KANSAS CITY, Kan., October 16, 2016 – After battling an ill-handling race car early in the Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway, Ryan Blaney brought the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Fusion home in 14th place this afternoon.
At the start of the race, Blaney told his crew that he had virtually no rear grip yet he managed to stay in the top 20 after starting 17th on the grid. A couple of early race caution periods allowed the Motorcraft/Quick Lane team to work on their machine and get it good enough to allow their rookie driver to push forward to 10th place at the half-way point of the race.
An aggressive pit strategy, staying on the track during consecutive caution periods late in the race, put the Wood Brothers’ iconic No. 21 Ford in fifth place with about 100 miles to go in the 400-mile race. The lack of fresh rubber, however, cost the team several positions and they slipped back to their final finishing position.
“It turned out to be a bit of a disappointing day,” said crew chief Jeremy Bullins. “I guess when you can be disappointed with a top 15 it’s not the end of the world but we expect more from ourselves.
“We tried some things,” Bullins explained. “Some things didn’t work out as well as we’d hoped but we will learn and move forward.”
The 14th at Kansas was Blaney’s 15th top-15 finish and his 20th top-20 finish of the 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup season.
As a result, the rookie driver maintains his hold on 20th place in the driver points standings.
The next race on the NASCAR Sprint Cup schedule is the Alabama 500 at Talladega Superspeedway, Sunday, Oct. 23 at 2 p.m ET.
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 Glen 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 NASCA’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. Glen’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.
