Archive for the ‘2018 Press Releases’ Category

MARK RUSHBROOK HAS HIMSELF AND FORD PERFORMANCE MOTORSPORTS PROGRAM RUNNING IN HIGH GEAR

Posted on: May 25th, 2018
Location: post

 

MOORESVILLE, NC – May 25, 2018 – It’s Thursday morning when Mark Rushbrook’s voice comes over the speaker to begin a global conference call with members of his Ford Performance Motorsports team.

What makes this 8:30 a.m. meeting a bit different is that he’s not conducting it from a conference room or an office.  Instead, he’s riding in the passenger seat of a Ford Explorer that is motoring down Interstate 75 from Dearborn, Mich., to Sandusky, Ohio, for a visit with ThorSport Racing of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.

It may not be a traditional way of staying up to speed with what’s going on in the world of motorsports, but when you work for an iconic brand that is a pioneer in the emerging field of mobility like Ford Motor Company, it’s business as usual.

As global director of Ford Performance Motorsports, Rushbrook is responsible for running all of the division’s motorsport efforts, which includes NASCAR, IMSA, NHRA, and Formula Drift in North America and FIA WEC, WRC, and Australia Supercars overseas.

“Ford is a global company and we need to operate our motorsports program just like we do the rest of the company,” said Rushbrook.  “The ability to share the same tools and processes across these different global racing series is part of what we need to be doing to be efficient and competitive.  Whether it’s for NASCAR, the Ford GT wherever it’s racing around the world, for WRC, or for Australia Supercars the same physics apply, so we can use the same tools and processes to be successful wherever we’re racing.”

Rushbrook, 51, joined Ford Performance in 2014 as an engineering manager for motorsports, a position he held until being promoted late last year to global director.

In that time, he has been part of a group that successfully relaunched the Ford GT into competition, winning the Le Mans 24 in 2016 on the 50th anniversary of its first victory in the prestigious endurance race.  In addition, he has played a key role in building the Ford Performance team that has grown from seven at the start to its current size of 43.

“That’s been a huge part of the last four years because everyone has been handpicked.  We didn’t just go out on the street and grab the first people that we saw, we’ve spent a lot of time picking the right people,” said Rushbrook, who cites the recent news that Mustang will be going to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and Australia Supercars Championship next year, along with a new body for the NHRA Mello Yellow Funny Car, as an example of the multi-faceted projects his group tackles at any given moment.  “I’m very proud of the team in total and every single individual that is with us because they’re all very skilled, very talented and huge contributors.

“We’re looking for people with a very unique skill set that has the passion and attitude of being able to work together as a team,” continued Rushbrook.  “That determines our success, so that’s the most important thing I look for because there are a ton of people that may have the skill, the knowledge and the experience, but having that plus the right attitude and people skills is what makes a difference and that’s what we’ve been able to build into this team.”

Rushbrook’s tenure as director, which officially started on Dec. 1, 2017, got off to a solid start as the Ford GT rolled to a dominating victory in the season-opening Rolex 24 At Daytona, and an equally impressive victory in the FIA World Rally Championship event in Monte Carlo with the Ford Fiesta.  The checkered flags continued a couple of weeks later in NASCAR when Kevin Harvick took Mustang and Fusion to wins on consecutive days at Atlanta Motor Speedway, igniting a three-race winning streak.

“Mark provides all the advice that he can while maintaining the propriety and the secrets that’s expected of the teams with regard to the things that they’re racing with one another against,” said NASCAR team owner Jack Roush.  “He does a nice job there and hasn’t broken the faith and created trouble for himself by giving up something he shouldn’t, but by the same token he provides encouragement and provides resources.  He’s the contact back to the racing side of Ford Motor Company.”

About the only time you’ll find Rushbrook sitting or standing still is if he’s in a meeting or sifting through his hundreds of daily e-mails.  When he’s on the road it’s not uncommon for him to start the day with a 5 a.m. run through the streets of Geneva or pull out his bicycle and go for a 50-mile spin along the back roads of Richmond, Va.

“I keep swim goggles, swim jammers and running shoes in my bag wherever I’m going.  I haven’t gone global with my bikes yet, but I do keep a few stashed around the country because it’s important to me,” said Rushbrook, who prefers an early-morning routine regardless of his location.  “I feel a lot better when I’m able to get those workouts in because, otherwise, I don’t feel as energetic and feel like I’m able to do the things that I do.  But when you’re either swimming, biking, or running, you have the ability to really think things through, and I use that time to prioritize what I’m going to do that day, so it’s good for me physically and mentally.”

The fact Rushbrook is currently leading the motorsports department isn’t a surprise to those who knew his love for math, science and working on cars while growing up in Ligonier, Pa., a town of slightly more than 1,500 people located 50 miles east of Pittsburgh.  One of the few people who didn’t see it, however, was the man himself, who enrolled at Penn State and majored in mechanical engineering.

