Under The Hood With Doug Yates – Freescale Racing Part 1

June 28, 2012

Life is full of unexpected pleasures and rewards – and good news. That’s why many of us wake up each morning with full contemplation that we’re going to do good; thinking good things are looming around every corner; and at the end of the day we become a better and wiser for having made it through yet another day with, if nothing else, learning and life experience accumulated.

No more have I felt this than after what I experienced this past week in San Antonio at the Freescale Technology Forum.

I guess you might say that I am one of those lucky persons who’s had the honor and privilege of being partnered with some really great companies during my career in the NASCAR racing industry. Over the past three decades while either being the son of a NASCAR race team owner, NASCAR team owner, or an engine builder, solid corporate and personal relationships have always fueled my energy and desire to win. It’s just so important to get behind and understand the mission of my corporate partners one hundred percent. Because we learn – that helps my company and my employees.

When Freescale Semiconductor a few months ago invited me to participate in the 2012 Freescale Technology Forum, I was naturally eager to attend – even though I wasn’t quite sure what I’d be seeing or how I’d participate as their Roush Yates Engines partner. As the event neared, I would begin to day-by-day gain more insight as to what this “FTF” was all about.

Let me just cut to the chase: I was and will be for quite some time – blown away by what I witnessed.

When three thousand five-hundred of the world’s greatest technical minds converge on one little piece of earth in the Texas hill country over four days – something big and unexpected SHOULD BE EXPECTED.

A lot of people hear the word “no” when looking to go into a certain new business or pursue a game-changing avenue to fix a certain problem. After FTF, I came away with wanting to find every reason to say “yes” at Roush Yates Engines.

Here’s why. The founder and CEO of the X Prize Foundation, Peter Diamandis, graced the general session with a keynote address that opened up for me a whole new world that is out there and that the future has never looked brighter. My take away from Peter’s hour on that stage was that we’re at a great convergence of new and exciting technologies meeting up with exponential growth in connected intelligence that will positively change the world in ways most of us have never even imagined.

My next entry will address some of the amazing things that Peter and his Foundation are doing – which are inspiring me to challenge my own employees at Roush Yates in terms of pure innovation and while seeking ancillary benefits that could possibly change the way we do things – for the common good.


Roush Yates Sweeps Texas, Bloomquist Earns First Lucas Oil LMDS Win of 2012

April 16, 2012

Mooresville, NC (April 16, 2012) Roush Fenway drivers Greg Biffle and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. swept the races at Texas this weekend, winning in the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series. Dirt car racers across the country put the same Roush Yates engine technology to the test in their cars, winning in the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series and American Sprint Car Series.

Stenhouse Jr. surged past Denny Hamlin and Paul Menard in Friday’s O’Reilly Auto Parts 300 to earn his second victory of the season in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. Crew Chief Mike Kelley made an excellent call during a late race caution to stay out when most of the pack went in to get their last set of tires. The win moves Stenhouse Jr. into second place in the Nationwide points standings, only four points behind leader Elliott Sadler.

Greg Biffle finally put a dry spell behind him Saturday when he arrived in Victory Lane after the Samsung Mobile 500. Biffle took the lead with 30 laps remaining in the fastest NASCAR event ever to run at Texas Motor Speedway. Roush Yates engines have always been strong in Texas and Biffle’s win marks the fifth in a row for Roush Fenway Racing.
“It would be tempting to say it’s about time,” Biffle said, “but that’s not it. It’s all about hard work. It was going to happen, but that doesn’t mean much until it actually does.”

On the dirt circuit Scott Bloomquist captured his first Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series win of the 2012 season at Virginia Motor Speedway Saturday night during the Commonwealth 100. Bloomquist took over the lead with just 11 laps to go and never looked back. “It feels great to get back to Lucas Oil Victory Lane,” said Bloomquist. “It has been a rough start to the year, but I knew if we kept digging we were going to get on here sooner rather than later.” Bloomquist, along with other drivers who run Roush Yates engines and Roush Yates Performance Products in their cars, can be seen next weekend when the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series takes to the track at Roaring Knob Motorsports Complex in Markleysburg, PA and at Hagertown Speedway in Hagerstown, MD.

Jason Johnson of Stenhouse Jr. Racing shined once again on Saturday night, winning his third race of the season with his Roush Yates Sprint 360 engine. Johnson survived multiple cautions in the Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series at Battleground Speedway in Highlands, Texas and continues to hold the points lead.

