Archive for February, 2022

2022 SEASON BEGINS AT THE LA COLISEUM

Posted on: February 4th, 2022
Location: post

The 2022 season kicks off Saturday, February 6th at the “World’s Greatest Stadium,” the LA Coliseum. The inaugural event marks the first time in over 40 years that the Clash has been raced at a track other than Daytona. The 0.25-mile asphalt oval was constructed over the facility’s existing football field and marks the shortest track that NASCAR has competed on in the modern era. Since opening in 1923, the venue has hosted many marquee sporting events including 3 NFL Championships, 2 Super Bowls, and 2 Summer Olympic games. Although the Clash is a non-points event, it is the competitive debut of the Next Gen car – featuring a fleet of redesigned Ford Mustangs.

In addition to the one-off race at LA Coliseum, both NASCAR Cup and Xfinity series have each added one track to the 2022 schedule, along with several other lineup changes. On June 4th, the Xfinity series ventures to the Pacific Northwest for the first time at Portland International Raceway. The next day, June 5th, the 1.25-mile World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, Illinois makes its first ever NASCAR Cup Series debut. Auto Club Speedway makes its long-awaited return after a 2 year break due to COVID-19. All the previous 2021 track additions will return in 2022 including COTA, Nashville, Road America, Bristol Dirt, and the Indianapolis Road Course. This year’s Bristol Dirt race will take place under the lights as opposed to last year’s daytime race. The season still opens with the famed Daytona 500 and ends in Phoenix.

Ford Performance and Roush Yates Engines are powering 15 full time NASCAR Cup series drivers this season: Brad Keselowski and Chris Buescher with Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing, Austin Cindric, Ryan Blaney, and Joey Logano with Team Penske, Harrison Burton with Wood Brothers Racing, Kevin Harvick, Aric Almirola, Chase Briscoe, and Cole Custer with Stewart-Haas Racing, Michael McDowell and Todd Gilliland with Front Row Motorsports, Garrett Smithley and Cody Ware with Rick Ware Racing, and BJ McLeod with Live Fast Motorsports. The 3 full-time Xfinity drivers being powered are Riley Herbst with Stewart-Haas Racing, Ryan Sieg with Ryan Sieg Racing, and Joe Graf Jr. with SS GreenLight Racing.

The long-awaited Next Gen car that was revealed in 2021 will see competition starting with this year’s Clash. The look and feel of the car has been redesigned to replicate the street version of the world’s best selling sports car, the Ford Mustang. The new design of the car has lowered the greenhouse, shortened the deck lid, and widened the track width to give the car more of a coupe look. Upgraded specs to match modern street car technology include a new independent rear suspension, rack and pinion steering, and larger brakes. A new transaxle combines the transmission and rear gears into one package to allow for electrification in the future. Hood louvers allow for maximization of engine performance independent of aerodynamics. The new composite material of the car is more durable, front and rear bumpers allow for increased safety, and both the front and rear clips bolt on to the center section for easy serviceability and repair.

For the 2022 NASCAR season, NASCAR Cup Series has established a 670 and 510 HP package. The 510 HP package will be utilized at Daytona, Talladega, and Atlanta – while the 670 HP package will be utilized at all other tracks. As NASCAR has opened up engine development in several areas this year, our team has been hard at work during the offseason to maximize power, performance, and reliability.

About Roush Yates Engines
Roush Yates Engines is a leading-edge engine development company based in Mooresville, NC consisting of two state-of-the-art facilities – Roush Yates Engines and Roush Yates Manufacturing Solutions, a world class AS9100 Rev D/ISO 13485 certified CNC manufacturing facility. The company’s core business includes designing, building and testing purpose-built race engines. 
 
Ford Performance in partnership with Roush Yates Engines is the exclusive engine builder of the NASCAR FR9 Ford V8 engine and Ford Mustang 5.2L V8 engine, used in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge series.
 