“In hindsight, it’s pretty obvious that this was the right career choice for me being in the automotive industry and eventually motorsports, but I was still trying to figure it out in college.  Maybe it was a case of not being able to add two and two together,” recalled Rushbrook.  “My parents were both British.  They had been born and raised in London and came over to the U.S., so we went to England all the time, but, for some reason, it felt like Michigan and Detroit was an entire world away when, in reality, it was only a five-hour drive from my house.”

It wasn’t until a recruiter for General Motors came on campus with a scholarship and internship opportunity that Rushbrook realized a potential career.

“I was like, ‘That’s what I want to do,’” said Rushbrook.  “Even though it may have been obvious to somebody else, it wasn’t to me until that point.  I never went to a race in person through high school or even the first part of college, so what I saw on TV was just the driver and the on-track action.  I didn’t see the stuff in person with the full race team and all the support behind it, so it never really clicked until then, but I’m glad it did.”

Rushbrook graduated from PSU in 1989 and got his Master’s degree a year later at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.  He gained his MBA from U-M in 1999 and started at Ford in June of that year in the product development leadership program.  He has worked in a number of different areas within the company, including a two-year stint as vehicle development manager for Mustang (2002-04) and five years as the North America vehicle dynamics manager (2005-10).

Prior to arriving in Ford Performance, Rushbrook served as the Noise and Vibration Harshness Manager for all North America programs.

One thing those positions had in common was that on most nights Rushbrook was able to go home and sleep in his own bed.  That’s not necessarily the case anymore, which means he now works harder at balancing time at home with wife, Cindy, and son, Evan.

“When I’m home it’s about being focused with my wife and my son because they’re incredibly important to me.  They’re very understanding,” said Rushbrook, who shares his experiences and stays connected on the road through technology.  “I sent a picture from Richmond while standing inside turn one and two, and my wife sent a reply back saying, ‘I love that you love what you do.’  To me, it’s great that she sees my passion for my job and that she supports me in everything that I do professionally.  That means a lot, so when I get home I need to show them my appreciation by being focused with them and on the life that we have.”

That might mean taking the family to Europe for a Premier League match-up featuring Evan’s favorite club, Arsenal.  Then again, it may be as simple as a nice, relaxing drive on a scenic two-lane highway with no meetings to conduct or races to run.

FORD PERFORMANCE IN 2018

NASCAR

  • Monster Energy Cup Series
  • Ford is off to its best start since 1997 with seven wins in the first 12 races
  • Stewart-Haas driver Kevin Harvick leads all competitors with five wins
  • Ford has seven drivers in the Top 10 of the series standings
  • Ford leads the manufacturer standings by 12 points

IMSA

  • Ford GT
  • Won the season-opening Rolex 24
  • Podium finishes in 3-of-4 starts this year (1-win, 2 runner-ups, 1 third-place)
  • Ryan Briscoe and Richard Westbrook lead the point standings in the No. 67 Ford GT
  • Ford is second in the manufacturer standings, only one point out of the lead

Mustang GT4

  • Has won 2-of-3 events to start the season
  • Drivers Kyle Marcelli and Nate Stacy have won the last two races (Sebring and Mid-Ohio)
  • Ford leads the manufacturer standings by four points
  • Driver development program for young NASCAR stars Chase Briscoe, Austin Cindric, Cole Custer and Ty Majeski

WRC

  • M-Sport Ford World Rally Team has three wins in six starts (Monte Carlo, Mexico and France)
  • Coming off a double podium finish at Portugal with Elfyn Evans (2nd) and Teemu Suninen (3rd)
  • Sebastien Ogier is second in the point standings after leading most of the season
  • Ford is second in the manufacturer standings

WEC

  • Won the season’s only event as drivers Olivier Pla, Billy Johnson and Stefan Mücke teamed up to win the 6 Hours of Spa
  • As a result, the No. 66 team leads the overall standings by seven points

*Courtesy Campbell Marketing & Communications for Ford Performance

 

LOGANO SWEEPS XFINITY RACE AT WATKINS GLEN!

Posted on: August 6th, 2018
Location: post

WATKINS GLEN, NY – August 6, 2018 – Team Penske with the No. 22 Ford Mustang reached Victory Lane for the fifth time this year in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Joey Logano won the pole on Saturday morning and led the field to the checkered flag at Watkins Glen in the Zippo 200.

“Congratulations to Joey for his 30th career Xfinity win and to Roger and Team Penske for their fifth Xfinity win this season,” said Doug Yates, President and CEO of Roush Yates Engines. “Joey and Brad put the Ford Mustangs on the front row to start the race and the guys just put on a great race with the rest of the field this weekend for some exciting NASCAR road course racing.”

Logano recorded a qualifying lap time of 71.70 to start from the pole. He would trade the lead throughout the race with Brad Keselowski and Ryan Preece, but in the final laps it was Logano who made the move of the race.

