Category Archives: Wood Brothers

Blaney A Big Part Of A Powerful Talladega Performance By Ford Motor Company

Blaney A Big Part Of A Powerful Talladega Performance By Ford Motor Company

October 23, 2016

Ryan Blaney and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane team put on a strong performance in the Hellman’s 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. On a day in which Ford Motor Company came away with a big win by Joey Logano and Team Penske, four other Ford Fusion drivers, including Blaney, finished in the top 11.

Ryan had one of his best runs in weeks as he led the 500 on two occasions and was in the runner-up spot for long stretches at a time before finishing 11th. He wound up saving his best performance for the end, when he drove from 21st to 11th on the final lap. Continue reading Blaney A Big Part Of A Powerful Talladega Performance By Ford Motor Company

Blaney To Honor The Late Neil Bonnett At Talladega

Blaney To Honor The Late Neil Bonnett At Talladega

October 19, 2016

Ryan Blaney and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane team are planning an encore presentation of their throwback theme first used at the Darlington Raceway earlier this season.

Blaney, at his own request, will wear the same uniform he wore during the Southern 500 to honor David Pearson.

At Talladega, he’ll wear the uniform in honor of both Pearson and the late Neil Bonnett, who was from Bessemer, Ala., and considered Talladega his home track. Continue reading Blaney To Honor The Late Neil Bonnett At Talladega

Motorcraft/Quick Lane Team Emphasizes The Positives Of 14th-Place Finish At Kansas

Motorcraft/Quick Lane Team Emphasizes The Positives Of 14th-Place Finish At Kansas

October 16, 2016

Ryan Blaney and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Fusion team came on strong at the finish of Sunday’s Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway to claim a 14th-place finish. It was the team’s 15th finish of 14th or better in this their rookie season.

Blaney started 17th and ran in the top 15 for much of the race before moving forward as the laps wound down.

He was at his best at the very end, when he passed Tony Stewart then held off Denny Hamlin to take 14th. He was within striking distance of passing Kurt Busch when the checkered flag flew. Continue reading Motorcraft/Quick Lane Team Emphasizes The Positives Of 14th-Place Finish At Kansas

Kansas Has Been A Happy Place For The Motorcraft/Quick Lane Team

Kansas Has Been A Happy Place For The Motorcraft/Quick Lane Team

October 12, 2016

After a disappointing finish at one of their home tracks, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Ryan Blaney and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane team head to one of their happy places, the Kansas Speedway.

For Blaney and crew chief Jeremy Bullins, Kansas is where their Cup careers began back in 2014, when they ran the No. 12 Ford for Team Penske, qualifying 21st and finishing 27th. Continue reading Kansas Has Been A Happy Place For The Motorcraft/Quick Lane Team

Multi-Car Wreck Ruins Blaney’s Run At Charlotte

Multi-Car Wreck Ruins Blaney’s Run At Charlotte

October 9, 2016

In NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series, there’s always a sense of dread when it comes to racing at the restrictor-plate tracks in Daytona Beach, Fla., and Talladega, Ala. That’s because of the likelihood of drivers and their cars being knocked out of a race in a multi-car crash.

But Sunday’s Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway proved that car-crunching multi-car melees can happen at any time on any track.

On Sunday, a wreck that began at the front of the field on a Lap 260 restart damaged 12 cars including the No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Fusion driven by Ryan Blaney. Being swept up in that crash ended a strong run for the rookie driver who spent much of the race up to that point inside the top 12. He also spent several long stretches inside the top 10. Continue reading Multi-Car Wreck Ruins Blaney’s Run At Charlotte

Motorcraft/Quick Lane Team Ready To Build On Charlotte Experience

Motorcraft/Quick Lane Team Ready To Build On Charlotte Experience

October 5, 2016

Ryan Blaney and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane team have put a dreary Dover weekend behind them and are ready for a strong run in the Bank of America 500 at the Charlotte Motor Speedway.

The No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Fusion was fast at the Dover International Speedway last Sunday before a blown tire ended the team’s forward march. Continue reading Motorcraft/Quick Lane Team Ready To Build On Charlotte Experience

Blown Tire Makes Long Day Even Longer For Blaney

Blown Tire Makes Long Day Even Longer For Blaney

October 2, 2016

Heading into Sunday’s Citizen Soldier 400 at the Dover International Speedway, one of the big stories for the Motorcraft/Quick Lane team was the marathon drive planned for young Ryan Blaney.

