- After another strong ninth-place finish at Talladega Superspeedway, the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Racing team returns to Kansas Speedway this weekend for Saturday night’s GoBowling 400.
- “I like Kansas,” said driver Ryan Blaney. “It’s always been a decent track for me.”
DEARBORN, Mich., May 4, 2016 – Reflecting on last season, Motorcraft/Quick Lane Racing team crew chief Jeremy Bullins said he was more impressed with driver Ryan Blaney’s seventh place in the fall Kansas race than his fourth in the Talladega spring race.
After another strong ninth-place finish at Talladega Superspeedway, the team returns to Kansas Speedway this weekend for Saturday night’s GoBowling 400.
“I feel like there are so many things out of your control to get a good finish at Talladega and Daytona that can affect the finishing order,” Bullins said. “At intermediate tracks, when you get a good finish, generally you earned it, like our sixth place at Vegas this year.”
Blaney, who agrees with his crew chief’s assessment of last season’s best finishes, says he enjoys racing at Kansas Speedway. “I like Kansas,” he said. “It’s always been a decent track for me. ‘Dega is a good equalizer but Kansas really challenges teams and driver skill to run well. It’s the fastest intermediate track we have been to and tires don’t fall off so it’ll be a different animal. We will have to adjust.”
The Sunoco NASCAR Rookie of the Year contender said running the race at night will make the Kansas experience a little different. “It’s going to be a little more difficult to pass being a night race, but should be a good show to watch,” he said.
Bullins said the compressed schedule at Kansas (two practices and qualifying on Friday before the Saturday night race) does present challenges.
“Any time you have a schedule change you have to make sure you manage your time wisely but it’s not a schedule we’ve never had before so we are ready for that,” Bullins explained. “Friday will be a long day for the guys. That’s probably the biggest challenge.”
Although the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Fusion’s 2015 seventh-place finish at Kansas came with a different aero package than the team will run this year, Bullins said the setup from this year’s top-10 result in Las Vegas is a good starting point.
“Certainly running well at Kansas last year won’t hurt and we have some good notes to read through,” Bullins said. “But I feel like where we were at Vegas will carry over to this weekend. Kansas is very similar to what we dealt with at Vegas. You have to have a fast car and good strategy and that plays everywhere.”
Blaney heads into Kansas City 18th in the driver standings and trails Chase Elliott on the Rookie of the Year chart by 27 points.
“I don’t worry too much about the points,” Blaney said. “I just want to run well and work on trying to win.”
Practice sessions for The GoBowling 400 begin at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. EDT on Friday, May 6 and can be seen live on FOX Sports 1 (FS1). Qualifying will take place later that day at 6:45 p.m. EDT and will be broadcast live on FS1. The GoBowling 400 begins on FS1 at 7:30 p.m. EDT on Saturday, May 7.
GoBowling 400/Kansas Speedway Facts
Track: 1.5-mile tri-oval
Laps: 267
1st NASCAR Race: 2001
Wood Brothers Wins: 0
Track Record: Joey Logano, 141.951 mph, 2014
2015 Winner: Jimmie Johnson
2015 No. 21 Finish: Did not compete
# # #
About Motorcraft
Motorcraft® offers a complete line of replacement parts that are recommended and approved by Ford Motor Company. From routine maintenance to under-hood repairs, Motorcraft parts offer exceptional value with the highest quality and right fit at competitive prices. Motorcraft parts are available nationwide at Ford and Lincoln dealers, independent distributors and automotive parts retailers are backed by Ford Motor Company’s two-year, unlimited-miles Service Parts Limited Warranty. Ask for Motorcraft by name when you visit your local auto parts store or your favorite service facility. For more information, visit www.motorcraft.com.
About Quick Lane Tire & Auto Centers
Ford’s Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center offers routine vehicle maintenance such as oil and filter changes, light repair services including brake repair, and tire replacements on all vehicle makes and models. With nearly 800 locations and growing, customers can visit www.quicklane.com to find a center that is closest to them, print savings coupons and review maintenance tips to keep their vehicles running at peak efficiency. This site includes information on how to spot tire wear, how to jump-start a battery and even a series of tips to improve a vehicle’s fuel economy.
Wood Brothers Racing
Wood Brothers Racing was formed in 1950 in Stuart, Va., by Hall of Famer Glenn Wood. Wood Brothers Racing is the oldest active team and one of the winningest teams in NASCAR history. Since its founding, the team won 98 races (including at least one race in every decade for the last seven decades) and 117 poles in NASCAR’s top-tier series. Fielding only Ford products for its entire history, the Wood Brothers own the longest association of any motorsports team with a single manufacturer. Glenn’s brother, Leonard, is known for inventing the modern pit stop. The team currently runs the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Fusion driven by Ryan Blaney in the famous number 21 racecar.