It became a battle between the Team Penske teammates, in a split-second decision during the last restart, the No. 22 darted to the inside and pulled alongside Keselowski and gained a slight advantage to take the lead. With two laps remaining, the No.12 Keselowski, ended up going off line and off the track. Logano ultimately went onto to win the race for his 50th career NASCAR National series win. Keselowski finished the race in 10th. The Team Penske duo combined to lead 57 of the 82 laps.

“They both were good cars,” Logano commented when asked about the difference between the No. 22 and No.12.  “They’re both great teams. The pit crew on both cars are Cup teams when we come to the road course here with the pit stops backwards, so we do that to get some experience for our guys, but, really, I guess probably the advantage is to the 12 because they don’t race for stages and we’ve got to race for stage points, so it was probably maybe a little advantage there. It comes down to the end of it like the last few years it seems like it’s the two of us battling it out like crazy. I was working as hard as I can there. It was a fun battle. These XFINITY cars have a really good package around this race track for some racing because there’s just enough draft to keep the leader from pulling away.”
Finishing order for the entire Ford Performance Team was strong. Aric Almirola, driving the No. 98, finished fifth for Stewart-Haas Racing with Biagi-DenBeste Racing while Cole Custer, in the No. 00 Stewart-Haas Ford Mustang, finished sixth. In addition, No. 16 Ryan Reed from Roush Fenway Racing brought home an eighth place finish while No. 60 Austin Cindric finished 13th and Kaz Grala in fifteenth for Fury Racing in the No. 61.
The MENCS and NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) split the schedule this weekend. MENCS will be in Michigan and NXS head to Mid-Ohio. Reference the full 2018 schedule on Roush Yates Engines.

14 CHAMPIONSHIPS – 339 WINS – 305 POLES!
*Photos courtesy of NASCAR Media

 

TITLE WITHIN SIGHT FOR FORD CHIP GANASSI RACING AS IMSA SEASON REACHES END AT PETIT LE MANS

Posted on: October 11th, 2018
Location: post

BRASELTON, Ga., Oct. 11, 2018–The suspense will be over soon for Ford Chip Ganassi Racing and the other IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship teams still in contention for 2018 championship and Tequila Patrón North American Endurance Cup (TPNAEC) titles.

After leading the GTLM standings for much of the year, Ford CGR enters Petit Le Mans as the underdog, even after all but securing the manufacturer’s title for Ford.

The No. 67 duo of Ryan Briscoe and Richard Westbrook are second in the driver and team standings, nine points behind the leaders, entering the 10-hour Petit Le Mans, the final race of the season.

Briscoe and Westbrook combined to earn three wins (Rolex 24, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Road America) and two poles (Watkins Glen, VIR) so far this year.

“We’ve fallen a bit behind on the points, but we can still win it and we have one goal, to go out and win the race and see where the points fall at the end of it,” Briscoe said. “It’s an important race to win no matter where you are in the championship, so you’re going to have everyone gunning for the win. It’s always an exciting race, one of my favorites.”

The championship hopes of the No. 66 Ford GT driver team of Joey Hand and Dirk Müller were ended at Laguna Seca, when Müller was collected in a prototype accident at the drop of the green flag. They are still in contention for the TPNAEC crown with third driver Sébastien Bourdais, as are Briscoe, Westbrook and 2018 Indy Car Champion, Scott Dixon.

“We’re not really able to win the overall championship at this point, but (Petit Le Mans is) a race I haven’t won before personally,” Hand said. “It would be great for me to put on the list with the other endurance races. It’s the last big one I haven’t won. For me, it’s a big deal. On top of that, going after TPNAEC, we’ll put a little more focus on the stage points and see if we can put ourselves in the position to get the right points at the right times. Not having to worry about the main championship, we can put a little more focus on that.”

The No. 66 Ford GT team has a four-point lead in the TPNAEC, with the No. 67 in third, five points behind. Ford has a five-point lead in the TPNAEC manufacturer’s title chase that awards the best-performing teams in IMSA’s endurance races (Daytona/Sebring/Watkins Glen/Petit Le Mans).

“This is a tough race,” Hand said. “Petit Le Mans is one of those where it’s only 10 hours, but it always ends up being a really crazy race. It’s just the nature of the Road Atlanta track. You don’t have a lot of room, you’re fighting other cars, you finish in the dark, guys are doing crazy things. It’s not an easy race to finish. You have to first find a way to finish, then you might have a chance to win it.”

If Ford CGR crosses the starting line, the IMSA GTLM manufacturer’s title will be won for Ford.

“I don’t think anyone at Ford CGR is giving up the fight quite yet. It’ll go down to the wire,” said Mark Rushbrook, global director of Ford Performance Motorsports. “It’s been quite a season for the Ford GT and the team and all of our partners, and we’re looking forward to seeing the conclusion!”

The green flag drops for Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta on Oct. 13, 2018. The race will be broadcasted inside the U.S. on FOX Sports 1 and 2, starting at 10:30 a.m. ET, and outside the U.S. on IMSA.tv.

