A year ago, during Ford Championship Weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Eddie and Len Wood along with representatives of Ford Motor Company and Motorcraft/Quick Lane announced the latest chapter in the long and storied history of the Wood Brothers racing team.
After spending seven years running a limited Sprint Cup schedule and regrouping the organization, the Woods and their No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Fusion would return to a full-time status.
The Woods also announced the continuation of a technical alliance with Team Penske and that driver Ryan Blaney and crew chief Jeremy Bullins, both still rookies at the Cup level, would return to the No. 21, where they had run a limited schedule in 2015.
As Blaney and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane team return to Homestead this week, their performance on the race track has validated the decision to return to full-time status.
Entering the final race of the 2016 season, Blaney has three top-five and nine top-10 finishes. He has been running at the finish of 33 of the 35 races to date and has finished on the lead lap 23 times. He’s 20th in the driver points standings, and the Woods are tied for 20th in the owner standings.
It’s the first time since 2005, when Ricky Rudd was the team’s driver, that the No. 21 Ford has scored nine top-10 finishes in a season. And it’s the best performance as far as top-fives since 1995, when Morgan Shepherd was at the wheel.
The Woods, despite their return to full-time status, still must qualify for each race. Blaney and the team have had the speed needed each week. His eighth-place qualifying effort last week at Phoenix marked the 11th time this season that he qualified in the top 12.
Eddie Wood said he’s proud of the way the Motorcraft/Quick Lane team has performed this year.
“It’s been a really good season,” he said. “We’ve had some really good runs. Everybody has learned a lot and figured out how to work well together.”
“The pit crew has been consistently good. Ryan and Jeremy have a good relationship and some good chemistry going.”
“I feel really great about the way things are going.”
Wood also is looking forward to returning to Homestead for the season-ending Ford EcoBoost 400.
“I always look forward to the Ford Championship Weekend,” he said. “We get to spend time with our friends from Ford Motor Company and Motorcraft/Quick Lane.” This year we’re all excited to see Joey Logano and the No. 22 team over at Team Penske be a part of the championship battle.
“Of course our focus will be on the No. 21 on Sunday, but we’ll also be closely following the 22 and pulling for them to win the championship for Ford.”
For Blaney and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane team, Ford Championship Weekend at Homestead kicks off with practice and qualifying on Friday, with the qualifying session beginning at 6:15 p.m. and the Ford EcoBoost 400 getting the green flag just after 3 p.m. on Sunday with TV coverage on NBC.
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
Quick Lane® provides automotive quick services for all makes and models. Quick Lane’s nationwide network of more than 700 facilities, each providing the convenience of an aftermarket company (no appointment necessary, service while you wait, evening and weekend hours, competitive prices) with the confidence of a major automotive manufacturer (quality parts, factory-trained, technicians). In addition to offering trusted parts from Motorcraft, Quick Lane Tire & Auto Centers offers brand-name tires from Goodyear, Continental, Michelin and others. Quick Lane® is a registered trademark of Ford Motor Company. For more information, visit www.quicklane.com
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 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. 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 No. 21 racecar.
