Racing's Heritage: Winning Each On And Off The Track

The adage is possibly as old as stock-automobile racing click here for itself: Win on Sunday, Sell on Monday. But, is that axiom as pertinent these days as it was, say, in the 1960s?

Ford, which for the very first time in almost four decades, has introduced an all-new model and gone NASCAR racing with it at the same time, is confident that the answer is yes, if not on Monday, then at least as soon as you happen to be looking for a new car.

Fusion replaces Taurus as the Ford entry into NASCAR's Nextel Cup and Busch series, becoming the manufacturer's 1st all-new nameplate to debut simultaneously on the racetrack and in the showroom since Torino in 1968. Torino's debut 38 years earlier resulted in tein hood dampers a driver's championship for NASCAR Hall-of-Famer David Pearson, and a lot more than two.6 million units sold for the duration of its eight-year (1968-75) run.

"The fantastic interest in NASCAR racing will help us tie the Fusion name to the Ford brand, and it is only appropriate that we race Ford's newest automobile in America's flagship racing series," said Marty Collins, General Marketing Manager, Ford Division.

Racing has created excellent business sense for Ford, dating back more than a century, when business founder Henry Ford raced to prove out his new item, and to obtain favorable publicity for his efforts. His victory in his a single and only race, in 1901, proved to be the turning point in attracting the investors who helped him commence the Ford Motor Business in 1903.

"My excellent-grandfather understood the worth of racing, and what it could do for a firm," stated Edsel B. Ford II, a member of the Ford board of directors and a lengthy-time supporter of Ford's racing programs. "He knew what racing could do, each in terms of technological innovation privacy and advertising. I believe he'd be pleased that those are key causes we nonetheless race right now."

The NASCAR Fusion replaces the venerable Taurus race auto, which captured four NASCAR championships (three in Nextel Cup and one particular in Busch) and 100 Nextel Cup points victories from 1998-2005. It concluded its storied run with a 1-two-three-four finish at the season-ending Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway in November 2005, as Greg Biffle scored his series. "We really wanted to send Taurus out with 1 a lot more championship," noted Dan Davis, director, Ford Racing Technology. "But the time is correct to move on to Fusion."

The production Fusion aims to emulate Taurus' off-the-track success, as well: It was the best-promoting car in America for 5 consecutive years (1992-96), and sold more than 6.five million units between 1985-2005.

Present Ford Racing driver Dale Jarrett, who won a NASCAR championship with the Taurus in 1999 and also is a Ford dealer in North Carolina, is optimistic about the production Fusion.

"It is got a really great driving and handling package, plus the inside is really roomy and the interior is nicely done as well," mentioned Jarrett. "I think this is just what we've been searching for to improve sales."

Start Your Engines-Fusion, an all-new nameplate, debuts on the racetrack and in the showroom.