*Courtesy of Ford Performance

FORD LOOKS TO CONTINUE RESTRICTOR PLATE DOMINANCE IN DAYTONA 500

Posted on: February 13th, 2018
Location: post

MOORESVILLE, NC, February 13, 2018 –When it comes to racing at Daytona and Talladega in recent years no manufacturer has had more success than Ford, which goes into this year’s Daytona 500 with a seven-race restrictor plate winning streak (not counting Brad Keselowski’s victory in Sunday’s Clash).  And while anything can happen when cars are running two and three-wide at speeds around 200 miles per hour, the confidence level for extending it in 2018 is high.

“I think Doug Yates and his engines are the best superspeedway engines,” said Kurt Busch, who won last year’s Daytona 500 in Stewart-Haas Racing’s debut event with Ford and his first with the manufacturer since 2005.  “Ford seems to have the least amount of drag and with that comes the least amount of downforce. That means we will run well at Daytona and Talladega.  We swept the restrictor plate races last year and I don’t see that changing right now.”

And while that may sound like a bold statement, consider that Ford’s run of dominance hasn’t just been over the last two years.  Since Trevor Bayne took the Wood Brothers to Victory Lane in the 2011 Daytona 500, Ford has won 16 of the 28 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series events at Daytona and Talladega.

“I believe statistics don’t lie,” said Kevin Harvick, who won the Daytona 500 in 2007.  “I think speedway racing is an effort and when you look at the effort it’s not just an engine or just a body, it’s a total effort and I feel like the effort is high just from what we stepped into when we came to Ford.”

Eight different drivers representing six organizations have registered at least one win during the stretch, including four first-time winners — Bayne, David Ragan, Aric Almirola and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. — proving that there is strength throughout the Ford program.

“All of our teams work hard and it’s been nice to see each of them get rewarded for that through the years,” said Mark Rushbrook, global director, Ford Performance.  “We take a great deal of pride in the fact that we have multiple organizations capable of winning on any given week and the Daytona 500 is obviously one everybody wants.  We’d like nothing better than to see that streak get to eight.”

The one common denominator in all these wins has been under the hood as Roush Yates Engines continues its legacy of being a restrictor plate king.  Since Robert Yates and Jack Roush merged their engine operations in 2004, the group has won the Daytona 500 five times and has posted 20 series victories at Daytona and Talladega.

“It started early on with my dad.  He always loved going to Daytona because this is our Super Bowl.  If you’re involved in NASCAR, you want to be successful at Daytona and Talladega, so we’ve always worked hard at that,” said Doug Yates, chief executive officer, Roush Yates Engines.  “The wins we’ve had in the 500 show that we take it seriously, but it’s always about the next one.  We don’t think about the stats very much, we just think about the next race and work hard to be better than we were the last one.  That’s worked well for us, but we’ve got to keep going because those guys are coming after us.”

One driver who will likely be viewed as a favorite based off his two wins from a year ago is Stenhouse, who will be starting his sixth full season driving at the Cup level for car owner Jack Roush.

“I feel a lot more confident going into the 500 than I ever have,” said Stenhouse, who won the spring race at Talladega and the July Daytona event.  “I always went into the 500 thinking, ‘Hey, let’s get off to a good start.  Let’s have a good points race.’  I never thought about winning the 500.  After last season, I feel like going in that is the only goal that we have is to win and not just to get a good finish out of it.”

 

Another is Busch, who got a helpful push from Ryan Blaney to pass Kyle Larson on the final lap to win last year’s season-opener.

“To me, I feel more pressure because I want to defend it properly. I want to go back-to-back. I want to bring it home again for Monster, Ford and everybody at Stewart-Haas,” he said.  “You give it that same attention to detail that you give Daytona every year. If you have won it or you haven’t, you still go after it hard.”

The Daytona 500 is scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 18 at 2:30 p.m. (Eastern Time)

FORD’S RESTRICTOR PLATE WINS SINCE 2011 (Points races only)
Feb. 20, 2011 – Trevor Bayne (Daytona 500, Daytona International Speedway)
July 2, 2011 – David Ragan (Coke Zero 400, Daytona International Speedway)
Feb. 27, 2012 – Matt Kenseth (Daytona 500, Daytona International Speedway)
Oct. 7, 2012 – Matt Kenseth (Good Sam 500, Talladega Superspeedway)
May 5, 2013 – David Ragan (Aaron’s 399, Talladega Superspeedway)
July 6, 2014 – Aric Almirola (Coke Zero 400, Daytona International Speedway)
Oct. 19, 2014 – Brad Keselowski (Geico 500, Talladega Superspeedway)
Feb. 22, 2015 – Joey Logano (Daytona 500, Daytona International Speedway)
Oct. 25, 2015 – Joey Logano (CampingWorld.com 500, Talladega Superspeedway)
May 1, 2016 – Brad Keselowski (Geico 500, Talladega Superspeedway)
July 2, 2016 – Brad Keselowski (Coke Zero 400, Daytona International Speedway)
Oct. 23, 2016 – Joey Logano (Hellman’s 500, Talladega Superspeedway)
Feb. 26, 2017 – Kurt Busch (Daytona 500, Daytona International Speedway)
May 7, 2017 – Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (Geico 500, Talladega Superspeedway)
July 1, 2017 – Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (Coke Zero 400, Daytona International Speedway)
Oct. 15, 2017 – Brad Keselowski (Alabama 500, Talladega Superspeedway)

