News digest: Oct. 29
Ford To Debut New Engine
Doug Yates and Jack Roush pledged in January that the new Ford Racing engine would be rolled out in the second half of the 2009 season without a sense of urgency. After 32 races, Ford is now ready to put the new block on the track for the Nov. 1 Cup race at Talladega.
Ford had hoped for the engine to make its debut in the Oct. 17 race at Charlotte, but it was delayed to the restrictor-plate track, where the engine typically runs at least 300 horsepower less than an unrestricted engine.
The FR9 engine is the first purpose-built NASCAR racing engine ever built by Ford and the first new piece for the manufacturer since 1991. It has been in development for three years. All of the other manufacturers have gone to motors that have met NASCAR’s revised requirements for new engines.
Ford won the first two races of the season – Roush Fenway Racing’s Matt Kenseth captured the Daytona 500 and the next race at Auto Club Speedway – but hasn’t won since. Roush Fenway has two of its drivers, Greg Biffle and Carl Edwards, in the Chase.
Roush Fenway drivers David Ragan and Kenseth – both of whom are not in the Chase – will use the new engine at Talladega.
“I know it looks like we’re really, really slow-walking this, but we want to make sure we’re getting the cars more competitive as quick as we can,” Ford North America
Director of Motorsports Brian Wolfe said in a news release.
The plan is also to get the new engine in an unrestricted motor by the end of the season.
Analyst apologizes for Montoya Remark
ESPN college football commentator Bob Griese apologized for a comment he made about Colombian driver Juan Pablo Montoya during the Ohio State-Minnesota college football game Oct. 24.
During the telecast, ESPN did a promo for the Martinsville Sprint Cup race on ABC. The promo mentioned the top five drivers, prompting announcer Chris Spielman to ask where Montoya was in the standings. Griese, an NFL hall of famer, responded that Montoya was “out having a taco.”
Griese apologized later in the telecast.
“Juan Pablo Montoya, he’s one of the best drivers in NASCAR – I want to apologize for the comment I made earlier in the ball game,” Griese said on the air.
During halftime of the Florida-Mississippi State game later that night on ESPN, Griese, on the phone, read a statement:
“Earlier today on our game, I made an offensive comment regarding Juan Pablo Montoya as part of a NASCAR promo,” Griese said. “It was regrettable and I should not have said it. I really enjoy NASCAR, and I follow it closely, and would like to take this opportunity to apologize to Juan, NASCAR and everyone else who heard my comment.”
Montoya said Oct. 25 that he didn’t care what Griese said.
“I don’t know who it is. Somebody mentioned it to me. I don’t really care, to tell you the truth,” Montoya said. “… I could say I spent the last three hours eating tacos, but I was actually driving a car. But that’s OK, I don’t care.”
An ESPN statement indicated that it was not happy with Griese’s remark.
“ESPN has spoken to Bob and he understands that his comment was uncalled for,” the statement said.
Eury Jr. unsure of Future plans
NASCAR Nationwide Series team co-owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. got what he wanted at Memphis Motorsports Park – cousin Tony Eury Jr. working on one of his cars. But the job appears to only be temporary, and Eury Jr. said Oct. 23 he’s still considering his options for the future.
Eury Jr., who was replaced as Earnhardt Jr.’s crew chief at Hendrick Motorsports earlier this year, replaced Brian Campe as crew chief for JR Motorsports No. 5 Chevrolet. Earnhardt Jr. has said he wants Eury Jr. to work on his JRM team, which currently employs Eury’s father, Tony Eury Sr. JRM co-owner Rick Hendrick has said he would work to reunite Earnhardt Jr. and Eury Jr. at JRM. Eury Jr. currently works in the research and development department at Hendrick Motorsports.
“We’re going to do whatever is best for both of us,” Eury Jr. said. “We’ve had a lot of fun. He’s got a good, successful company over here. I’m at the point in my life where I don’t know if I want to do the crew-chief deal anymore. We’re going to entertain everything and see where it goes.”
