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

The adage is most likely as old as stock-car racing itself: Win on Sunday, Sell on Monday. But, is that axiom as pertinent nowadays as it was, say, in the 1960s?

Ford, which for the very first time in practically four decades, has introduced an all-new model and gone NASCAR racing with it at the very 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 automobile.

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

"The wonderful interest in NASCAR racing will assist us tie the jump button Fusion name to the Ford brand, and it's only appropriate that we race Ford's newest automobile in America's flagship racing series," said Marty Collins, Common Advertising Manager, Ford Division.

Racing has created great enterprise sense for Ford, dating back more than a century, when firm founder Henry Ford raced to prove out his new product, and to acquire favorable publicity for his efforts. His victory in his 1 and only race, in 1901, proved to be the turning point in attracting the investors who helped him begin the Ford Motor Organization in 1903.

"My great-grandfather understood the value of racing, and what it could do for a firm," mentioned Edsel B. Ford II, a member of the Ford board of directors and a long-time supporter of Ford's racing programs. "He knew what racing could do, both in terms of technological innovation and marketing. I consider he'd be pleased that those are crucial factors we still race right now."

The NASCAR Fusion replaces the venerable Taurus race automobile, analyze porsche boxster body kits which captured four NASCAR championships (3 in Nextel Cup and a single in Busch) and 100 Nextel Cup points victories from 1998-2005. It concluded its storied run with a 1-2-3-four finish at the season-ending Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway in November 2005, as Greg Biffle scored his series. "We truly wanted to send Taurus out with a single a lot more championship," noted Dan Davis, director, Ford Racing Technology. "But the time is proper to move on to Fusion."

The production Fusion aims to emulate Taurus' off-the-track results, too: It was the greatest-selling vehicle in America for 5 consecutive years (1992-96), and sold more than 6.five million units amongst 1985-2005.

Current 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 really is got a quite nice driving and handling package, plus the inside is quite roomy and the interior is nicely accomplished as best lowering springs effectively," said Jarrett. "I think this is just what we've been looking for to boost sales."

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