* Courtesy Ford Performance 

NEW FORD MUSTANG HEADED TO THE TRACK IN 2019

Posted on: April 17th, 2018
Location: post

MOORESVILLE, NC, April 17, 2018 – The Ford Mustang, the World’s Best-Selling Sports Coupe for third straight year will enter the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series in 2019. The New Ford Mustang is ready to run.

“We’re combining America’s favorite sports car with America’s top stock car racing series,” said Mark Rushbrook, global director, Ford Performance Motorsports. “Mustang always has been about affordable performance, which can be traced to innovations we’ve made competing in racing, like NASCAR. Mustang is a perfect fit for our racing heritage today and tomorrow.”

Mustang has competed in the NASCAR Xfinity Series since 2011, winning championships in all but one season. It has taken Team Penske to four owner’s championships in the last five years and carried Ricky Stenhouse Jr. to consecutive driver’s championships in 2011 and 2012.

This will be Ford’s fourth different Cup model in NASCAR’s modern era (1972-present), following Thunderbird, Taurus and Fusion.

“This announcement makes me very happy,” said Edsel B. Ford II, a member of Ford Motor Company’s board of directors. “Mustang is a car that is woven into the fabric of our country, and it’s only right that we put it on the track in NASCAR’s most visible series. I can’t wait.” Ford has six organizations and 13 teams in its NASCAR lineup, including Roush Fenway Racing, Team Penske, Wood Brothers Racing, Stewart-Haas Racing, Front Row Motorsports and Go Fas Racing.

Mustang is still going through initial testing and will be formally submitted to NASCAR for approval this summer. A public unveiling of the finished product will soon follow. The first series points race for Mustang will be the Daytona 500 on Feb. 17, 2019. PONY UP!

*Story courtesy of Ford Performance

FORD MUSTANGS FINISH 1-2 AT CHARLOTTE!  

Posted on: May 29th, 2018
Location: post

CONCORD, NC May 29, 2018 – Brad Keselowski and Cole Custer made it a 1-2 finish for Ford Performance in the NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) race Saturday night in Charlotte, NC. The win marked Keselowski’s second NXS win of the season and fourth NXS win for Team Penske this year.

“Congratulations to Brad on his 30th Xfinity win and the entire Team Penske organization,” said Doug Yates, President and CEO of Roush Yates Engines. “Brad drove a great race. Our team at Roush Yates Engines takes great pride in developing and building the Ford FR9 Carb engines for all the Ford teams and to see the 1-2 finish was really special.”

Keselowski and Custer finished the race just like they started, side-by-side. Keselowski and the No. 22 Fitzgerald Glider Kits Mustang won the pole Saturday morning while Custer from Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) qualified his No. 00 Haas Automation Mustang second.

The Ford Mustangs led a race high 107 laps out of the 204 lap race. Keselowski, who led three times for 77 laps, including the final 44 while Custer led twice for a total of 28 laps. After enduring a red flag rain delay and a late race caution with 2 laps remaining, producing an overtime finish, the No. 22 took the checkered flag. The win was Ford’s fifth NXS win of the season and 120th overall Roush Yates Engines NXS win.

“I couldn’t ask for a much better start for Memorial Day Weekend than to bring home a win,” commented Keselowski in Victory Lane. “I’m really proud of everyone on the team, Brian here and the sponsors, Fitzgerald Gliders and Ford for the car that was well-prepared and in a spot to be able to execute a day like today, but I think it was definitely a perseverance day.”

Ford teammates Kaz Grala and Chase Briscoe finished 10th and 11th respectively.

Keselowski was also Ford’s highest finisher in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 race on Sunday, finishing fourth while Kurt Busch from SHR was eighth and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. from Roush Fenway Racing rounded out the top-10.
Ford Performance teams will be heading northeast to Pocono on June 3rd for the Pocono 400.
14 CHAMPIONSHIPS – 331 WINS – 294 POLES!
*Photos courtesy of NASCAR Media

DOUBLE PODIUM FINISH FOR FORD AT ROAD AMERICA

Posted on: August 6th, 2018
Location: post

ELKHART LAKE, WI – August 6, 2018 – Richard Westbrook and Ryan Briscoe took the No. 67, Ford GT to the top of the podium to mark the fourth win in a row for Ford Chip Ganassi Racing (FCGR) and Ford Performance, in the IMSA Continental Tire Road Race Showcase at Road America.

