TRG Jumps To Ford Camp

Sirius NASCAR Radio's Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody has learned that TRG Motorsports will make a manufacturer change, converting its NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team from Chevrolet to Ford power.

Team owner Kevin Buckler confirmed that a deal has been in the works for more than a month to acquire new cars from Roush-Fenway Racing and engines from Roush Yates Racing Engines, beginning at Texas Motor Speedway April 9.

"When we first came to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, we were faced with the daunting task of competing at the highest level of NASCAR, and doing it on a budget," explained Buckler in an exclusive Sirius Speedway interview. "At first, our goal was to survive and qualify for races. In time, we were able to raise our sights and shoot for a spot in the Top 35. But ultimately, we're here because we want to win.

"I don't want to spend my time racing against the bottom 15 teams every week," he said. "We've been winners in every form of racing we have ever tackled, and I want to be a winner in NASCAR. To do that, we need new, state-of-the-art cars and engines; equipment as good as anyone else out there has."

Buckler said TRG will campaign new cars as part of a "light technological support program" with Roush Fenway Racing and new Ford FR9 powerplants from Roush Yates Engines. "My partners and I are going to have to shoulder a heavier financial load to do this, and we could not have done this without the support of our sponsor, Super Eco Fuel Saver. But it's time for us to take a big step up and see if we can compete at this level.

"If we fail, it will be because we haven't done things correctly, not because we don't have the tools to succeed."

Rookie Andy Lally has run the first four races of the season for TRG, and currently ranks 35th in championship points with a best finish of 31st at Phoenix International Raceway. He will be replaced by Hermie Sadler on a one-race basis at Martinsville next weekend, with Lally returning to the cockpit the following week at Texas. Sadler, a native of Emporia, Va., drove for TRG in the fall race at Martinsville last year, finishing 26th.

In a related story, TRG has tabbed Paul Chapprood to serve as the team’s interim crew chief this weekend in California. Chapprood replaces Jay Guy, who left the team to accept a position as crewchief on Travis Kvapil's #38 Long John Silver’s Ford at Front Row Motorsports.