With an unparalleled culture of winning and steeped in rich racing history, Roush Yates Engines continues to follow the company’s vision to lead performance engine innovation and staying true to the company’s mission, provide race winning engines through demonstrated power and performance. 

 3 Series – 21 Teams – 83 Races

33 CHAMPIONSHIPS – 424 WINS – 384 POLES!
*Photos courtesy of NASCAR Media & Getty Images

LOGANO CONQUERS INAUGURAL CLASH AT COLISEUM

Posted on: February 7th, 2022
Location: post

LOS ANGELES, CA – February 7, 2022 – Joey Logano won the inaugural Busch Light Clash at the LA Coliseum on Sunday, securing the victory by a 0.877 second lead over second place. This weekend’s exhibition race marks the first time in over 40 years that the Clash has been held at a track other than Daytona. The 0.25-mile purpose-built asphalt oval was constructed over the facility’s existing football field and was the competitive debut of the Next Gen car featuring a fleet of redesigned Ford Mustangs.

“Congratulations to Ford Performance, Roger, Joey, Paul, and everyone at Team Penske,” said Doug Yates, President and CEO of Roush Yates Engines. This is an incredible and exciting start for the Next Gen Car debut as Joey, Paul, and the entire 22 team were able race their way into victory lane. What a dynamic venue at the LA Coliseum and thank you NASCAR for pushing the boundaries of our great sport. To those that joined us or supported the event, thank you for an experience that we will never forget!”

“We got the victory with the old Shell/Pennzoil Mustang. This is an amazing event. Congratulations, NASCAR. Such a huge step in our industry to be able to do this, put on an amazing race for everybody,” commented Logano.

Joey Logano started the race in 4th after winning an earlier heat race and securing a second-row start spot. Logano was able to work his way through the field and take the lead just before the 75-lap intermission. The second half of the race saw Logano and Kyle Busch battling for position, but ultimately Logano was able to hold off Busch and lead the last 35 laps to win the inaugural event. The 0.25-mile short track saw its share of excitement with six cautions during the 150-lap race.

Ford Performance teammates Cole Custer with Stewart-Haas Racing finished in P7, Kevin Harvick with Stewart-Haas Racing finished in P10, and Harrison Burton with Wood Brothers Racing finished in P12.

NASCAR takes a breather for the Super Bowl and the official 2022 NASCAR Cup season starts with the Daytona 500 on February 20th.

33 CHAMPIONSHIPS – 425 WINS – 384 POLES!
*Photos courtesy of NASCAR Media & Getty Images

CINDRIC WINS THE DAYTONA 500

Posted on: February 21st, 2022
Location: post

DAYTONA BEACH, FL – February 21, 2022 – Austin Cindric won his first NASCAR Cup Series race at the 64th running of the Daytona 500, finishing 0.036 seconds in front of second place. Cindric is the only rookie to win the Daytona 500, NASCAR’s biggest race. This win comes one year after Ford Performance teammate Michael McDowell took home his first Cup victory at this historic track.

“Congratulations to Ford Performance, Roger, Austin, Jeremy, and everyone at Team Penske for winning the Daytona 500,” said Doug Yates, President and CEO of Roush Yates Engines. “To see the Blue Ovals in victory lane for both duels and then to see Austin win his first Daytona 500 is a testament to all the hard work of our teams. The Ford Performance teams worked well together throughout Daytona, and we are fortunate to partner with Ford to provide the horsepower for these fast Next Gen Ford Mustangs.”

“This has been such a great week with the Duels and the strong Ford Performance and everybody working together to get the two wins Thursday night in the Duels and now to come here for the Daytona 500 and all of our Ford teams and drivers working together. To have so many cars in the top-10 and Austin Cindric with the win it is just fantastic for all of Ford Motor Company,” commented Mark Rushbrook, Global Director of Ford Motor Company.

“I’ve got so many people to thank. First and foremost Roger Penske, Happy Birthday. Oh, my gosh. Appreciate Ryan being a great teammate. Obviously, he wants to win this one, but I’m so pumped for Discount Tire, Menards, Ford.” commented Cindric.