Charles Davis Jr. went to Victory Lane in front of a packed house at the inaugural ASCS Canyon Region visit to Et-Motopark’s Arizona Speedway. Davis started in the fourth row and worked his way through the pack, capturing the win with a thrilling last lap pass in turn four. This was the second ASCS Canyon win for Davis who now leads in the series points.

Steve Corker put power to the pavement at Dunn Benson Drag Strip on Saturday, winning the track’s Summit Series. Corker drives a Chevrolet Cavalier with a Roush Yates 427 small block engine.

“It’s great to see engine technology trickle down to the grassroots racers,” said Roush Yates CEO Doug Yates. “Whether through engines or performance products, Roush Yates’ technology is now available to all. Everyone at the shop has worked really hard to bring the best in power and performance to the track each week, and it’s great to be able to share that proven technology with anyone.”

To find out more about the winning technology Corker, Johnson, and other drivers are using each week on the track, visit www.roushyatesparts.com or call 1-877-798-RYPP.


Winning Weekend for Roush Yates on Dirt

April 2, 2012

Mooresville, NC (April 2, 2012) While Greg Biffle was busy maintaining his lead in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points in Martinsville this weekend, other Roush Yates engine drivers were busy tearing it up on the dirt tracks around the country. Drivers in the National Championship Racing Association, World of Outlaws Series, and the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series pulled away from the competition and found victory lane with their Roush Yates-powered engine on Saturday night.

Jason Johnson won this third race of the season during Saturday night’s NCRA (National Championship Racing Association) race at 81 Speedway in Park City, Kansas. Johnson took the lead with only eleven laps to go in his No. 41 Ricky Stenhouse Jr.-owned LaBella Construction Ford and went unchallenged to pick up the $4,000 victory. Driving a Roush Yates-powered Ford sprint 360 engine, Johnson will compete for the ASCS 360 Championship this year.

Starting on the outside pole in Saturday night’s Illini 100 at Farmer City Raceway (Farmer City, IL), Jimmy Mars took over the top position at the initial green flag and never looked back. Mars drove his No. 28 Roush Yates-powered Ford across the finish line 0.308 seconds in front of 2008 WoO LMS Champion Darrell Lanigan to capture the $20,000 prize.

Another Roush Yates dirt late model victory came from Lucas Oil late Model Dirt Series driver Jared Landers. Landers scored his first victory of the season Saturday night at Lone Star Speedway in a thrilling two-lap dash for the finish. After driving hard into turn one to regain the lead on the final lap, Landers pulled less than a car length ahead of last year’s series Champion Jimmy Owens to win the third race of this career.

“I didn’t think I was going to get him off of four because I got up over the crumbs,” said Landers. “But luckily my Roush Yates power plant pulled right out of it. Once I got off turn four I used up all of the straightaway.”

Roush Yates’ dirt engines will resume racing on April 13, 2012 in the Lucas Oil, World of Outlaws, and Carolina Clash divisions. To learn more about Roush Yates engines and read about all of the wins this season, please visit www.roushyates.com and www.roushyatesparts.com.


Roush Yates Engines Power Wins in Dirt Late Models and Sprint Cars

March 6, 2012

Mooresville, NC (March 5, 2012) Roush Yates engines and performance products are being used throughout the world this season to bring drivers in all series of racing increased performance. After defending the title of Daytona 500 Champion last week, Roush Yates has begun dominating the dirt world with wins in Dirt Late Models and ASCS Sprint Cars this weekend.

Stenhouse Racing has gotten off to a great start with driver Jason Johnson taking the checkered flag at the Copper Classic finale at the Canyon Speedway Park in Peoria, Arizona on Saturday night. Johnson, a two-time Lucas Oil ASCS National Champion, took the win behind the wheel of his AccuDoc/Roush Yates Solutions 41.

“We have a great group of guys and I can’t thank Stenhouse Racing and Roush Yates for this opportunity to showcase the Ford horsepower” explained Johnson during his post-race interview. “It’s something unique and that’s what we like to be”.

Fellow Roush Yates engine driver Jared Landers led all 75 laps of Sunday’s March Madness dirt late model main event at Cherokee Speedway. Landers picked up $15,000 for the unsanctioned event victory that kicked off the 2012 season. Driving for Clint Bowyer Dirt Motorsports, Landers and teammate Johnathan Davenport will be running Roush Yates engines all season long.

To read all about Roush Yates engines and wins, visit www.roushyates.com and follow us on facebook.


