Ford Performance announced today Stewart-Haas Racing will switch to Ford as its auto manufacturer partner starting with the 2017 NASCAR season.
The multiyear agreement means that, beginning with Daytona Speedweeks in February 2017, the four-car Stewart-Haas Racing team will race the Ford Fusion with Ford engines prepared by Roush Yates Engines.
“We are thrilled to be able to add a championship-level team like Stewart-Haas Racing to our Ford NASCAR program,” said Raj Nair, executive vice president and Chief Technical Officer, Ford Motor Company. “Tony Stewart and Gene Haas have the same passion for winning that we do, and bring a strong stable of drivers and personnel that fit into what we’re trying to do in the sport.”
“We have said very clearly that we are not in NASCAR just to race, but to win races and championships,” said Dave Pericak, global director, Ford Performance. “We believe the addition of Stewart-Haas Racing in 2017 will give our program a major boost in terms of being in contention for both drivers’ and manufacturers’ championships every year.
“We believe that our NASCAR engineering experience and tools match up very well with the expertise and personnel that Stewart-Haas Racing has in house right now, and that we will both benefit from this partnership going forward.”
Stewart-Haas Racing will join a Ford NASCAR lineup for 2017 that includes Team Penske, Roush Fenway Racing, Wood Brothers Racing, Richard Petty Motorsports and Front Row Motorsports. Roush Yates Engines is Ford’s technical partner for NASCAR race engines.
Stewart-Haas Racing will continue its current manufacturer relationship throughout the 2016 season.
Stewart-Haas Racing is a NASCAR championship organization that features drivers Tony Stewart, Kevin Harvick, Danica Patrick and Kurt Busch. Stewart, Harvick and Busch have won Sprint Cup titles and Patrick was a winner in the Indycar Series before transitioning to NASCAR. Stewart-Haas Racing has captured 30 points-paying wins, 26 poles and two titles since its inception in 2009.
Clint Bowyer will replace Stewart in the No. 14 car in 2017, as Stewart will retire as a NASCAR driver following the 2016 season. Stewart and Haas will remain co-owners of Stewart-Haas Racing.
“I am proud of our association with Chevrolet as they helped build our organization into the team it is today,” said Tony Stewart, co-owner, Stewart-Haas Racing. “This new partnership with Ford allows us to strengthen our position in the sport and ensure the long-term stability and success for everyone who is a part of Stewart-Haas Racing.”
“Motorsports is an extremely challenging environment where in order to maintain success you have to constantly innovate. It’s true in NASCAR and it’s true in business,” said Gene Haas, co-owner, Stewart-Haas Racing. “We’ve enjoyed great success with Chevrolet, but this opportunity with Ford allows us to evolve while continuing to compete at the highest levels of the sport.”
“From the very beginning of Stewart-Haas Racing we have fostered an environment of competitiveness, performance, teamwork and family,” said Brett Frood, team president. “This future partnership enables us to continue delivering across these silos and exceed our commitments to our fans, partners and employees.”
After returning from the Daytona 500 I have to say that I really did not see this coming! It will be extremely interesting to see how SHR blends into the Ford Stables, additionally it will be very interesting to see how competitive this team is right out of the box in 2017.
There are two really important questions that need to be answered?
Will SHR lean on Team Penske, who has been the standard bearer for the blue ovals lately, for their technical information or will they work more closely with Roush Fenway Racing, who have been behind the eight ball in the performance area for the last couple of years, for that technical information?
TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!