“Congratulations to Chip and the Ford Chip Ganassi Racing team, along with Volt Racing team,” saidDoug Yates, President and CEO of Roush Yates Engines. “We’ve seen some close races in the past, but these two came down to the wire during the final laps. Ford Chip Ganassi Racing and Volt Racing both had strong cars this weekend and with the team’s race strategies and never give up attitudes these teams succeeded.”
The Ford GTs started the race side-by-side on the front row. Dirk Müller in the No 66 (2:02.479), captured their third pole in a row at Road America, while teammate Briscoe (2:02.650) in the No. 67 qualified second.
The direct injection, 3.6L, twin-turbo Ford EcoBoost V6 race engine performed perfectly during the two-hour, 40-minute road race sprint. The Roush Yates Engines’ Engineering team, alongside their Ford Performance teammates monitored the engines and cars, to maximize the power and performance of the Ford EcoBoost throughout the 276-mile race.
The in-class racing was fierce and would come down to the final laps of the race. Starting with the second to the last lap of the race, the No. 67 regained the lead. Westbrook, managing his tires and fuel, brought the battle worn Ford GT across the finish line to take the checkered flag and regain the championship points lead.

“It’s just an incredible run we’re having right now,” Westbrook said. “Confidence is so high. The wins aren’t coming easy by any stretch of the imagination. We’re having to work for them. This is a track that really suits our car, but it was tough at the end. The BMW was fast, but I guess they short-fueled too much. We’re just delighted to get the win. It’s such a great run for the whole program, Ford CGR. It’s a hell of a ride right now and we’re just enjoying every moment of it.”

GTLM Driver Points Standings 
1st No.67 | Briscoe & Westbrook
3rd No.66 | Hand & Müller

FCGR has led the GTLM standings since the No. 67 car won the season-opener at the Rolex 24 At Daytona.
The Ford Mustang GT4, powered by the Ford Mustang 5.2L V8, also had a successful weekend in the IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge, GS class.

Alan Brynjolfsson and Trent Hindman earned their first win in the No. 7 Volt Racing Ford Mustang GT4 at Road America in the Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge. This was the first win for Volt Racing in the GS Class.
“It’s our first win in the Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge,” Brynjolfsson, Team Owner and Co-Driver said. “The team put together a great car, but more importantly, Mike had a brilliant strategy that put us in position, then Trent was the guy wonder who just took it home and did a great job. It’s a great morale booster, because we knew we could do it. We should be there, and we’ve had a lot of unfortunate things happen throughout the year that put us out, but this is the first time we’ve given Trent a proper car with a chance and this is what he can do with the right car.”

In a hotly contested race the six Ford Mustangs started off fast and furious in the 25-car field. The two-hour race came down to fuel savings and brake management, along with keeping yourself in contention.
With three laps to go, multiple cars pitted for a splash of fuel, but Volt Racing calculated their fuel strategy down to the last ounce and was able to stay out and take over the lead. The No. 7 took the white flag with only fumes left in the tank. Hindman paced the car perfectly to complete the final 4.048-mile track and take the checkered flag.

The No. 80 MBRP Performance Exhaust car finished P6, the No. 8 ModSpace car finished P7, the No. 59 Roush Performance/KohR Motorsports car finished P11, the No. 15 Multimatic car of Scott Maxwell and Ford development drive Ty Majeski finished P12 while the No. 60 Roush Performance/KohR Motorsports finished P13.
The teams will take this momentum as they head into the last three races of the season; Virginia International Raceway, Laguna Seca and Road Atlanta.

14 CHAMPIONSHIPS – 341 WINS – 306 POLES!

*Images courtesy of Ford Performance

CHAMPIONSHIP WINNING SEASON FOR FORD

Posted on: October 15th, 2018
Location: post

BRASELTON, GA – October 15, 2018 – Ford wins the 2018 IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Manufacturers’ Championship title. It has been a tremendous year for Ford Performance, Ford Chip Ganassi Racing team and Roush Yates Engines.

The combined efforts of the No. 66 team of Joey Hand, Dirk Müller and Sébastien Bourdais, along with the No. 67 team of Ryan Briscoe, Richard Westbrook and Scott Dixon won five out of 11 GTLM races and four poles during the 2018 season on the way to clinching Ford’s first Manufacturer’s title at Petit Le Mans this weekend.

In addition, the team also celebrated winning the Tequila Pátron North American Endurance Cup Driver, Team and Manufacturers’ titles. This title highlights the four major endurance races on the 2018 schedule; Rolex 24 At Daytona, Sebring, Watkins Glen and Petit Le Mans.

“Congratulations to Ford, Edsel, Chip and all the Ford teams,” said Doug Yates, President and CEO of Roush Yates Engines. “It has been a phenomenal season and to win the Manufacturers’ Championship titles with the Ford GT and GT4, along with the Patron Endurance Championship titles is what our teams have worked so hard for. It’s a testament to the collective team’s dedication and teamwork. We’re blessed to partner with Ford and provide the horsepower to these great programs.”