After a strong performance in the Duel, Austin Cindric started the race in 4th, beside other Ford Performance teammates. The Blue Ovals were able to maintain track position throughout the race by working together and using the draft to their advantage. A three-car wreck on lap 195 caused the race to go into overtime, requiring one extra lap for Cindric to claim the victory. Cindric was able to hold off a last-minute pass attempt by Ryan Blaney and finish the race with a 0.036 second lead over second place.

7 Fords finished in the top 10. Ford Performance teammates Chase Briscoe with Stewart-Haas Racing finished in P3, Ryan Blaney with Team Penske finished in P4, Aric Almirola with Stewart-Haas Racing finished in P5, Michael McDowell with Front Row Motorsports finished in P7, David Ragan with Rick Ware Racing finished in P8, and Brad Keselowski with Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing finished in P9.

The Xfinity Series also raced at Daytona on Saturday. Ford Performance teammates Riley Herbst with Stewart-Haas Racing finished in P4 and Ryan Sieg with Ryan Sieg Racing finished in P8.

On Thursday, Roush Fenway Keselowski drivers Brad Keselowski won the first Daytona Duel while teammate Chris Buescher won the second duel race.

NASCAR returns next weekend at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, CA.

Ford/Roush Yates Engines Daytona 500 Race Winners (Owner):
2009 – Matt Kenseth (Jack Roush)
2011 – Trevor Bayne (Wood Brothers)
2012 – Matt Kenseth (Jack Roush)
2015 – Joey Logano (Roger Penske)
2017 – Kurt Busch (Stewart-Haas)
2021 – Michael McDowell (Front Row Motorsports)
2022 – Austin Cindric (Roger Penske)

33 CHAMPIONSHIPS – 428 WINS – 384 POLES!
*Photos courtesy of NASCAR Media & Getty Images

COLE CUSTER WINS XFINITY RACE AT AUTO CLUB

Posted on: February 28th, 2022
Location: post

FONTANA, CA – February 28, 2022 – Cole Custer in the No. 07 SS Green Light Racing Ford Mustang won Saturday’s Production Alliance 300 NASCAR Xfinity Series race. This was Cole’s 2nd Xfinity win at Auto Club Speedway’s 2-mile oval and 10th of his Xfinity Series career. The race started mid-afternoon but ended under the lights due to twelve cautions and three overtimes as Cole won by .565 seconds over second place.

“Congratulations to Ford Performance, Bobby Dotter, Cole, Joe, and everyone at SS Green Light Racing for winning Saturday’s Xfinity race,” said Doug Yates, President and CEO of Roush Yates Engines. “Cole drove a great race at his home track and executed several late restarts for the win. It’s great to power Bobby’s first win as a team owner.”

“It was just an awesome car. It was a rocket ship all day,” said Custer. ‘I can’t thank Bobby Dotter enough and everybody who was involved on this car.”

Custer led 80 of the 165 laps which was extended 15 laps due to multiple cautions and overtimes. On lap 134, Custer regained the lead and held onto all but one of the last 31 laps to cross the finish line in P1. Ford Performance Teammates Riley Herbst with Stewart-Haas Racing finished in P9, Ryan Sieg with Ryan Sieg Racing finished in P10, Joe Graf Jr. with SS Green Light Racing finished in P15, while Kyle Sieg with Ryan Sieg Racing finished P18.

Austin Cindric with Team Penske won the pole for the Wise Power 400 NASCAR Cup Series on Saturday afternoon. Joey Logano with Team Penske led Ford Performance with a P5 finish, Aric Almirola with Stewart-Haas Racing finished in P6, and Kevin Harvick with Stewart-Haas Racing finished in P7 for Sunday’s race.

NASCAR returns next weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas, NV.

33 CHAMPIONSHIPS – 429 WINS – 385 POLES!
*Photos courtesy of NASCAR Media & Getty Images