Ford Eyes Nextel Cup Three-Peat

By: John Fossen | Ford Communications Network

See photos of the 2005 Nextel Cup Ford drivers

Ford Racing drivers Dale Jarrett and teammate Elliott Sadler lead a pack of cars into the tri-oval in the first of the Gatorade Duels in preparation for the Daytona 500. For more information on the race throughout the weekend, visit fordracing.com.

DEARBORN, Mich., Feb. 18, 2005 -- Buoyed by two consecutive driver championships and a maturing engine program, Ford NASCAR Nextel Cup drivers are ready to begin the drive for a three-peat when the new season officially kicks off with the Daytona 500, Sunday, Feb. 20 at Daytona International Speedway.

"I think we have a great shot at making it three straight," said Greg Specht, performance operations manager, Ford Racing Technology. "We have an outstanding group of talented drivers, including defending champion Kurt Busch, and early testing has gone extremely well. It won't be easy -- competition increases every year -- but we are very encouraged."

Ford drivers should benefit further from the engine program between the Roush and Yates teams that was formed prior to the start of the 2004 season. The collaboration produced a new cylinder head that boosted performance, but it was midseason before all of the Ford Nextel Cup teams were equipped with the component. This year, the cylinder head will be available from the get-go.

"We've got a year behind us and have had more time to (work on) the engine," said Doug Yates, head engine builder for Roush/Yates engines. "I think our engines are going to be much improved at the start of the year."

"Not only did they (Roush and Yates) merge and have a cylinder head change -- which was basically an engine change -- (but) they won the championship with that engine," said Dale Jarrett, who drives the UPS Taurus for Robert Yates Racing and grabbed the pole for Sunday's Daytona 500. "That was an incredible feat."

Greg Biffle and Roush Racing team mate Carl Edwards pass either side of Randy LaJoie during the Gatorade Duel 150's. Biffle finished 13th with Edwards 15th.

The Ford teams also enter the 2005 season with a year's experience of running a new Taurus race car that presented aerodynamic and handling challenges.

While Chevy is expected to field nearly 20 full-time drivers this season, Ford, focusing on quality over quantity, will have 10, including newcomers John Andretti and Hermie Sadler.

Roush Racing returns the same five drivers who ended the 2004 season -- Busch, Matt Kenseth, Mark Martin, Greg Biffle and second-year driver Carl Edwards. The latter entered the Nextel Cup series last August when Jeff Burton left the team. Martin, who has announced that he will retire as a full-time Nextel Cup driver after this season, will be a sentimental favorite to win his first championship in NASCAR's elite series.

Jarrett and Elliott Sadler again will be behind the wheel for Robert Yates. Elliott's older brother Hermie will drive the Peak Fitness Taurus while Andretti will pilot the VB/APlus at Sunoco Taurus.

Ricky Rudd returns for his third season in the Motorcraft Taurus for the legendary Wood Brothers, who have raced Ford products on the NASCAR circuit for 55 years.