After rain postponed the Xfinity Series race to Sunday morning, Blaney was poised to run 600 miles, as he was tapped to drive 200 miles in the No. 22 Mustang for Team Penske in addition to 400 more in the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Fusion. Blaney took over the No. 22 in Sunday’s opener because its scheduled driver, Joey Logano, was focusing on the championship battle in the Sprint Cup Series. Continue reading Blown Tire Makes Long Day Even Longer For Blaney

Rain Or Shine, Motorcraft/Quick Lane Team Ready To Go At Dover

Rain Or Shine, Motorcraft/Quick Lane Team Ready To Go At Dover

September 29, 2016

Ryan Blaney and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane team have run just one race together at the Dover International Speedway, site of this weekend’s Citizen Soldier 400. In their one appearance there back in May, Blaney, with the help of his spotter Josh Williams, managed to miss the wrecks that seem to happen almost instantly on the high-banked concrete oval and delivered an eighth-place finish. Continue reading Rain Or Shine, Motorcraft/Quick Lane Team Ready To Go At Dover

Bullins Looks To Build On New Hampshire Performance

Bullins Looks To Build On New Hampshire Performance

September 25, 2016

Ryan Blaney, his crew chief Jeremy Bullins and the entire Motorcraft/Quick Lane team are steadily building a reputation for being able to bounce back from mid-race adversity to record good finishes.

But being able to pull off a comeback at New Hampshire Motor Speedway is a tall order, given the relative shortness of the races there.

In Sunday’s 300-mile run, which ran caution-free for the first 124 laps, Blaney, who started 16th, fell a lap behind the leaders during the long green-flag run.

He, Bullins and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane team spent the next several runs working to get in position to rejoin the lead lap.

Finally, on a caution period at Lap 241 for a spin by Michael Annett, Blaney was running 17th and in position to claim the “Lucky Dog” free pass.

From that point on, Blaney steadily moved forward and wound up with a 12th-place finish, his 12th top-12 finish of his rookie season.

Despite the successful recovery, Bullins had mixed emotions about the team’s finish.

“Obviously we didn’t quite have the handling we were looking for and needed some speed,” Bullins said. “At the same time I couldn’t be prouder of the fight and determination to keep working on our car, making it better, getting the lucky dog and salvaging a solid finish.”

Bullins said the experience gained in Sunday’s comeback will pay dividends down the road.

“We learned some things with our last couple of adjustments that woke our car up and got us going a little bit,” he said. “Ryan and the team kept digging all day, and to walk away with another good finish is something we can be proud of.”

“We have a lot of positive things happening right now and need to take advantage of them the next eight weeks.”

Blaney, Bullins and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane team return to the track next Sunday at Dover International Speedway for the Citizen Soldier 400.

Blaney Qualifies 16th At New Hampshire; Looking For More Speed For Sunday

Blaney Qualifies 16th At New Hampshire; Looking For More Speed For Sunday

September 24, 2016

Ryan Blaney and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane team came up a little short in Friday’s Sprint Cup qualifying session at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway, but Blaney and the team still feel they’ll have plenty of speed by the time the green flag drops to begin Sunday’s 300-mile race.

Blaney made it through the first of three rounds of knock-out qualifying, but he came up a bit shy of advancing to the final round and will start 16th on Sunday. Continue reading Blaney Qualifies 16th At New Hampshire; Looking For More Speed For Sunday

Motorcraft/Quick Lane Team Riding High Heading Into New Hampshire

Motorcraft/Quick Lane Team Riding High Heading Into New Hampshire

September 21, 2016

Last weekend at the Chicagoland Speedway, Ryan Blaney, his crew chief Jeremy Bullins and the entire Motorcraft/Quick Lane crew showed the NASCAR world that they’re capable of being legitimate contenders for race victories.

This weekend they’re looking to back that up with another strong run at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

At the end of Sunday’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 400 in Chicago, Bullins made the call to leave Blaney on the track on older tires, a decision that put him out front for an Overtime run to the checkered flag. Blaney nailed the restart, despite his worn tires, and led for a time before the newer tires of his competitors prevailed and he finished fourth. Continue reading Motorcraft/Quick Lane Team Riding High Heading Into New Hampshire

Late-Race Strategy Call Nets Blaney A Fourth-Place Finish

Late-Race Strategy Call Nets Blaney A Fourth-Place Finish

September 18, 2016

Missing the cut for the Chase for the Sprint Cup can be a mixed blessing, as Ryan Blaney and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane team proved on Sunday at Chicagoland Speedway.

With little to lose points-wise, non-Chase teams like Blaney’s are free to gamble on strategies designed to put them in position to win races.

Blaney and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane team did just that in Sunday’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle 400. When the caution flag flew with seven scheduled laps left to run, setting up an overtime run to the checkered flag, crew chief Jeremy Bullins opted to stay on the track on older tires. That decision vaulted Blaney into the lead for what wound up being a two-lap sprint to the checkered flag.

