FORD PERFORMANCE: NASCAR KANSAS NOTES
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series heads to Kansas Speedway for the first of two visits this season and Ford will be looking for its second straight win after Joey Logano won there in October. Here’s a closer look at Ford’s history in Kansas.
THE FIRST TIME…Ford went to victory for the first time at Kansas Speedway on Oct. 9, 2005 when Mark Martin took the checkered flag in what was a Roush Fenway Racing runaway with teammates Greg Biffle and Carl Edwards finishing second and third, respectively. Martin led a race-high 139 laps, including 81 of the final 83 circuits, to win by one-half second. It marked the second time in as many months that RFR swept the top three spots, a feat it did two more times during that season. In addition, the victory ended up being Martin’s last with Ford. His 35 series wins with the manufacturer ranks third all-time behind leader Ned Jarrett (43) and second-place Bill Elliott (40).
THE LAST TIME…Ford visited Kansas Speedway it was Joey Logano who came away with the checkered flag, winning for the first time at the 1.5-mile track and becoming the first driver to automatically advance to the Eliminator Round of the Chase. Logano took the lead from Ryan Newman with 29 laps to go and held off Kyle Larson to get his career-best fifth win of the season.
IN BETWEEN…Besides Martin’s win in 2005, Roush Fenway Racing has three other NSCS victories at Kansas Speedway. Greg Biffle registered the first of his two track wins in 2007 with his second coming in 2010. Matt Kenseth added to the organization’s total when he won the second race at the track in 2012. In addition to Biffle and Logano, Brad Keselowski is another Ford driver who has won at Kansas Speedway, but that came when Team Penske was aligned with Dodge in 2011.
FORD NASCAR SPRINT CUP WINNERS AT KANSAS
2005 – Mark Martin
2007 – Greg Biffle
2010 – Greg Biffle
2012 – Matt Kenseth (2)
2014 – Joey Logano (2)
