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Dearborn, Mich. — Sure, Bristol Motor Speedway is small and high-banked and as loud as openin’ a bag of potato chips in a quiet movie theatre, but here’s somethin’ that probably doesn’t come immediately to mind when thinkin’ about Bristol Motor Speedway:
Ford.
In recent years (and, by “recent years,” Ol’ Sparky usually means the last 20 or so), the thought of Ford in NASCAR generally leads to Yates horsepower and Roush’s dominance on 1½-mile tracks. But, startin’ with 1990, a Ford has won at least one Cup race a year at Bristol, except for 1995. But, in ’95, Mark Martin, drivin’ that No. 6 Thunderbird, swept both poles that year, so that’s got to count for somethin’.
Now, because of no win in the spring, the streak of consecutive years with at least one win could be snapped at 13 this weekend—but, a Ford has won each of the last four Bristol August night races.
Last year, it was Carl Edwards findin’ victory lane there. He also won in ’07. In ’06, it was Matt Kenseth. In ’05, Ol’ Steady Matty again.
That would be a pattern—just like an annual Ford win at Bristol in recent years.
Another win this year would be very much welcomed; visits to victory lane recently (and, by “recently,” the Sparkster means after February) have been, well, uh, well, haven’t.
But, it was durin’ this time last year that Ford really took off as Edwards won a series-leadin’ nine races and the The Biff became the first driver to open the Chase with back-to-back wins.
It was pretty interestin’ to listen to Edwards last weekend at Michigan methodically discuss his ’09 season, as it compares to ’08. Sure, he may not have yet won this year, but he says that he feels he’s actually doin’ a better job this year. If that’s the case, then he could be very close to turnin’ this year into last year—and that would be a very good thing.
Edwards managed to turn the 99’s pit strategy into a fourth-place finish at Michigan last Sunday, and that lifted him two spots, to fourth, in the standings with just three races remainin’ before the Chase.
Biffle and Kenseth both have a little more work ahead. Biffle is 10th and Kenseth is 11th, and there are still a number of drivers who have a real opportunity at bein’ in—or out—of the top 12 before Richmond.
OLD FRIENDS
Speakin’ of Michigan, anybody notice how well Bill Elliott and the Wood Brothers ran—particularly on Friday?
Elliott qualified ninth, marking the fifth consecutive race at which he has shown up that he was the fastest-qualifyin’ Ford driver. And, on Sunday, he turned in a 16th-place finish, his third consecutive top-20 for a team that is runnin’ a very abbreviated schedule this year.
The Wood Brothers at the track also meant seein’ at least one of the original Wood Brothers, Leonard, who opens every greetin’ the same way: “Hello. How are you?” Only, this time, he added a question: “Hello. How are you? Is Mose Nowland going to be here today?”
You’ve heard about the Sparkster sayin’ that the word legend often gets misused; well, Mose Nowland is a legend. He’s beyond a legend. He started with Ford in 1955 and is still goin’ strong. He worked with the racin’ engines of the early ’60s. He led the team that developed the D-3 cylinder head program that helped Ford win a second consecutive driver’s championship in NASCAR in 2004. He was with the Indianapolis 500 group when Jimmy Clark won in ’65, Bill Stroppe’s desert truck program and Michael Kranefuss’ SVO group of the ’80s.
Not only was he with the GT-40 program at LeMans in ’66 and ’67, he jumped over pit wall and worked on the winning engine in the middle of the night to help Ford win the first of four LeMans races.
And, if that’s not cool enough, when he started with Ford Motor Company more than a half century ago, he was mentored by Henry Todd. Henry Todd worked with Ford as one of the original five designers/engineers on the flathead V8 engine—not Ford Motor Company, but Henry Ford himself! Yep, Mose Nowland worked with the man who worked with the man who started Ford Motor Company.
Mr. Wood called Mr. Nowland the greatest assest that Ford Racing ever had.
And, to take it even further, Mr. Nowland worked on some pretty cool stuff that’s not related to racin’, but that’s a story—or two or three or four—for another day.
Anyway, Ol’ Sparky happened to see Mr. Nowland earlier in the race weekend and learned all about his latest project: developin’ parts and pieces for the new Ford Pro Stock engine. The man never stops.
OLD CARS
Bein’ in Michigan durin’ August also coincides with what has to be the largest movin’ car show in the world: The Woodward Dream Cruise. Absolutely every classic car you could ever imagine winds up drivin’ on Woodward in a throwback to the days of the ’50s and ’60s when that’s what people with the cool cars did.
Incidentally, just south of where the Cruise takes place, but still on Woodward, was the first paved section of road in the world. And, one of Henry Ford’s first factories was near Woodward, in that area. So, Detroit bein’ known as the Motor City really does make sense.
Anyway, the Sparkster went to the Dream Cruise last year and saw at least one Ford model that was over 100 years old. It looked to have very little restoration done, and was in pretty good shape. It was like a museum piece. Even the most blasé’ of car enthusiasts stop and take a long, long look at a vehicle of that vintage.
But, if you are in southeastern Michigan in August, that movin’ car show will find you eventually, no matter where you are. You’ll see classic cars bein’ drivin’ around town and towed around town. There were far too many seen to mention here, but the Sparkster did a see a very sweet ’64 Galaxie drivin’ around town. A week earlier, while drivin’ around Seneca Lake in upstate New York on the way to Watkins Glen, the Sparkster did see a pristine ’73 Maverick and wonders if that car made the trek to southeastern Michigan.
Hey, Sparky:
I see that Ford recently introduced the Taurus SHO. I remember Taurus as being a dominant nameplate in NASCAR. Are we going to see the Taurus SHO in NASCAR soon?
Floyd,
Virginia
If, by “soon” you mean this weekend, Floyd, then the answer is yes. The Taurus SHO will be pacin’ the field at Bristol Motor Speedway Friday night and Saturday night for both the Nationwide and Cup races. And, you’re right: The Taurus was dominant—it won 100 races—in Cup competition from 1998-2005.
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