Wednesday, February 24, 2016

SHOCKER: Stewart Haas Racing To Ford In 2017

Ford Performance announced today that Stewart-Haas Racing will switch to Ford as its manufacturer, beginning with the 2017 NASCAR season. 

The multiyear agreement will put Stewart-Haas Racing’s four drivers in Ford Fusions beginning with Speedweeks 2017 at Daytona, 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 for 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 relationships with Chevrolet and Hendrick Motorsports through the end of the 2016 season. 

Tony Stewart and Gene Haas will remain co-owners of Stewart-Haas Racing, with Clint Bowyer set to replace Stewart as driver of the No. 14 car in 2017. Stewart will retire as a NASCAR driver following the 2016 season.

7 comments:

  1. Shocker indeed. Did not see this coming by a long stretch. I still don't see him sharing information with Joey Logano

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  2. Well, there goes any chance SHR had of winning a championship in 2016. What kind of support will Chevrolet and Hendrick provide a lame duck team for the rest of this season?

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    1. I agree, might as well write this season off. They must have offered them big big money

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    2. Hopefully, now with Ford, their chances will be no better in the future, either.

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  3. Anonymous11:25 AM

    This is a huge shock! Perhaps the bigger shock is the fact no one saw it coming. I do not recollect hearing a peep about this from any member of the media. Totally out of left field.

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  4. As a Ford fan, YES!!!

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  5. Anonymous3:43 PM

    The thing I am happiest about here is that the story didn't leak before it could be announced. Seems like so much any more a source who wished not to be named leaks the story so the story becomes a story before it was meant to be a story.

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