Davenport Sweeps Dirt Late Model Weekend with Roush Yates Engines

February 13, 2012

Mooresville, NC (February 13, 2012) Clint Bowyer Dirt Motorsports and Roush Yates Engines captured their first wins of the 2012 season thanks to Jonathan Davenport and his No. 15 Dirt Late Model Ford. Davenport swept the first weekend of Speedweeks, winning two races in just as many nights at Waycross (GA) Motor Speedway on Saturday and Golden Isles Speedway (near Brunswick, GA) on Sunday.

The sweep also marks the first 2012 Dirt Late Model wins for Roush Yates Engines and first victories for the all-new Roush Yates/Mallory ignition box. Roush Yates and Mallory have partnered to bring teams the best in reliability with their high-output ignition box and coil designed for the performance market, and Davenport is the first to win with the new ignition system. More information for the new Roush Yates/Mallory ignition box and coil can be found at www.roushyatesparts.com.

Davenport, of Blairsville, GA, debuted his Bowyer Dirt Motorsports owned race car on Saturday night in Waycross’s much anticipated “Battle of the Swamp”. Setting the fastest time and starting on the pole, Davenport led every lap of the 50-lap event. This was the first time out for his new team powered by Roush Yates Engines and Bowyer was in attendance to take it all in.

“I’m pretty excited and proud of our guys,” said Bowyer. “I couldn’t be happier for Georgia Boot and Jonathan Davenport. Brand new race cars for both drivers and an awesome engine program through Roush Yates proved to be successful. I couldn’t be happier with the way the first race turned out.”

Davenport’s success didn’t end Saturday night at Waycross. Bowyer Dirt Motorsports went on to post its second win in two nights by claiming the “Super Bowl of Racing VIII” at Golden Isles Speedway Sunday night. The $10,000 payday completed the weekend sweep for 28 year old Davenport.

“This is a great way to start off our season,” Davenport stated. “We have some great cars and the Roush Yates power under the hood was great. We’re just putting all the pieces of the puzzle together, and I think we’ve got a great race team here.”

Davenport drove for Barry Wright in 2011 but switched to Clint Bowyer Racing along with Jared Landers for 2012. Both drivers will be running Roush Yates powered Dirt Late Model engines all season. To learn more about Roush Yates’ engines and teams, visit www.roushyates.com.


Stenhouse Jr., Jason Johnson Racing Form New ASCS Sprint Car Team

February 6, 2012

ROCKY MOUNT, MO (February 6, 2012) – Two-time ASCS National Sprint Car Champion Jason Johnson and 2011 NASCAR Nationwide Series Champion Ricky Stenhouse Jr. have announced that they have partnered to launch an all-new team called “Stenhouse Jr. Racing.”

The Stenhouse Jr. Racing ASCS team has selected Roush Yates Engines of Mooresville, N.C. as the team’s power plant supplier. The team will continue to run Maxim chassis.

Under the new team partnership, Stenhouse Jr. Racing will field a Ford-powered sprint car team that will witness Johnson in an all-out assault to win the 2012 ASCS championship. Stenhouse Jr. will compete in a team car in anywhere from three to five races in 2012 – as his NASCAR racing schedule permits. Johnson and Stenhouse Jr. will campaign the numbers 41 and 6, respectively.

Roush Yates CEO Doug Yates commented: “At Roush Yates Performance Engine Group we’re committed to making our Ford ASCS 360 sprint car engine program the best in the sport. Being selected to power both Jason and Ricky in this potent new alliance says a lot about our organization. What’s really exciting for us is that Ricky has a chance to show not only what he can do on an asphalt super speedway with a Roush Yates FR9 in the Nationwide Series, but he’ll also be in a position to demonstrate the power Roush Yates Performance Engine Group offers to any grassroots racer running on a dirt oval. “

In addition to the team’s commitment to compete on the 2012 Lucas Oil ASCS national tour, it was also announced that driver Johnson, a/k/a “The Ragin Cajun,” will compete in approximately 20 to 25 World of Outlaw events (final schedule to be announced later).

“Growing up racing sprint cars with my dad, I’ve always had strong ties to sprint car racing,” the 24-year-old Stenhouse reflected. “Partnering with Jason and being able to bring some exposure to Ford on the grassroots level is very exciting. This will not only add some fun to my racing season, but some added value to our partners such as Ford, Roush Yates, and AccuDoc Solutions.”

Johnson, 35, of Eunice, La., was equally enthusiastic.

“We value the beginning of this new alliance with Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.,” said Johnson, the 2010 and 2011 Lucas Oil ASCS Owners Champion. “Team JJR strives to provide each sponsor partner professionalism and required results, both on and off the track. We greatly appreciate the support and friendship we have with our current partners and look forward to representing our new partners, AccuDoc Solutions, Roush Yates Engines, Ford, and Valvoline.”


