is the first race to feature the two-hour, 40-minute runtime that makes up the bulk of the WeatherTech Championship races. As the ‘regular season’ begins, all four drivers are looking to kick things into high gear.

Mueller and Westbrook have both captured sports car endurance wins at Mid-Ohio in the past, while Bourdais is seeking his first victory at the Lexington, Ohio facility.  Briscoe is also anxious to unload as he has an INDYCAR victory on the circuit, but none yet in sports car racing.

“We’re really looking forward to getting to Mid-Ohio and getting this GT program to the top of the podium for the first time this year,” said Briscoe.  “Four years ago this week, Westy and I got the Ford GT’s first win at Laguna Seca, and that victory really gave our whole Ford Chip Ganassi Racing team momentum for the rest of the year.  We’d like to duplicate that kind of performance as we get ready for Le Mans next month.”

Mueller and Bourdais are currently fourth in the drivers’ championship standings, with Westbrook and Briscoe sixth.  Ford currently sits third in the manufacturers’ standings, 10 points out of first.

The IMSA Sports Car Challenge begins Sunday, May 5, with coverage beginning at 1:30 pm ET on NBCSN domestically and IMSA.tv internationally.

Ford Chip Ganassi Racing’s WEC team will also be in action this weekend at the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, their final tune-up before Le Mans.

*Courtesy of Ford Performance

PRIAULX & TINCKNELL TAKE THE POLE AT SPA

Posted on: May 3rd, 2019
Location: post
  • Andy Priaulx (GB) and Harry Tincknell (GB) take pole position in the #67 Ford GT for tomorrow’s ‘6 Hours of Spa-Franchorchamps’
  • The British duo also took pole at Spa during the opening round of the 2018-19 WEC Super Season
  • The #66 Ford GT of Stefan Mücke (GER) and Olivier Pla (FRA) will start from sixth place
  • Wintry weather looks set to play a part in tomorrow’s race
  • The 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps starts this Saturday at 13:30 CET

SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium, May 3, 2019 – Andy Priaulx and Harry Tincknell drove the #67 Ford Chip Ganassi Racing Ford GT to pole position at Spa today, taking the extra point for pole and setting themselves up for a strong start to tomorrow’s six-hour World Endurance Championship race. This is the second pole position at Spa for the British duo during the WEC Super Season. The #66 Ford GT of Stefan Mücke and Olivier Pla – the race winner last time out at Spa – will start from sixth place on the grid.


Wintry weather is forecast at Spa overnight, which could make for an interesting race day for the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps but whatever the weather, the #67 Ford GT will start from the front.

“Today’s result is actually a bit of a surprise!” said WEC Team Principal, George Howard-Chappell. “When we saw the time the BMW did we thought we couldn’t match that but the strategy of doing three runs paid off very well and Andy and Harry both did mega laps, delivering a fantastic result for the team. It’s a shame #66 didn’t quite get the perfect lap but I’m really happy with the team’s performance.”

Priaulx and Tincknell know how to get the job done at Spa and two poles in a row will give them a lot of confidence going into tomorrow’s race.

“I’m so pleased with that, I’m shaking!” said Tincknell. “The car felt unbelievable in that session, as if it was running on rails. We’ve had a pretty quick car in the dry all weekend. We tweaked it a bit after each practice session and it still needed a little bit more after the last session this morning and I have to say that Wilks (David Wilcock, Race Engineer) and the engineering team hit the nail right on the head.

“We went all out to get pole today and we’re happy to take the extra point,” he continued. “It’s supposed to snow overnight and then it’s supposed to rain but let’s just see what happens tomorrow. We know the car is quick in the dry and we know that if we can turn the tyre on in the wet we have a fast car there too. We’re starting from the front which is always the best view, especially when it is wet!”


The 6 Hours of Spa-Franchorchamps underway tomorrow, May 4 at 13:30 CET.

