Sprint Cup - Roush Fenway Looks To Build On Strong 600 Legacy

CONCORD, May 26, 2011: Roush Fenway Racing will look for its fifth win in NASCAR’s longest event, this Sunday night when the green flag drops on this season’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Roush Fenway won a record four Coca-Cola 600’s in a row from 1999-2002. During that time Roush Fenway Fords led 427 laps, including 201 of 400 laps in the 1999 race, with Jeff Burton bringing home the organization’s first 600 victory.

Roush Fenway cars have made 81 starts in the famed event, having turned in 19 top-five and 29 top-10 finishes. Roush Fenway has posted an average finish of 16.6 in 23 Coke 600s at Charlotte and an average start of 21.9.

Overall, Roush Fenway has led a total of 903 laps in the race, having led in 18 of the 23 600-mile events. Roush Fenway has led at least one lap in 11 of the last 12 Coca-Cola 600 races, including eight last season.

In addition to the four wins, Roush Fenway has finished runner up three times in the event, including a pair of second-place finishes by Matt Kenseth.

The team had its best overall outing in the Coke 600 in 2006, when its five entries averaged a 5.4 finish. Roush Fenway Fords finished third, fourth, fifth, seventh and eighth, while leading 52 laps in the event. In 2002, Roush Fenway posted its only one-two finish in the event with Mark Martin and Matt Kenseth battling feverishly for the win and combining to lead 67 laps in the race (with Martin taking the win).

Four in a Row; Recapping Roush Fenway’s 600 wins

1999 – Three Roush Fenway cars led in the race, including a race-high 198 laps by Jeff Burton as he and the No. 99 team brought home the organizations first 600 win, leading two Roush Fenway cars in the top three of the night.

2000 - Matt Kenseth won the first of his 20 NASCAR Sprint Cup races in the 2000 Coca-Cola 600, leading 32 laps in his first career 600.

2001 – Jeff Burton led 125 laps and brought home Roush Fenway’s third consecutive Coke 600 victory, on a night that saw two Roush Fenway cars finish top five and three lead laps.

2002 – Mark Martin holds off a charging Kenseth to win Roush Fenway’s fourth consecutive Coca-Cola 600 as the two finish one-two in the prestigious event. Martin led 44 laps and Kenseth 21 in the race.