Roush Yates Powered Boss 302R Wins BMW Performance 200 Grand Am Continental Tire Series

January 30, 2012

DAYTONA BEACH, FL (January 27, 2012) – A Roush Yates-built Ford Boss 302R engine sat on the pole with driver Shelby Blackstock for Friday’s BMW Performance 200 Grand Am Continental Tire Series race here; and it a Roush Yates-built Boss 302R that won – but with a different driver / car than the polesitter.

Jack Roush Jr. and co-driver Billy Johnson, who started from the outside pole, won Friday’s season-opening Grand Am Continental Tire Series event in their No. 61 Ford Mustang.
Prior to Friday’s win at Daytona, and over the past two seasons (since Miller Motorsports Park in 2009), Johnson and Roush Jr. have earned 6 wins, 14 podiums, and 17 top five finishes.

Johnson led the final 18 laps to win Friday’s Grand Sport division race.

His victory with teammate Roush Jr., in the No. 61 Roush Performance Products/Gary Yeomans Ford Mustang powered by the Roush Yates-tuned Boss 302R, gave Roush’s father, team owner Jack Roush, a first Grand Am victory at the Daytona International Speedway.

The margin of victory over second-place Charles Espenlaub in the No. 48 Fall-Line Motorsports BMW M3 was 1.061 seconds. Espenlaub’s teammate Bryan Sellers was third in the No. 46 BMW.

Polesitter Blackstock and co-driver Jade Buford finished a respectable 10th in the No. 51 Roush-Yates-powered Mustang.

Twenty-five of the race’s 58 laps were run under a total of six caution flags.

“I think pretty much the first hour and a half was a close moment,” Roush Jr. said of the racing. “There’re opportunities to have incidents at any moment in time, especially at the beginning of the race, it was really sketchy.”
The race began on a wet surface, which dried as proceedings progressed. And in the end, things played in the Roush team’s favor.

“It’s great to finish this race first, especially after not being able to finish in the last two years,” Johnson said. “To come back and have a strong finish and start off the season on a good note rather than a hole with zero points is huge.”


Roush Yates Engines Sweep Podium in Historic 50th Rolex 24 at Daytona

January 30, 2012

DAYTONA BEACH, FL (January 29, 2012) – Roush Yates Engines powered Ford Daytona Prototype series entries to a 1-2-3 “podium finish” in Sunday’s 50th Running of the Rolex 24 at Daytona. The 761-lap endurance race was green flagged yesterday afternoon.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series star AJ Allmendinger drove the No. 60 Michael Shank Racing with Curb-Agajanian Ford / Riley Daytona Prototype entry to the win. It was an epic battle over the final two hours between three Ford DP entries in one of the most competitive Rolex 24 events in recent memory.

Allmendinger traded the lead with Michael Shank Racing teammate Felipe Nascar (No. 6) and pole sitter Ryan Dalziel (No. 8) in the Starworks Motorsport Ford / Riley over the final hours – even in the light of being placed in the car for a stout 3-hour stint to anchor the No. 60′s driving chores to the checkered flag finish.

Dalziel finished second while Nascar took third in clearly the greatest day of sports car/road racing performance history at Roush Yates. Allmendinger’s margin of victory was 5.198 seconds over Dalziel.

When the media seemingly and rightfully tagged the BMWs and Corvettes as the teams to beat in the 14-car DP division, Ford /Riley and a team of engineers, technicians, and assemblers at Roush Yates Engines were able to shed Ford’s “underdog” moniker as soon as all six Ford DP entries touched the Daytona pavement early last week. They were fast and it proved no fluke once the top starting spot was earned by Dalziel.

“It just doesn’t get any better in road racing than winning the 50th Running of the Rolex 24 – such a prestigious event,” said Doug Yates, Roush Yates CEO. “This was just an amazing accomplishment from everyone at Roush Yates, who had a hand in making these engines perform flawlessly, to the teams and drivers who put their talent on the line and trusted our technology. This is the 10th year that we have had engines in the Rolex 24, and Roush Yates has stayed committed to making this program better each year. This was truly our year.”

In addition to Allmendinger, the winning No. 60 driver roster consisted of IndyCar driver Justin Wilson, John Pew, and Ozz Negri as the team took home the coveted Rolex watches and trophy.

A tired and sweating Allmendinger in victory lane said: “I want to thank everyone at Roush Yates and (DP program manager John) Maddox. Wow, I am so worn out right now … but this Roush Yates motor was a rocket ship. Michael puts together great race cars and we owe this to him. Ford 1-2-3 on the podium … wow that is absolutely amazing.”

