Ford committed to NASCAR, promises better times
January 24, 2008
CONCORD, N.C. (AP) -Ford isn't giving up on NASCAR.
After a dismal 2007 season that saw the manufacturer win only seven Nextel Cup races - to Chevrolet's 26 - Ford officials made a point Thursday to show their commitment to the newly named Sprint Cup.
Edsel Ford II, a member of Ford's board of directors and the great-grandson of Henry Ford, visited Roush Fenway Racing's shop Thursday during the final day of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Media Tour
``There's been a lot of talk in the Ford Motor Company in the media in the past year, much of it negative,'' Ford said. ``People have wanted to write us off, to say we couldn't compete in the marketplace or on the race track.
``I'm here to tell you one thing today: don't underestimate our resolve.''
Following Ford's comments, Ford Racing director Dan Davis and Roush Fenway Racing owner Jack Roush each apologized for last year's showing.
``We won seven races last year as an organization and we think that's not more than half of what we should have won,'' Roush said. ``We're working real hard and the Car of Tomorrow is feeling real comfortable for us.''
The COT was a point of contention all last year for Roush, who didn't test the car as much as rival Hendrick Motorsports. Roush, while taking a shot at NASCAR for not reeling in unsanctioned testing at non-NASCAR tracks, said his team learned its lesson.
``I was wrong. I misread NASCAR,'' Roush said. ``They wound up going with the flow and what the teams wanted to do. If I had been in the front of that line, I don't think it would have worked out that way.''
After winning 16 races in 2005, Ford has a combined 13 in the past two seasons. It's led to speculation that Ford, which has been losing money for years, might exit racing.
``We believe that our racing success, especially here in NASCAR, can help fuel the Ford turnaround,'' Ford said.
DRIVER BY COMMITTEE: You'll need to pay attention this season to who is behind the wheel of owner Eddie Wood's No. 21 Ford.
Bill Elliott, the 52-year-old former Cup champion, will drive the car in about 17 races, including the Daytona 500. Wood's son, Jon, and Australian Marcos Ambrose are expected to split the rest of the schedule.
``When I think of Bill driving my car I about halfway get choked up about it,'' Eddie Wood said. ``It's cool. It's just really cool. He bring so much experience. That'll help Jon, that'll help Marcos. It'll help everybody because you've got a guy that's been there and done it.''
Elliott, who won the Daytona 500 in 1985 and 1988 gave no hints Thursday on when he'll retire.
``He's going to retire the same year (Brett) Favre does,'' said driver Matt Kenseth, a Wisconsin native and Green Bay Packers fan.
CHARLOTTE DRAGWAY: After months of harsh words, threats, and ultimatums, Speedway Motorsports chairman Bruton Smith announced detailed plans for a dragstrip being built adjacent to Lowe's Motor Speedway.
The track will host the Carolinas Nationals on Sept. 11-14, the first event in the NHRA's season-ending playoff system.
Smith ran into trouble when he started grading the land before getting approval for the $60 million facility. Some area residents complained about the likely noise. When officials balked at giving him clearance, Smith threatened to move Lowe's Motor Speedway to another part of the Charlotte region.
Local officials responded by not only giving in to Smith's request for a dragstrip, but gave him financial incentives and even named a street after him.
Smith was in a jovial mood retelling the story on Thursday.
``Do you have any friends that built a house close to a speedway that didn't know there was a speedway here?'' Smith said. ``I've been wanting to ask that for a long time.'' Can you imagine? All of you knew there was a speedway here, right?''
Smith has been busy of late, buying New Hampshire's speedway while working on improvements on other tracks, including LMS.
BACK TO BASICS: Drivers and executives expressed relief Thursday at NASCAR's intention to cater to its core fan base this season.
``I've kind of felt that NASCAR has gotten away from grass-roots fans,'' driver Bill Elliott said. ``There are a lot of grass-roots fans that have gone off in different directions for whatever reasons. I think losing some of the race tracks that they've lost in this area hasn't helped that.''
NASCAR chairman Brian France announced Monday that they were ``getting back to the basics.'' Since then NASCAR has announced plans to coordinate race starting times and allow drivers to express themselves without fear of penalty.
``Ticket sales are flat. Ratings are down and it's not because we have 300 channels,'' Lowes Motor Speedway president Humpy Wheeler said. ``It's because we need to get back to our roots.
``We need to get this car of today to work. ... We're at the turning point in this sport.''
SPARK PLUGS: Nationwide Insurance, which takes over sponsorship of NASCAR's second tier circuit, formerly called the Busch Series, promised to provide the largest amount of money in history to the points fund. ... Driver Jamie McMurray missed Thursday's media activities because he was selected for jury duty.