After starting the season with a 1-2 finish in the Rolex 24 At Daytona, the teams went on to win a string of four straight races; Watkins Glen, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Lime Rock and Road America.

Rolex 24 At Daytona – Daytona Beach, FL – No. 67 Ryan Briscoe, Richard Westbrook and 2018 Indy Car Champion, Scott Dixon.
Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen – Watkins Glen, NY – No. 66 Joey Hand and Dirk Müller.
Mobil 1 Sportscar Grand Prix – Bowmanville, ON – No. 67 Ryan Briscoe and Richard Westbrook.
Northeast Grand Prix – Lakeville, CT – Hand and Müller.
Continental Tire Road Race Showcase – Elkhart Lake, WI – Briscoe and Westbrook.
Ford and the Ford Mustang GT4 teams, powered by the Ford Mustang 5.2L V8, also earned the IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge Grand Sport Manufacturers’ title on Friday night at Road Atlanta.
Three different Ford Mustang GT4s won a total of five races in 2018; Roush Performance/KohR Motorsports won three while Multimatic Motorsports and VOLT Racing both won one a piece.

Alan Jay Automotive Network 120 – Sebring, FL – No. 60 Roush Performance/KohR Motorsports, Nate Stacy and Kyle Marcelli.
Mid-Ohio 120 – Lexington, OH – No. 60 Roush Performance/KohR Motorsports, Stacy and Marcelli.
Continental Tire 240 at the Glen, Watkins Glen, NY – No. 8 Multimatic Motorsports, Chad McCumbee and Patrick Gallagher.
Canadian Tire Motorsports Park 120, Bowmanville, Ontario – No. 60 Roush Performance/KohR Motorsports, Stacy and Marcelli.
Road America 120, Elkhart Lake, WI – No. 7 VOLT Racing, Alan Brynjolfsson and Trent Hindman, won their first GS class race.
The teams will take this momentum as the turn to prepare for the 2019 season, starting with ROAR in Daytona on January 4th.

19 CHAMPIONSHIPS – 350 WINS – 314 POLES!
*Photos courtesy of Ford Performance

NIKON METROLOGY & ROUSH YATES ENGINES ANNOUNCE TECH PARTNERSHIP

Posted on: February 22nd, 2018
Location: post

MOORESVILLE, NC, February 22, 2018 – Roush Yates Engines and Nikon Metrology (Brighton, MI) announced a multi-year partnership program, demonstrating Roush Yates Engines’ commitment to partnering with the best-in-class companies. With over a 100 years of experience Nikon provides world-class precision equipment and metrology solutions to the manufacturing, aerospace, automotive and medical fields.

“We are proud to have Nikon as our new partner,” said Doug Yates, President & CEO, Roush Yates Engines. “We are always looking for partners that are at the top of their class. The Nikon brand is one built on innovation and quality. Their premium CMM equipment is world-class and a perfect fit for Roush Yates Engines.”

“We are very excited to be partnering with one of the most respected engine builders in the motor sports industry,” adds Andy Stults, Marketing and Communications Manager at Nikon Metrology. “Roush Yates Engines provide the highest performance and most reliable engines for teams at the racetrack, as their winning record proves. The parts in their engines require the utmost precision and quality in order to meet performance demands. We greatly value this partnership with Roush Yates Engines and are proud that our technology is helping ensure they continue to meet their need for high-performance, high-reliability components.”

Nikon’s LC15Dx Laser Scanner provides a unique 3D visualization of dimensional quality using Color Mapping. In addition, Nikon’s unique ESP3 technology maintains accuracy, speed and data quality by adapting the laser settings in real-time, improving efficiency and part quality data accuracy. “These advanced capabilities allow our team the ability to measure and analyze a larger array of parts, each with varying geometry and materials, with a single piece of equipment,” said Chad Johnson, Roush Yates Engines Quality Manager.
“In addition, Nikon’s CMM Manager software, provided for all of Roush Yates Engines CMM’s will save considerably on programming time,” Johnson added.

The iNEXIV Vision System was also added to the Roush Yates Engines lineup of inspection equipment. This CNC video measuring system is ideal for both large and tall mechanical parts and uneven surfaces, in addition to providing a broader XYZ measurement range, which is ideal for analyzing complex geometry engine components.
About Nikon 
Nikon Metrology offers the most complete and innovative metrology product portfolio, including state-of-the-art vision measuring instruments complemented with optical inspection and mechanical 3D metrology solutions. These reliable and innovative products respond to the advanced inspection requirements of manufacturers active in consumer, automotive, aerospace, electronics, medical and other industries. Nikon celebrated its 100th year anniversary in 2017 as a pioneer in optical technology development and product innovation. For more information, visit www.nikonmetrology.com. Product-related inquiries may be directed to Nikon Metrology, Inc. at (800) 552-6648 or sales.nm-us@nikon.com.

