NASCAR Race Mom: Daytona 500 Champion

Tuesday, February 28, 2017

Daytona 500 Champion | Kurt Busch

"That's Power Baby!" -Kurt Busch

Kurt Busch of Stewart-Hass Racing won the 59th Annual Daytona 500. The legendary horsepower of the Ford FR9 EFI V8 engine by Ford Performance and Roush Yates Engines, powered the No. 41, Stewart-Haas Racing Ford Fusion to their first win.

“Wow, this is unbelievable,” said Doug Yates, President and CEO of Roush Yates Engines. “We have a great team, great engines, and great drivers and were able to execute our race strategy. Congratulations to Tony {Stewart}, Gene {Haas}, Kurt and the entire Stewart-Haas organization. To be standing in victory lane for the second night in a row, after winning the Xfinity race last night with Ryan {Reed} and Jack {Roush Fenway Racing} is special to my family and I."

Team Ford made a statement at the first running of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race, bringing 14 drivers to the Great American Race. This was the 5th consecutive restrictor plate race win for Ford Performance and Roush Yates Engines. The aerodynamics of the Ford Fusion and the power of the FR9 EFI V8 was a perfect formula to conquer this superspeedway.

“What a great win to start off a partnership. It is so great with Stewart-Haas and to have Kurt win it, our last Ford champion and in his first race back with Ford is fantastic,” said Raj Nair, executive vice president of global product development and chief technical officer, Ford Motor Co. “Everybody worked together so well. SHR, Penske, RPM, and Wood Brothers with the Doug Yates power. We were so fast. We knew we had a good chance and Kurt hung in there after getting caught up in that crash. He didn’t give up.”

A freight train of Ford Fusions were behind Kevin Harvick the No. 4 of SHR when he took the second segment and 10 bonus points, followed by No. 22 Joey Logano in P2 of Team Penske, No. 41 Kurt Busch P3, No. 2 Brad Keselowski P4 of Team Penske and No. 10 Danica Patrick P5 of SHR.

The No. 41, Busch showed patience during the 500 mile race. Losing his rear-mirror with 30 laps to go – Busch said “I couldn’t even see out the back. And I thought that was an omen. Throw caution to the wind.” He battled back after getting caught up in a couple of incidents in earlier segments. It took his experience and a brilliant piece of driving to take the lead on the final lap and take the checkered flag.

“It has been a really long, hard winter, and I am so proud of everyone at SHR and Ford Performance,” said Tony Stewart. “They really worked their tails off to get ready. Doug Yates and everybody at Roush Yates Engines brought unbelievable power all week.”

The Fords were out in full force dominating the top of the leader board. They led a total of 76 of the 200 lap race and ended with six Ford Fusions in the top 10.

1st Kurt Busch - Stewart-Haas Racing

2nd Ryan Blaney - Wood Brothers Racing

4th Aric Almirola - Richard Petty Motorsports

6th Joey Logano - Team Penske

9th Matt DiBenedetto - Go Fas Racing

10th Trevor Bayne - Roush Fenway Racing

In the NASCAR Xfinity Series PowerShares QQQ 300 race, Saturday night, the No. 16 Ryan Reed of Roush Fenway Racing found himself in victory lane for the second time in three years at Daytona. Reed drove a tough race all night, powered by the Ford FR9 Carb engine, overcoming car damage and a fierce battle with Kasey Kahne in overtime to take the lead and the victory! No. 22 Brad Keselowski of Team Penske would finish P4.

Saturday night, the No. 16 Ryan Reed of Roush Fenway Racing found himself in victory lane for the second time in three years at Daytona.

“If you want it bad enough, you're willing to put in the hours, and everyone knows Roush Fenway is and myself, and Lilly Diabetes and everyone else, Ford and Roush Yates and everyone who touches that race car, they're committed to winning,” commented Reed. “So when we come down here and do it, it's not a surprise to us because we worked hard to do it.”

With the 2017 format and rule changes it was important that the right adjustments were made to the engines up to race day. In an era where the competition is so close it is more important than ever that our extended team, resources and partners work collaboratively to evolve not only the engines, but the sport of racing into the best brand of racing fans have ever seen. It has been an exciting Daytona Speedweeks, but it’s on to Atlanta Motor Speedway for the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500, Sunday, March 5th | 2:30pm ET | FOX. Reference the full 2017 schedule on www.roushyates.com.