DEARBORN, Mich., July 27, 2016 – Ryan Blaney and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Fusion have been riding a roller coaster for the last six races and are due for an up cycle after a late-race wreck in Indianapolis pushed them to a 36th-place finish.
If the rookie driver’s first look at the Pocono Raceway in June is any indication of how he’ll fare this weekend, the Tricky Triangle should be a comfortable place to recover. He posted a 10th-place finish in his first Sprint Cup start at the Pennsylvania track.
This will be Wood Brothers Racing’s 58th start at Pocono. They’ve won twice (1975 and 1980) and are eager for another visit to victory lane.
“We had a decent run at Pocono earlier this year. We are optimistic about going back and try to better that result.”
— Ryan Blaney
RYAN BLANEY POCONO FAST FACTS:
This is his second Sprint Cup start at Pocono.
Posted a 10th-place finish in the June race.
Won the first race he ran at Pocono in the 2013 Camping World Truck Series.
WOOD BROTHERS POCONO FAST FACTS:
Has won twice at Pocono: in 1975 with David Pearson and in 1980 with Neil Bonnett.
Has 58 starts at Pocono and 433 laps led.
CREW CHIEF JEREMY BULLINS’ FAN GUIDE TO PENNSYLVANIA 400:
“Two things seem to always be a factor at Pocono. First is the weather. It’s an area that seems to get a lot of rain, especially when we are in town. I’ve been through many races there where we wondered if we were racing ‘til halfway and if rain would end the race early. If there are showers on Sunday, I’d pay attention to how that affects the strategies.”
“The second factor is fuel mileage. Because Pocono is such a long track, you can pit without getting lapped, so your strategy is very similar to a road course. You generally try to pit as soon as the window opens to make it to the end of the race on fuel. Pay attention to which cars pit first, because if a caution comes out before the rest of the cars pit they will cycle to the lead and gain track position. The risk is that you pit too early and don’t have enough fuel to make it to the end.”
“You come out of here with a top 10 in your first trip here with a Cup car like we did in June and that’s not bad. We had a couple of things we’d do differently looking back, but all in all, we’ll take it and feel like we’ll be stronger when we come back.”
WEEKEND TV SCHEDULE:
Friday, July 29, 11 a.m. – Practice on NBCSN
July 29, 4 p.m. – Qualifying on NBCSN
Saturday, July 30, 11 a.m. – Practice on NBCSN
Sunday, July 31, 1:30 p.m. – Pennsylvania 400 on NBCSN
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.
