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

The adage is probably as old as stock-vehicle racing itself: Win on Sunday, Sell on Monday. But, is that axiom as pertinent right now as it was, say, in the 1960s?

Ford, which for the first time in nearly 4 decades, has introduced an all-new model and gone NASCAR racing with it at the identical time, is confident that the answer is yes, if not on Monday, then at least as soon as you are seeking 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 because Torino in 1968. Torino's debut 38 years earlier resulted in a driver's championship for NASCAR Hall-of-Famer David Pearson, and much more than two.6 million units sold in the course of its eight-year (1968-75) run.

"The wonderful interest in NASCAR racing will aid us tie the Fusion name to the Ford brand, and it is only correct that we race Ford's newest vehicle in America's flagship racing series," stated Marty Collins, Common Marketing and advertising Manager, Ford Division.

Racing has made good organization sense for Ford, dating back much more than a century, when business founder Henry Ford raced to prove out his new product, and to obtain favorable publicity for his efforts. His victory in his one and only race, in 1901, proved to be the turning point in attracting the investors who helped him start the Ford Motor Organization in 1903.

"My fantastic-grandfather understood the value of racing, and what it could do for a organization," mentioned Edsel B. Ford II, a member of the Ford board of directors and a long-time supporter of Ford's racing applications. "He knew what racing could do, each in terms of technological innovation and advertising. I believe he'd be pleased that those are crucial factors we nonetheless race right now."

The NASCAR Fusion replaces the venerable Taurus race auto, which captured four NASCAR championships (3 in Nextel Cup and 1 in Busch) and 100 Nextel Cup points victories from 1998-2005. It concluded its storied run with praying santa website a 1-2-three-4 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 much more championship," noted Dan Davis, director, Ford Racing Technologies. "But the time is right to move on to Fusion."

The production Fusion aims to emulate Taurus' off-the-track success, as well: It high quality catholic church supplies was the greatest-selling automobile in America for 5 consecutive years (1992-96), and sold much more than 6.five million units in between 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 is got a boston business lawyer extremely great driving and handling package, plus the inside is extremely roomy and the interior is nicely done as well," said Jarrett. "I believe this is just what we've been searching for to boost sales."

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