LIVONIA, Mich. (December 18, 2008) - Jack Roush, Jr. will be
celebrating the New Year on January 1 just like everyone else, but the
list of “news” surrounding his road racing endeavors is far more
reaching than even he imagined just a couple of months ago.
Roush will be racing with a new team, using a new car number, and with
a new co-driver in 2009. And let’s not forget that the series itself
also has a new name; due to the acquisition by NASCAR, Roush will now be
competing in the Grand-Am KONI Sports Car Challenge (formerly known as
the KONI Challenge Series).
Since October, 2006 Roush has been driving for Rehagen Racing with
co-driver Dean Martin and had a tremendous amount of success. With 22
starts together, the pair drove to a Top-10 finish more than 40 percent
of the time, including two podium finishes this season.
“Rehagen Racing has been really great to me, and I owe a lot to Dean
Martin, Larry Rehagen and the all the crew members that fielded such
strong cars for me over the past couple of seasons,” said Roush. “I
would highly recommend them to anyone looking to get into a
well-established KONI Sports Car Challenge team. As for me leaving, it
just seemed that the time was right for me to grow my own racing program
and get a fresh start. I wish them the best of luck and know that they
will continue to be successful and tough on the racetrack.”
That fresh start will see Roush partner with Mike Canney to create a
new, two-car team called Horsepower Ranch. Both drivers competed for
Rehagen Racing last season, and both felt that the timing was right to
grow their programs by partnering and making the best use of their
combined resources.
“I’m excited to be working with Mike on the new team,” said
Roush. “He’s a very smart guy and very serious about racing. With
the resources we are putting in place, I believe that both our cars will
be running up at the front of the field next year.”
Officially owned by Canney, Horsepower Ranch will be based in
Mooresville, N.C., and be in a better position to utilize the many
resources available around the Piedmont region to prepare the cars for
competition. As before, the team will run Ford Mustangs in GS division
of the KONI Sports Car Challenge.
Canney was optimistic about the partnership. “I am excited about
racing with Jack Roush Jr. in the 2009 Grand-Am Koni Sports Car
Challenge, under the Horsepower Ranch team name. We have assembled a
very competitive team of people and racing expertise, and are excited
about the upcoming season,” he said.
Roush will be paired up with Hugh Plumb as his co-driver in the No. 61
ROUSH/Valvoline during the 2009 season. Canney will remain in No. 60
Sunset Hills Vineyard Mustang like last year, and will be joined by Matt
Plumb as his co-driver.
“I'm really looking forward to having Hugh as my co-driver next
year,” said an enthusiastic Roush. “He has a lot of experience in
these cars and has many wins on his record. Hugh is also a great driver
coach, and I plan on working closely with him to help refine my game as
a driver.”
Matt Plumb, a Grand-Am Rolex Series Daytona Prototype regular, is also
looking forward to a successful 2009. “This is an exciting season for
me. Mike Canney has shown he is able to be a winning driver and owner as
witnessed by his accomplishments last season (capturing the
season-finale at Virginia International Raceway), but now to have the
resources of ROUSH available to our team really is a dream
combination.”
Just about the only constant for Roush from last year are that sponsors
ROUSH Performance and Valvoline will grace his cars sheet metal again
this season.
Bringing a broad expertise to the program is Brad Francis, a member of
the Canadian Motorsports Hall of Fame whose engineering prowess is only
matched by his resume (eight professional championships spanning 30
years of experience, including two NASCAR Winston Cup Championships with
legend Dale Earnhardt). Acting as Crew Chief, Francis will elevate the
program to achieve the success consistent with the ROUSH name; a name he
knows all too well after competing against and now working for Roush
Fenway Racing throughout his many years as an authority in motorsports.
Francis will be the crew chief on the No. 61 ROUSH/Valvoline Mustang.
Working alongside Francis will be Quinn Conda who assumes the crew
chief duties on the No. 60 Sunset Hills Vineyard Mustang. They will be
joined by crew members Ray Sharp, Craig Young, Vince Arnold, Dave
Fredericks, John Sandy, Mike Fletcher, Ken Forsyth and Vaughn Forsyth.
The team will hit the racetrack together for the first time during the
January 3-5, 2009 test days at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway.
They will return to the same track a few weeks later for the January
22-23 running of the Fresh from Florida 200, the 3-hour season-opener
for the KONI Sports Car Challenge cars.
Based in Livonia, Mich., “The Art of Performance Engineering” takes
place at ROUSH Performance. To get a look behind the scenes at what goes
on at ROUSH and how the vehicles are designed, manufactured and produced
logon to www.ROUSHtv.com. In addition to the array of Ford Mustang and
F-150 styling, handling and performance upgrades, a complete line of
performance parts and crate engines are offered. For more information
see your local ROUSH dealer, visit www.ROUSHperformance.com or telephone
toll-free (800) 59-ROUSH.
Returning in 2009 as the primary sponsor of the No. 60 car, Sunset
Hills Vineyard is excited about the opportunity to again match a winning
team with their award-winning wines. Sunset Hills Vineyard is located at
the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, on a 45 acre 1870s-era farm.
They recently opened an Amish-restored barn and stone springhouse, and
will produce about 50,000 bottles of wine including Chardonnay,
Viognier, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Petit Verdot.
Sunset Hills Vineyard wines are available at the winery, and at
festivals held in the Middle Atlantic states. For additional
information, please visit www.SunsetHillsVineyard.com.