Stewart on the switch to Ford; Unique program with Mobil 1; Engine partnership; Fine tuning development
In 2017, Stewart-Haas Racing made the switch to Ford. One year later they are dominating in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.
Last year, they picked up 3 wins. In 2018, they’ve collected 4 in just 11 races. Together, the 4-car SHR camp has won 36% of the races.
Did you expect to be at this point by now when you made the switch for Ford last year?
“I don’t know that you really set a benchmark on where you want to be. The goal is just to go forward,” Tony Stewart, co-owner of Stewart-Haas Racing said from the media center after Kevin Harvick picked up another SHR win at Dover International Speedway.
“From the ownership side, days like today are what you dream of. I mean, to have 3 in the top 5 and to have the start of the season like we’ve had.”
“The partnership with Ford’s been amazing so far. The support that we’ve been given and their dedication to what they want the results to be – It definitely shows.”
“It’s the support that we need. We’re proud of that. We’re proud of the engine program. Ford’s worked with Roush Yates for a long time on the engines. To have a unique scenario like we have with Doug Yates and to work with Mobil 1 to create our own package — It’s something. You know, we really haven’t had that opportunity in the past.”
“It took a year to really get to where we could refine to what we’ve built on in the first year. We were really happy with the way last year went in our first year out of the box with Ford.”
“But, to have the winter, where we’re not really overhauling the entire program — We’re able to take what we have and refine it. It’s made this year extremely productive.”
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Links
Tony Stewart | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Dover | NASCAR