JACK ROUSH | NASCAR HALL OF FAME NOMINEE

Posted on: April 19th, 2018
Location: post

Racer – Champion – Pioneer

MOORESVILLE, NC, April 19, 2018 – Jack Roush’s two passions in life have always been racing and aviation. In a career that spans over 50 years, Roush has taken his two passions and turned them into the iconic American dream.
Roush the quintessential entrepreneur, champion race car owner, and pioneer of engineering services was born in the small town of Covington, Kentucky and grew up not far away in Manchester, Ohio. Earning a mathematics degree with a minor in physics from Berea College (he later received a master’s in scientific mathematics from Eastern Michigan University). Faced with a decision at graduation to work for Ford Motor Co. or Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, he decided to move to Dearborn, Michigan to work for Ford, where his legendary story began.
Ford and Roush have a long and successful relationship, spanning over 50 years. It was at Ford Motor Co. where Roush was first introduced to the Ford employee race team called “The Fastbacks”, known for their drag racing. Roush became even more passionate about racing and competition, taking his passion for racing one step further, in 1970, he partnered with Wayne Gapp in a racing venture that would see the duo win three national Pro Stock championships, one each in the NHRA, IHRA and AHRA Pro Stock drag racing series.

In the mid-1970’s, Roush decided to start his first engineering business and formed Jack Roush Performance Engineering in 1976. His reputation in the world of high-performance engine building kept him rooted in the sport of racing; producing engines for numerous teams throughout the early 80’s.

In 1984, Roush was asked by Ford to develop a car for the SCCA Trans-Am and IMSA Camel GT racing series. He took on this new opportunity and won the 1985 manufacturer’s championship for Lincoln-Mercury in addition to winning an unprecedented 119 races and 24 national championships between the two series.

Roush went onto launch his first NASCAR Cup team with driver Mark Martin (NASCAR Hall of Famer) in 1988. Roush and Martin claimed their first NASCAR Cup victory at North Carolina Motor Speedway in 1989, creating one of the sports’ most famed partnerships. Partnering with Fenway Sports Group (FSG), Roush transformed Roush Fenway Racing into one of the most successful teams in the history of professional sports, achieving 325 NASCAR wins and eight NASCAR championships to date.
Over the course of Roush’s 30-year career in NASCAR,19 different drivers have won races under his leadership; 2003 Cup Champion and two-time Daytona 500 winner Matt Kenseth, as well as 2004 Cup Champion, Kurt Busch and two-time NASCAR Champion Greg Biffle to name just a few.
In 2003, Roush joined forces with Robert Yates (NASCAR Hall of Famer) to form Roush Yates Engines. Roush Yates Engines, the exclusive NASCAR Cup and Xfinity engine builder, as well as IMSA and FIA series engine builder for Ford Performance. Designing, developing and manufacturing high-performance engines for the elite teams of Roush Fenway Racing, Team Penske, Wood Brothers, Stewart-Haas Racing, Front Row Motorsports, Go Fas Racing and Ford Chip Ganassi Racing.

“Happy Birthday and congratulations to one of my heroes, mentors and a great friend to our family on the NASCAR Hall of Fame nomination,” said Doug Yates, President and CEO of Roush Yates Engines. “Jack has been a champion and icon in the sport of racing for over 50 years, accomplishing achievements we can only hope to reach. It is my honor to be your partner and to call you my friend.”
For almost 50 years Roush has been committed to winning on and off the track. As a direct result of Roush’s hard work, drive and dedication he has turned his love of racing into 43 championships, more than 500 race wins in drag racing, sports car and stock car racing, 1,000 top-5 and over 2,000 top-10 finishes, while leading over 57,000 laps and turning well over a million miles.
As an advocate for the sport of auto racing, Roush advanced the safety of the cars. He brought together his knowledge of aviation and aerodynamics to determine how the changes to car designs in the 1990’s affected their aerodynamics and used this research to create the roof flaps which gave the cars more downforce to keep them on the ground in case of an accident. Roush is one of today’s professional sports’ premiere owners and champions for the sport of racing.

As a racer and champion, Jack Roush has taken his two passions, cars and aviation, and turned them into his life’s’ work. Creating six organizations; Roush Industries, Roush Performance, Roush Clean Tech, Roush Fenway Racing, Roush Assembly Solutions and Roush Yates Engines.

As chairman of the board of Roush Enterprises, Inc., which employs more than 4,000 people and operates facilities across North America, Europe and Asia, Roush has taken his winning record on the track and applied it to the boardroom to become one of the most successful automotive entrepreneurs of the modern era.

The NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2019 Voting is now open at https://www.nascar.com/halloffame

To learn more about Roush Fenway Raceway go to http://www.roushfenway.com

 

*Photography courtesy of ROUSH Automotive Collection & NASCAR Media