*Courtesy of Ford Performance

IN OVERTIME, KESELOWSKI WINS KANSAS

Posted on: May 13th, 2019
Location: post

Kansas City, KS – May 13, 2019 – Brad Keselowski won his 30th career NASCAR Cup win and 21st with Ford Performance in a thrilling overtime performance at Kansas Speedway. With a lot of grit and determination, Keselowski drove to his third win of the year in Kansas City, Kansas for Team Penske and the No. 2 crew.
“Congratulations to Brad, Roger, and crew,” said Doug Yates, President and CEO of Roush Yates Engines. “We saw an epic battle tonight, but Brad kept digging and never gave up until he took the checkered flag. These are the moments we live for in racing and remember for a long time afterwards. We are privileged to be part of this winning combination with Brad, Team Penske and Ford Performance.”
Pole winner and 2019 defending Kansas race winner, Kevin Harvick and Kansas native, Clint Bowyer led the forty-car field to the green flag on Saturday night at Kansas Speedway.
Harvick went onto lead a race high 105 laps on his way to winning Stage 1 of the Digital Ally 400. Five different Ford Mustangs led throughout the race to lead a combined 141 laps out of the extended 271-lap race.
The No. 2, Team Penske Ford Mustang, powered by the Ford FR9 engine, led two times for 12 laps. After going down a lap early in the race, it looked like it would be a long way back, but with grit, determination, and great pit call strategies by Paul Wolfe, he put the No. 2 in position to challenge for the win during over-time.

In a two-lap overtime shootout, Keselowski, beat Alex Bowman to the checkered flag by .205 seconds, as the race went four laps beyond its scheduled 267. This marked Team Penske’s fourth win of the season.
“I am just thankful to be at this level,” commented Keselowski in Victory Lane. “I never dreamed I would ever be in the Cup Series. I just dreamed of making a living in racing. I worked with guys like Mike Mittler who taught me the grit and energy and effort you have to have to be successful in this sport. Mike was local to this area and he passed away yesterday. It hurts to lose guys like that because they mean so much to me and the sport. I think this was hopefully something he would be proud of.”

Bowyer also battled hard, finishing P5, with Roush Fenway Racing’s, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. finishing P11, followed by Aric Almirola P12, Harvick P13, Daniel Suárez P14, and Joey Logano P15.

 

23 CHAMPIONSHIPS – 360 WINS – 332 POLES!
* Photos courtesy of NASCAR Media

Partnership Renewal | RKL eSolutions & Roush Yates Engines

Posted on: May 16th, 2019
Location: post

MOORESVILLE, NC, May 16, 2019 – Roush Yates Engines announced today it has reached a multi-year technology partnership extension agreement with RKL eSolutions.

RKL eSolutions has been an integral part of providing business management software solutions to Roush Yates Engines, since 2015 with the implementation of the Sage X3 (formerly known as Sage Enterprise Management) ERP system. This system has helped track over 4,000,000 parts during the past four years, making sure the right parts are in the right engines for race day.

“Sage’s integrated functionality has enhanced our ability to extract information from our data at a faster rate than ever before,” said Todd English, VP Strategic Partnerships and Marketing, Roush Yates Engines. “RKL eSolutions’ team continues to think outside the box to help us streamline our operations and provide accurate information back to critical aspects of our business including inventory management, purchasing, finance, and assembly, creating more accurate and efficient cost roll ups, a key aspect of business today.”
They are part of our winning formula, helping us track, manage, and develop accurate costing of our race winning engines, like Kevin Harvick’s 2018 All-Star win in Charlotte, NC. Roush Yates Engines and RKL eSolutions have won over 125 races together since 2015.
With more than 40% of our engine parts machined internally at Roush Yates Manufacturing Solutions, it is imperative that our ERP system has flexibility, traceability, and enhances our company’s productivity and bottom line.
“RKL is the complete, closed loop package,” commented Kevin Reyes, Director of Information Systems, Roush Yates Engines. “They are a true partner! We have worked together to develop best practices and solutions. We recently upgraded our SAGE X3 system from version 7 to 12 and the entire team at RKL, from operations to finance, provided a seamless transition.”
“With the increased business visibility from Sage X3, we have been able to sustain and overcome cost containment measures and changes within the NASCAR model,” stated Mary Ann Mauldwin, Chief Operating Officer, Roush Yates Engines. “We now get powerful and accurate information daily to direct key initiatives within our company.”
Joe Noll, President of RKL eSolutions stated, “RKL eSolutions is excited to renew its partnership with Roush Yates Engines. Sage X3 provides the platform for us to help Roush Yates Engines optimize its business operations, from accounting through production, efficiently and cost effectively. With collaboration from Roush Yates Engines, we look forward to enhancing the software solutions and services we offer to all of our manufacturing customers and prospects.”
About RKL eSolutions
Founded in 2002 in Lancaster, PA, RKL eSolutions simplifies technology by representing a range of solutions including; Finance & Manufacturing software from Sage, Human Capital Management (HCM), Customer Relationship Management (CRM), and the most widely-used network and IT products from Cisco, VMWare and Microsoft. When necessary, its software development experts customize solutions that pick up where “out-of-the-box” technology leaves off, delivering a turnkey solution for your company.From sales to accounting, in the warehouse or on the shop floor, and from the server room to the Cloud, RKL eSolutions offers the resources and expertise to support all of your technology needs – software, IT, and custom development all under one roof.For more information about RKL eSolutions visit https://www.rklesolutions.com or contact them at (717) 735-9109.

