Jack Jr. to go Road Racing . . .
Jack Jr. to go Road Racing . . .
ROUSH READY TO TACKLE THE TURNS IN FIRST GRAND-AM CUP START
LIVONIA, Mich. (October 2, 2006) - Jack Roush, Jr. might just be one of
the most versatile drivers in motorsports. The 33-year old has gone from
go-karts to drag racing and now sets his sights on the left-and-right
turns of the Grand American Road Racing Association.
The son of motorsports legend Jack Roush and a native of Livonia, Mich.,
Roush is set to be one of three co-drivers in the six-hour season finale
at Virginia International Raceway, sharing the driving duties in the No.
59 Rehagen Racing Ford Mustang with Dean Martin (Westland, Mich.) and
Ray Mason (Columbus, Ohio). The team, with sponsorship from ROUSH
Performance, Brandon Ford, Columbus Truck & Equipment and Racer
Bargains, competes in the Grand Sport (GS) class, which is the premier
division in Grand-Am Cup competition.
This event will mark Roush's first start in the Grand-Am Cup series, and
he plans to use this race to gather experience and a feel for the
competition in anticipation of a full campaign in 2007. The green flag
flies on Saturday, October 7 at 3 p.m. (Eastern) with qualifications set
for 10:05 a.m. that same day.
"I am really nervous and really excited at the same time about this
race" said Roush. "I don't quite know what to expect but I do know that
this (road racing) is something that I have really wanted to do for a
while now so this is sort of the fulfillment of a dream."
Roush began his racing career in go-karts, starting at six years of age
in 1979 when he and his father raced together in the Ford Thunderbird
Kart Club at Flat Rock (Mich.) Speedway. During the five seasons they
raced, the pair captured 4.5 championships and tied for the championship
in the final half-season. Interestingly, Roush ran the number 11 on his
kart, a number which later adorned some of his father's race cars. Even
today, he still participates in some karting events at Kart2Kart in
Sterling Heights, Mich.
Drag racing also briefly captured his attention. In July Roush ran in
the NMRA Super Bowl of Street Legal Drag Racing behind the wheel of a
2001 Ford Mustang which was being used by ROUSH Performance as a
research and development vehicle for the company's line of crate
engines. He advanced to the third elimination round in the Modular
Muscle class, deeper than any driver in the multi-car ROUSH Performance
team had progressed to that point in NMRA competition.
In preparation for Grand-Am Cup competition, Roush participated in a
couple of testing sessions including one with Boris Said, arguably one
of the most talented road racers ever. The session took place on the
North Course of Virginia International Raceway.
"I cannot thank Boris enough for taking the time to work with me," said
Roush. "I have a ton of experience in driving a light kart through the
turns, but that is very different than taking a nose-heavy Mustang out
on a road course. Boris helped me to learn the correct ways to enter and
exit the turns, braking points, throttle control and so much more. Our
few hours together were incredibly valuable and I will be thinking about
all the things he taught me the entire time I am behind the wheel during
the race."
To further his preparation for the VIR race, this past weekend Roush
participated in twin 30-minute races in the American V8 Supercar Series
event at the tight course of Gingerman Raceway where he finished fourth
and second respectively. He was driving a Rehagen Racing team car in
this event.
When asked about his goals for his first Grand-Am Cup start, and first
behind the wheel of the No. 59 Ford Mustang, Roush thought for a moment.
"Well, I guess the key is to not do anything that would jeopardize what
Dean and Ray have done so far this season as far as the points
standings," he said. "Obviously, we are going to do all we can to win
and I'll help as much as I can there. But more importantly, I want to
stay out of trouble, keep the fenders clean, learn as much as I can and
get that valuable seat time and experience in the heat of the battle."
With 77 cars already registered for the race, including 42 in the GS
class alone, Roush is sure to have his hands full.
Based in Livonia, Mich., "The Art of Performance Engineering" takes
place at ROUSH Performance Products. In addition to the Stage 1, Stage 2
and Stage 3 Ford Mustang and F-150 styling, handling and performance
upgrades, a complete line of performance parts and engines are offered.
For more information, visit www.RoushPerformance.com or telephone
toll-free (800) 59-ROUSH.
LIVONIA, Mich. (October 2, 2006) - Jack Roush, Jr. might just be one of
the most versatile drivers in motorsports. The 33-year old has gone from
go-karts to drag racing and now sets his sights on the left-and-right
turns of the Grand American Road Racing Association.
The son of motorsports legend Jack Roush and a native of Livonia, Mich.,
Roush is set to be one of three co-drivers in the six-hour season finale
at Virginia International Raceway, sharing the driving duties in the No.
59 Rehagen Racing Ford Mustang with Dean Martin (Westland, Mich.) and
Ray Mason (Columbus, Ohio). The team, with sponsorship from ROUSH
Performance, Brandon Ford, Columbus Truck & Equipment and Racer
Bargains, competes in the Grand Sport (GS) class, which is the premier
division in Grand-Am Cup competition.
