DEARBORN, Mich., September 21, 2016 – The Motorcraft/Quick Lane Racing team will be trying to maintain momentum gained from a fourth-place finish at Chicagoland Speedway – in a race it was leading with two laps to go – when it unloads at New Hampshire Motor Speedway for Sunday’s New England 300.
Staying out during the last caution period at Chicago gave the iconic No. 21 valuable track position but the rookie driver couldn’t hold off all of the cars on fresh rubber.
In the July race at Loudon, Blaney qualified 14th and finished 11th overcoming a pit road speeding penalty and avoiding late-race wrecks.
“We had a good car at Chicago, took a gamble and we finished better than what we were going to. The win was iffy because the guys on new tires were so close behind us. Regardless, we gave it a shot. Loudon has been a good track for us. I made a mistake there earlier this year that set us back. Luckily we were able to get that back.”
— Ryan Blaney
RYAN BLANEY LOUDON FAST FACTS:
-
Started 14th and finished 11th in the July race at Loudon.
-
Started 16th and finished 23rd in his only Cup start at Loudon in 2015.
WOOD BROTHERS LOUDON FAST FACTS:
-
Team has 29 starts at Loudon.
-
Has five top-10 finishes at the track.
CREW CHIEF JEREMY BULLINS’ FAN GUIDE TO NEW HAMPSHIRE:
“Loudon usually turns into a strategy race, because it’s usually quite difficult to pass. I expect all different tire strategies: two, four, none, even lefts to keep track position. We’ve run as many as 165 laps on left side tires with the XFINITY cars there in the past. You probably shouldn’t go quite that far with a Cup car as you’ll lose too much drive on corner exit with the left rear tire being worn out, but you’ll see all kinds of pit sequences trying to be up front at the end when it counts. If you can execute a good strategy throughout the day it will pay dividends.”
WEEKEND TV SCHEDULE:
Friday September 23, 11:30 p.m. (ET) – Practice on NBCSN
September 23, 4:45 p.m. (ET) – Qualifying on NBCSN
Saturday September 24, 9 a.m. – Practice on CNBC
September 24, 11:30 a.m. – Practice on CNBC
Sunday September 25, 2 p.m. – New England 300 – 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.
