DEARBORN, Mich., March 8, 2017 – As the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series heads west for its annual three-race West Coast Swing, Ryan Blaney and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Racing team will be trying to improve on their season-best second place in the Daytona 500 and finish Sunday’s Kobalt 400 in victory lane.
A year ago, Blaney raced the MQL Ford Fusion to the first of his eight top-10 finishes of the 2016 NASCAR campaign, taking the checkered flag in sixth position.
The Las Vegas track has been a good one for the 23-year-old Wood Brothers driver. In addition to his sixth-place Cup finish in 2016, he finished second in the 2015 XFINITY Series race and grabbed the pole in the 2014 Camping World Truck Series contest at the Nevada speedway.
RYAN BLANEY LAS VEGAS FAST FACTS:
Started 14th and finished 6th in 2016
Started 30th and finished 19th in 2015
Finished second in 2015 XFINITY Series race and won the 2014 pole in the Camping World Truck Series
WOOD BROTHERS LAS VEGAS FAST FACTS:
This is the team’s 17th start at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Has a pair of top-10 finishes
CREW CHIEF JEREMY BULLINS
On Las Vegas Motor Speedway:
“Atlanta gives you a good idea of where your intermediate cars are against the field, but the races at Atlanta and Vegas are quite different. Atlanta is a four-tire strategy race all day and you have to do your passing on the track. Vegas may create scenarios where two-tire or fuel-only strategies come into play that allow you to gain track position on pit road. The tire-wear rates are much higher at Atlanta than Vegas, and that also changes some of the setup variables as well as the strategy options.”
WEEKEND TV SCHEDULE ON FS1, FS2 & FOX
Friday March 10, 2 p.m. ET – Practice, FS1
March 10, 7:45 p.m. ET – Pole Qualifying, FS2
Saturday March 11, Noon ET – Final Practice, FS1
Sunday March 12, 3:30 p.m. ET – Kobalt 400, FOX
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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 more than 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.