Video|STARRETT WHEN THERE’S NO ROOM FOR ERROR

Posted on: May 19th, 2019
Location: post

MOORESVILLE, NC, May 20, 2019 – Starrett, an industry leader in metrology tools and equipment for over 135 years, has been an official partner of Roush Yates Engines since 2016. Starrett’s premier measuring and inspection tools have been a key component in delivering championship winning engines and world-class products around the world.

“We utilize the Starrett inspection equipment for accuracy, reliability, and repeatability,” said Jennifer LaFever, NASCAR QA Manager, Roush Yates Engines. “We must have 100% confidence that our parts are accurate and correct every single time. Starrett tools provide us that confidence, when there is no room for error.”

Starrett’s standard of quality and workmanship is the best in the industry as their accuracy and product performance exceed national and international standards. This is critical when developing and machining world-class products for the automotive, aerospace, defense, and high-tech industries.

Partnership Extension | Cometic Gasket and Roush Yates Engines

Posted on: May 23rd, 2019
Location: post

MOORESVILLE, NC, May 23, 2019 – Roush Yates Engines announced today it has reached a five-year partnership extension with long-time partner Cometic Gasket, Inc.

Family owned and operated for 30 years, Cometic Gasket has grown into a global leader and innovator in the highly competitive engine supplier marketplace. In a state-of-the-art 70,000 sq. ft. R&D and manufacturing facility in Concord, Ohio, Cometic meets customer’s needs by using premium materials for tailor-made solutions while delivering superior customer service.
“It’s no secret to compete at the highest level of motorsports you need the best team and reliable products, and that’s exactly what Cometic Gasket delivers to Roush Yates Engines,” said Todd English, VP Strategic Partnerships and Marketing, Roush Yates Engines. “In the highly competitive sport of racing, where failure is not an option and your product is tested on any given weekend, we rely on valued partners to deliver world-class quality products. Cometic has been a valued partner from day one as they collaborated with our engineering team on product design and material selections, bringing together the collective expertise and experience of both companies, making it a true win-win partnership.”
Cometic Gasket is the exclusive engine gasket of the Ford FR9 EFI Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and Ford FR9 Carb NASCAR Xfinity Series engines that power cars at 73 events during the 2019 NASCAR season. We trust and rely on Cometic to keep our engines sealed!
“When we needed to design and develop a new head gasket system for the RY45 engine, Cometic really delivered. They sent people down to evaluate the surface areas of the block, cylinder head, and deck areas,” commented Dan Keenan, Design and Analysis Manager, Roush Yates Engines. “In a very short time period, they brought back the perfect solution. They continue to deliver today.”
They are part of our winning formula, making sure we have premium gaskets in our engines, like in the first race-winning NASCAR Ford FR9 engine, in 2010 with Roush Fenway Racing and Greg Biffle at Pocono. Roush Yates Engines has built over 7,500 engines sealed with Cometic’s gaskets and won over 180 races together since 2010.
The partnership with Cometic Gasket is like that perfect fitting gasket. Both companies are family based and strive on hard work and determination of the entire team. With a deep passion and understanding of the motorsports industry we collectively work together to improve performance.

“Bob, Bindy, Jeff, and Kristen, thank you for your continued support of our racing programs at Roush Yates Engines,” said Doug Yates, President and CEO of Roush Yates Engines.

“Cometic’s partnership with Roush Yates Engines benefits our customers in every segment,” explained Bob Gorman, Founder and CEO of Cometic Gasket. “The stakes are always very high in the performance business so to have a cooperative partnership with Doug Yates and his team elevates Cometic’s capabilities which, in turn, contributes to producing better gaskets and sealing solutions across our entire product line. We’re a family-owned company and have been since Day 1. That’s an essential reason we have a great working relationship with Roush Yates. There’s an important mutual respect built with family values. We’ve established a lasting partnership and are proud to extend our program well into the next decade.”

