KEVIN HARVICK & AUSTIN CINDRIC SWEEP NASCAR WEEKEND AT MICHIGAN INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY & MID-OHIO
BROOKLYN, MI – August 12th, 2019 – Kevin Harvick won his second NASCAR MENCS race this season, winning the Consumer Energy 400 at Michigan International Speedway, in the No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford Mustang. Since June of 2018, the Michigan Heritage Trophy has been at Ford Motor Company and with this win it will stay at Ford for the next 10 months.
“It was an incredible weekend for Ford Motor Company and Ford Performance NASCAR teams,” said Doug Yates, President and CEO of Roush Yates Engines. “It was special to be able to congratulate Edsel Ford and Kevin Harvick in Victory Lane. Competition in the MENCS and Xfinity series is extremely tough and to be able to win both poles and races this weekend is a testament to our partnership with Ford and our race teams.”
During MENCS qualifying, on Friday, Brad Keselowski’s No. 2 Team Penske Ford Mustang claimed the pole with the fastest lap time of 37.801. Harvick claimed the inside pole position while Ford Mustangs led the qualifying session with 8 out of the top 12 fastest times.
Harvick overcame a punctured right front tire early in the race but lined up seventh during the final restart on lap 153. During this final green flag run, Harvick passed Logano on lap 183 and took the checkered flag 1.595 seconds in front of second place. Ford Performance teammates led a total of 143 laps out of the 200-lap race.
“Doug and everybody at Roush Yates Engines does a great job and obviously Ford puts a big circle around these two Michigan races to come up here and be the top manufacturer, and when you look at our engine program, I think that these particular racetracks really fit the style of our torque curves and the things that we do, and it was right in our wheelhouse,” said Harvick.
“Of all the active tracks on the circuit, we have 38 or 39 wins at Michigan. I think it is a combination of the power and fuel economy which is a testament to Doug Yates, Roush Yates and the engine team, and use of our analytical tools to optimize the power and fuel economy which we saw today with what Kevin and the Stewart-Haas team was able to do,” commented Mark Rushbrook, global director, Ford Performance.
Only three races remain before the 2019 MENCS Playoffs. Ford Performance currently has seven drivers in the top-16 regular season standings; Joey Logano P2, Kevin Harvick P3, Brad Keselowski P6, Ryan Blaney P9, Aric Almirola P11, Ryan Newman P15, and Clint Bowyer P16.
In addition, Austin Cindric won his second NASCAR Xfinity Series race this season, winning the B&L Transport 170 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, in the No. 22 Team Penske Ford Mustang. Cindric, started from the pole position with a lap time of 84.231 seconds and a speed of 95.506 mph.
After starting from the pole position, Cindric was able to lead the first 18 laps before pitting for four fresh tires and fuel. He was able to regain the lead on lap 44 before his final pit stop and lined up seventh for the restart on lap 60. Within two laps, Cindric was back in the lead and crossed the finish line 3.78 seconds ahead of second place. In total, Cindric led 46 of the 75-lap race at the 2.258, 13-turn Mid-Ohio course.
“I think this gives our team a lot of confidence. When we come to racetracks like this, we have a lot of assurance in our racecars and our speed. I am just over the moon to get my first win here at Mid-Ohio and my second win within a week of each other – it’s just incredible,” said Cindric.
All three Ford Performance drivers finished in the top-10 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course; Austin Cindric in P1 while Stewart-Haas Racing teammates Chase Briscoe finished P7 and Cole Custer in P8.
Both the NASCAR MENCS and Xfinity Series return to Bristol Motor Speedway this weekend!
