Motorcraft/Quick Lane Team Overcomes Penalty to Finish 11th
LOUDON, NH, July 17, 2016 – Ryan Blaney and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Racing team overcame a pit road speeding penalty and avoided late-race accidents to post a strong 11th-place finish in the New Hampshire 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway this afternoon.
Blaney, crew chief Jeremy Bullins and Wood Brothers racing worked hard during their first two pit stops to fix handling problems that the driver said on his radio were causing “struggles everywhere.” The adjustments were successful and the iconic No. 21 Ford Fusion advanced from its 14th starting position to 10th when a pit road speeding penalty sent it back to 25th and a lap down.
“I am disappointed in myself,” Blaney said. “We had a really good Fusion there about halfway through the race and I sped on pit road during our gree-flag stop and that set us back a lot.”
Blaney was in 22nd, still a lap down, when a lap-125 caution enabled him to take a wave around and get back on the lead lap. From there he quickly advanced forward getting as high as 10th with six laps remaining before dropping a position with three laps to go to finish 11th.
“Luckily we were able to get a wave-around and it worked out,” he continued. “We just kept missing wrecks and got lucky on that caution at the end to salvage a decent day. I messed up for two weeks in a row and that is unacceptable. I have to clean up my act for upcoming races.”
The 11th-place finish moves Blaney to 18th in the driver points standings, 16 points from the final spot in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. He entered the race 24 points out of 16th place.
The team now heads to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the Crown Royal Presents the Combat Wounded Veteran Coalition 400 at the Brickyard. At Indianapolis, the No. 21 will be clad in its Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center livery promoting the sponsor’s Trading One Uniform for Another scholarship program for returning veterans who want to train as automotive technicians.The race starts at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday, July 24.
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.