John Maddox, Roush Yates Engines’ Daytona Prototype/Road Racing program manager commented: “This was our 10th attempt to win this thing overall. Finally! In these past 10 years we have been really good down here … and had tragedy strike (our engines). Now it all came together. We had a few practice and qualifying struggles, and even an early race concern. But the professionalism of every person down here connected to these Ford teams enabled this great outcome. We are definitely connected with the right partners in Michael Shank Racing and Starworks.”


Roush Yates and JE Pistons 2011 Proud Sponsors of the NMRA

December 2, 2011

Roush Yates and JE Pistons are proud 2011 sponsors of the NMRA. As part of this partnership, NMRA members were invited to enter a monthly drawing. Every month, a winner was randomly selected and sent some great prizes! Roush Yates and JE prizes included: a gift certificate to Roush Yates Performance Products, a Roush Yates hat, a pair of Wiley X Sunglasses, Mechanix Wear gloves, a Roush Yates wrench set, and an autographed piston signed by Doug Yates!

Every month Roush Yates and JE Pistons received great feedback by the winners of the NMRA drawing! This month, the drawing came to an end and it was time to select a grand prize winner. In addition to having won the monthly drawing prizes, this lucky person also won a round trip flight to the upcoming PRI show, dinner with Roush Yates and JE executives, a $400 value JE Pistons Racer Pack, a custom monogrammed RYE jacket, and much more!

Roush Yates and JE Pistons are proud to congratulate Bob C. of Columbus, Ohio for being selected as our grand prize winner! Bob races in the Truck & Lightning class and attends 6-7 NMRA events a year. Roush Yates and JE Pistons want to thank the NMRA and all of the members that participated in this year’s contest.


Chuck Hebing Wins Empire Super Sprint Championship with Roush Yates Power

September 26, 2011

Mooresville, NC (September 26, 2011) Whether its late models, sprint cars, or off-road trucks, Roush Yates power leads the way in dirt track racing… and they have the wins to prove it. This past weekend Scott Bloomquist scored his fourth consecutive Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series win, Chuck Hebing won the Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprint Championship, and Roush Yates engines won multiple podium positions in the Lucas Oil Off-Road Racing Series.

Bloomquist won Saturday’s Jackson 100 at Brownstown Speedway, becoming the first four-time winner of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series event. He had to hold off series regulars Don O’Neal and Jimmy Owens to take the win and leave with a 40-point lead in the series points. Bloomquist has been to victory lane 14 times this season with his Roush Yates-powered Ford engine.

“The car was good all night,” said the elated 47-year-old Hall of Famer Bloomquist. “Once we got the lead I had traffic to deal with. Jimmy made it close at the end, but we held on.”

Chub Frank became the first two-time winner of the MCR Fall Classic at McKean County Raceway on Saturday. Frank drives a Roush Yates engine in the United Late Model Series and has won two out of the last three races he has entered.

Chuck Hebing went into the historic Fonda Speedway looking for a win on Saturday night, and came out a champion. Hebing and three-time Champion Steve Poirier have been fighting for the Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprint Championship all season long. Poirier posted his eighth win of the season but Hebing held on with just enough points to take the championship.

“It was definitely a tough year and it was a great competition with Steve (Poirier) and his gang,” said Hebing. “It was a very good year if he wasn’t winning I was winning. Tonight was one of our worst finishes but it was a heck of a good time and I need to thank my sponsors, Roush Yates for the awesome Ford engine, and my car owner Ron Wilkins.”

This is the third championship Roush Yates has clinched so far this season. The Bowman Gray Modified Championship and IHRA Championship were also won with Roush Yates engines.

Roush Yates engine racers stood on the podium in multiple divisions for round 11 and 12 of the Lucas Oil Off-Road Truck Series races at Speedworld Off Road Park in Surprise, AZ. Carl Renezeder finished second on Saturday and Sunday in the Pro 4 race. Brian Deegan had a great weekend, winning the Pro 2 race on Saturday and finishing second on Sunday. Corey Sisler gave Roush Yates a podium finish in the Prolite race, finishing second.

Roush Yates engines were also winning on the other side of the globe this weekend. Kodee Brown won the Shinju race in a Dominated Super Sedan with his D3 358 engine in Broome, Australia and Robert Watson Jr. won the Sprint 360 feature race in Narrogin,Australia with his Roush Yates Sprint 360 engine.

To find out more about all of Roush Yates’ dirt engines visit www.roushyates.com or call 1-877-798-RYPP.


Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

%d bloggers like this: