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[/media-credit]RFR will start one-two in its 25th running of the Daytona 500; Team qualifies 3 Fords in top 8
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 19, 2012) – Roush Fenway added to its “25 Winning Years” legacy, claiming both front row starting positions in Sunday’s Daytona 500 Pole Day at Daytona International Speedway. Carl Edwards covered the 2.5-mile oval at the World Center of Racing in 46.216 seconds (194.738 mph) to set the pace for the field, just edging teammate Greg Biffle (46.371) for the pole. The RFR duo will start one-two in next Sunday’s ‘Great American Race.’
“The team did great today,” said team co-owner Jack Roush. “Doug Yates and the guys in the engine shop did a nice job. Robbie Reiser (RFR general manager) and the folks in the chassis and body shops built nice cars that the teams prepared well. We worked all winter getting ready for this. It’s just the beginning. We hope we can put it together for the Twins and for the (Daytona) 500 next Sunday…at least we have a week to celebrate this pole.”
Making his first career Daytona 500 start, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. qualified eighth, while former Daytona 500 winner Matt Kenseth qualified 16th. Roush Fenway’s Trevor Bayne, driving the Wood Brother’s No. 21 Ford, qualified ninth, just behind Stenhouse.
The event will mark the first all-Roush Fenway front row for the Daytona 500, as the team moves into its 25th anniversary season. It is the second pole for Roush Fenway racing at the Daytona 500, with Biffle doing the honors in 2004.
The run continued Roush Fenway’s strong start to the 2012 Speedweeks, with RFR cars leading both days of practice, Biffle leading a race-high 17 laps in Saturday night’s Bud Shootout and Roush Fenway sweeping the front row in today’s qualifying session.
The RFR teams return to action at Daytona on Wednesday as preparations continue for next week’s Daytona 500. The Twin 150’s will decide the remaining 41 starting positions for the Daytona 500, with the races set for Thursday, Feb. 23 at 2:00 p.m. ET. They will be televised live on SPEED.
About Roush Fenway Racing
Roush Fenway Racing is the winningest team in NASCAR history, fielding multiple teams in the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series with championship drivers Carl Edwards, Matt Kenseth, Greg Biffle, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Trevor Bayne. Celebrating 25 winning years in 2012, Roush Fenway is the leader in NASCAR marketing solutions, pioneering its exclusive Roush Fenway OnTrack sponsorship measurement services, motorsport’s first team-focused TV show and its award-winning social marketing channel RickyvsTrevor.com. Visit www.RoushFenway.com, circle on Google+ at +Roush Fenway Racing, become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/roushfenway and follow on Twitter at @roushfenway. For sponsorship inquiries call John Bauersfeld at 704.720.4621.