This event will mark Roush's first start in the Grand-Am Cup series, and
he plans to use this race to gather experience and a feel for the
competition in anticipation of a full campaign in 2007. The green flag
flies on Saturday, October 7 at 3 p.m. (Eastern) with qualifications set
for 10:05 a.m. that same day.
"I am really nervous and really excited at the same time about this
race" said Roush. "I don't quite know what to expect but I do know that
this (road racing) is something that I have really wanted to do for a
while now so this is sort of the fulfillment of a dream."
Roush began his racing career in go-karts, starting at six years of age
in 1979 when he and his father raced together in the Ford Thunderbird
Kart Club at Flat Rock (Mich.) Speedway. During the five seasons they
raced, the pair captured 4.5 championships and tied for the championship
in the final half-season. Interestingly, Roush ran the number 11 on his
kart, a number which later adorned some of his father's race cars. Even
today, he still participates in some karting events at Kart2Kart in
Sterling Heights, Mich.
Drag racing also briefly captured his attention. In July Roush ran in
the NMRA Super Bowl of Street Legal Drag Racing behind the wheel of a
2001 Ford Mustang which was being used by ROUSH Performance as a
research and development vehicle for the company's line of crate
engines. He advanced to the third elimination round in the Modular
Muscle class, deeper than any driver in the multi-car ROUSH Performance
team had progressed to that point in NMRA competition.
In preparation for Grand-Am Cup competition, Roush participated in a
couple of testing sessions including one with Boris Said, arguably one
of the most talented road racers ever. The session took place on the
North Course of Virginia International Raceway.
"I cannot thank Boris enough for taking the time to work with me," said
Roush. "I have a ton of experience in driving a light kart through the
turns, but that is very different than taking a nose-heavy Mustang out
on a road course. Boris helped me to learn the correct ways to enter and
exit the turns, braking points, throttle control and so much more. Our
few hours together were incredibly valuable and I will be thinking about
all the things he taught me the entire time I am behind the wheel during
the race."
To further his preparation for the VIR race, this past weekend Roush
participated in twin 30-minute races in the American V8 Supercar Series
event at the tight course of Gingerman Raceway where he finished fourth
and second respectively. He was driving a Rehagen Racing team car in
this event.
When asked about his goals for his first Grand-Am Cup start, and first
behind the wheel of the No. 59 Ford Mustang, Roush thought for a moment.
"Well, I guess the key is to not do anything that would jeopardize what
Dean and Ray have done so far this season as far as the points
standings," he said. "Obviously, we are going to do all we can to win
and I'll help as much as I can there. But more importantly, I want to
stay out of trouble, keep the fenders clean, learn as much as I can and
get that valuable seat time and experience in the heat of the battle."
With 77 cars already registered for the race, including 42 in the GS
class alone, Roush is sure to have his hands full.
Based in Livonia, Mich., "The Art of Performance Engineering" takes
place at ROUSH Performance Products. In addition to the Stage 1, Stage 2
and Stage 3 Ford Mustang and F-150 styling, handling and performance
upgrades, a complete line of performance parts and engines are offered.
For more information, visit www.RoushPerformance.com or telephone
toll-free (800) 59-ROUSH.
Good luck!
Awesome news! I wasnt expecting to hear that at all!
Fwiw, if you guys are looking for any of the Roush parts, check out www.racer91m.com which is owned by Dean Martin, who you may recognize as one of our drivers and team principal. I'm sure he would be willing to come up w/ some special discounts for Mustang Source members.
Fwiw, if you guys are looking for any of the Roush parts, check out www.racer91m.com which is owned by Dean Martin, who you may recognize as one of our drivers and team principal. I'm sure he would be willing to come up w/ some special discounts for Mustang Source members.
) racer91
GTR Member
Joined: February 2, 2004
Posts: 5,720
Likes: 9
Well, we had a solid run this weekend; Jack is getting up to speed quickly, and did quite well for his Grand Am and sports car racing debut.
Press release about the actual race can be found here:
http://www.grandamerican.com/News/Article.asp?ID=7351
fwiw, Jack really did do a fantastic job for his first time out. Especially during the final stint of the race, where it was extremely dark around the whole track, and just pouring rain. Mud was practically flowing across the track in places and made the last hour of the race very challenging, especially for a "rookie". We seriously expected to have to make an extra stop to change drivers, but Jack kept his cool, and brought the car home through conditions that make even veteran drivers nervous.
Press release about the actual race can be found here:
http://www.grandamerican.com/News/Article.asp?ID=7351
fwiw, Jack really did do a fantastic job for his first time out. Especially during the final stint of the race, where it was extremely dark around the whole track, and just pouring rain. Mud was practically flowing across the track in places and made the last hour of the race very challenging, especially for a "rookie". We seriously expected to have to make an extra stop to change drivers, but Jack kept his cool, and brought the car home through conditions that make even veteran drivers nervous.
Very nice run Brian. Great finish for a rookie under those conditions.
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