Roush Fenway expects to challenge for Championship in 2011
CONCORD, N.C. (Feb. 11, 2011) – Jack Roush has experienced more than his share of success in his 23 years of racing in NASCAR. Having won championships on every level, while accumulating over 280 wins, it stands to garner plenty of attention when Roush says that he feels better heading into the 2011 season, than he has any other year.
“I’ve felt the best about this season than any year that we have been racing in the 23 years preceding it,” said Roush.
“I think that we could very easily dethrone Jimmie (Johnson). Certainly we have the cars for it, we have the drivers for it and we have the crew chiefs for it. I don’t anticipate a problem with an engine deficiency this season, and I don’t think I’ve got an aerodynamic deficiency. I think I have great people and I’m sure we have great drivers.”
Roush Fenway struggled at times during the 2010 season, but stormed back diligently, winning three of the 10 Chase races, including the last two and placing three teams in the top six of the final standings.
“The things that happened to us last season that were good, we understand what those things were and we are prepared to accentuate and perpetuate those things. The things that were bad, we understand and have identified those things and we are not going to do them again.
“We’ve built all new cars for all of our Cup programs,” added Roush. “Every Cup program is going to have a new chassis with a new aero look and new suspension or re-thought suspension considerations. We have a stronger-than-ever commitment from Ford and after 110 years Ford is still hanging in there for technology and vehicle support.
“We’ve realigned our engineering staff, separating the simulation engineering from the bread-and-butter mechanical, electrical or aerodynamic system, and look to improve how it works or prove that the validity of the design that you have.
“We’ve got that going on in one group and then the simulation going on in another. Of course, Chip Bolin is the new manager for the simulation coordination, and Tommy Wheeler has taken the conventional engineering things going forward. I’m real excited about that. We think that’s a new look that’s going help us.
“Robbie Reiser and all the guys at the shop have worked very hard in the off season and we can’t wait to show up at the track and see the fruits of that work. We think we’re in good shape for 2011.”
Roush and his team will see its first action of the season this weekend in the all-star event Budweiser Shootout (Feb. 12). Roush will have three cars in the Shootout (No. 16, No. 17 and the No. 99). The regular season kicks off next week with the running of the famed Daytona 500 (Feb. 20).
Roush Fenway Racing is NASCAR’s largest team operating seven motorsports teams. Four in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with drivers Matt Kenseth, Greg Biffle, Carl Edwards and David Ragan; and three in the Nationwide Series with Edwards, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., and Trevor Bayne. For more information on any of the Roush Fenway Racing teams, log onto http://www.roushfenway.com/ www.RoushFenway.com. Become a fan of Roush Fenway Racing on Facebook by going to http://www.facebook.com/roushfenway and follow us on Twitter @roushfenway. For sponsorship inquiries please contact Robin Johnson at 704.720.4645.