About Cometic
Cometic Gasket, Inc., is a leading worldwide supplier of gaskets and engine sealing solutions for the automotive performance, powersports, original equipment and remanufactured engine industries. Cometic is a global leader and innovator in the highly competitive engine supplier marketplace. Housed in a 70,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art R&D and manufacturing center in Concord Township, Ohio, Cometic Gasket has maintained its deep roots in both the automotive performance and the powersports industries while expanding to service the domestic automotive, sport compact, V-twin, marine, diesel, agricultural, industrial and stationary power markets.

Cometic Gasket offers over 95,000 SKUs, shipping gaskets and engine sealing solutions across the globe. Cometic is dedicated to customer satisfaction and provides quality products, delivered on time at a competitive price, designed for each customer’s specific application.

Ford Pays Homage to Le Mans with Celebration Liveries

Posted on: May 29th, 2019
Location: post

Ford Pays Homage to Le Mans with Celebration Liveries

  • Special series of liveries celebrates Ford’s success at Le Mans, past and present
  • Celebration liveries mark Ford’s “Au Revoir” (“until we meet again”) to its factory Le Mans programme
  • Customer team, Keating Motorsports follows same livery design for #85 Ford GT

LE MANS, France, May 28, 2019– Ford has revealed a special series of “Celebration Liveries” for the Ford Chip Ganassi Racing Ford GTs ahead of the 2019 Le Mans 24 Hours. Each of the four factory Ford GTs will bear a livery that celebrates the success of the manufacturer at Le Mans, both in the present day and during the 1960s.


The 2019 Le Mans 24 Hours is the final Le Mans for the current factory Ford GT programme, marking the close of another great chapter at Le Mans for the factory Fords.

“In 2016, Ford returned to Le Mans to mark the 50th anniversary of our incredible 1966 win and we celebrated in the best way possible by winning the race,” said Bill Ford, executive chairman, Ford Motor Company. “To stand on that podium on behalf of the employees was a proud moment for me and I look forward returning to Le Mans this year to support the team as we approach our final race in this chapter.”

When the four factory Ford GTs arrive at the famous La Sarthe Circuit at Le Mans later today, they will be seen for the very first time in the new liveries, each of which has a special meaning.  They will also be joined by a fifth Ford GT, racing in the GTE Am class with Keating Motorsports.

The #66 Ford GT raced by Stefan Mücke (GER), Olivier Pla (FRA) and Billy Johnson (USA) has a black livery that echoes that of the Ford GT40 of Bruce McLaren and Chris Amon that won Le Mans in 1966.

The Ford GT40 that Dan Gurney and A.J. Foyt drove to victory at Le Mans in 1967 is remembered in the new livery of the #67 Ford GT raced by Andy Priaulx (GB), Harry Tincknell (GB) and Jonathan Bomarito (USA).

 The #68 Ford GT is Ford’s most recent Le Mans winner, taking the chequered flag first in the 2016 race.  Dirk Müller (GER), Joey Hand (USA) and Sébastien Bourdais (FRA) will race in the same colours as when it won Le Mans in 2016.

The #69 Ford GT of Scott Dixon (NZ), Ryan Briscoe (AUS) and Richard Westbrook (GB) takes its design cues from the Ford GT40 that came second in Ford’s glorious 1-2-3 finish at Le Mans in 1966.
 The #85 Ford GT will be raced in the GTE Am class by customer team, Keating Motorsports. The team is using the same livery design as the four factory Fords but using the striking colours of its title sponsor, Wynn’s. The driver line-up for the #85 Ford GT is Ben Keating (US), Jeroen Bleekemolen (NETH) and Felipe Fraga (BRA).
“The Ford GT was created to take Ford back to the world of GT endurance racing,” said Mark Rushbrook, global director, Ford Performance Motorsports. “This factory Ford GT programme has been a great success for our brand and we have enjoyed the many challenges that have come our way during this four-year programme.  Le Mans is not quite the end of the factory programme as we still have many more IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship races to go in 2019.”

The Ford GTs will be on track in their new celebration liveries this Sunday (June 2) for the Official Le Mans Test. Fans will be able to follow the 24-hour race on June 15-16 from inside the cockpit of the factory Ford GTs as Ford’s popular Le Mans Livestream will return for its fourth consecutive year.

*Courtesy of Ford Performance