Blaney was able to overcome the disadvantage of older tires on the restart and led the field for a half a lap before eventual winner Martin Truex Jr. and two other drivers with fresh tires were able to pass him. Continue reading Late-Race Strategy Call Nets Blaney A Fourth-Place Finish

Blaney, Motorcraft/Quick Lane Team Planning Championship-Caliber Effort At Chicagoland

Blaney, Motorcraft/Quick Lane Team Planning Championship-Caliber Effort At Chicagoland

September 14, 2016

Ryan Blaney and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane team won’t be running for a championship this weekend at the Chicagoland Speedway, but they will be in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 400 and will be racing just as hard as they would have if they’d made the cut for the Chase for the Sprint Cup.

That’s a major improvement over last year when Blaney and his then-part-time team showed up at Chicago with a fast Ford Fusion but did not get to race it.

Despite being ninth quickest in practice, Blaney missed the race when qualifying was cancelled because of weather and he didn’t have a provisional starting spot. Continue reading Blaney, Motorcraft/Quick Lane Team Planning Championship-Caliber Effort At Chicagoland

Early Wreck Relegates Blaney, SKF Ford Team to a 39th-Place Finish at Richmond

Early Wreck Relegates Blaney, SKF Ford Team to a 39th-Place Finish at Richmond

September 11, 2016

A crash just 10 laps into Saturday’s Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond International Raceway took Ryan Blaney and his SKF Ford team out of contention for a berth in the Chase for the Sprint Cup and eliminated any chance for a good finish in the race.

Blaney took the No. 21 SKF Fusion to the garage where his crew spent more than 100 laps patching up the damage. He returned him to the track and gained one spot to finish 39th.

Blaney described the contact with Trevor Bayne that preceded his spin into the wall as “unfortunate” and said one of his biggest regrets was not being able to deliver a strong race for sponsors SKF and Motion Industries.

“I thought I was clear,” Blaney said. “It is an unfortunate race deal.”

“I want to thank SKF for being on board. I wish we could have worked on our car and gotten it better throughout the night.

“It is unfortunate that we didn’t get to run to see where our car was going to go. That is the most unfortunate part about this. We didn’t even give ourselves a shot at it. That is something I will have regret about.”

“All we can do is go on to Chicago and try to do better there.”

Team co-owner Eddie Wood praised his crew for getting the No. 21 Fusion back on the track and running with good speed despite considerable damage.

“They did a good job putting it back together,” Wood said. “Even with the car torn up, Ryan was turning some good lap times.”

Wood also said he’s glad his Wood Brothers team will get another chance to better represent SKF.

“They will be back on the car at Phoenix, and we will do our best to represent them well there,” Wood said.

The No. 21 team will be back with sponsor Motorcraft/Quick Lane this weekend at Chicagoland Speedway to begin the final 10 races of the 2016 season.

“Even though we won’t be a part of the Chase for the Sprint Cup, we will be racing at some of our best tracks,” Wood said. “Our team will bounce back from tonight’s disappointment, and we look forward to getting our share of the attention before the season ends with the Ford Championship Weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway.”

No. 21 SKF Ford Team Planning To Leave It All On the Track in Regular-Season Finale At Richmond

No. 21 SKF Ford Team Planning To Leave It All On the Track in Regular-Season Finale At Richmond

September 8, 2016

The No. 21 Wood Brothers Ford Fusion, with Ryan Blaney at the wheel, will hit the track at Richmond International Speedway this weekend with a new look representing technical partner SKF, the leading global supplier of friction-reducing solutions for industrial and transportation applications.

Saturday’s Federated Auto Parts 400 is expected to be one of the more dramatic races so far this year as it’s the finale of the 26-race regular season and the last chance for teams like the SKF Ford team to earn a berth in the championship-deciding Chase for the Sprint Cup.

For the team’s crew chief, Jeremy Bullins, a trip to Richmond brings mixed emotions. Continue reading No. 21 SKF Ford Team Planning To Leave It All On the Track in Regular-Season Finale At Richmond

Motorcraft/Quick Lane Team Overcomes Tough Night At Darlington To Finish 13th

Motorcraft/Quick Lane Team Overcomes Tough Night At Darlington To Finish 13th

September 5, 2016

With bad luck and bad timing of caution flags threatening to turn the Southern 500 into a long, disappointing night for Ryan Blaney and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane team, the rookie driver and his crew never lost their focus and came back from multiple laps down to finish 13th.

It was Blaney’s 12th top-15 finish in the 25 races run so far this season. Continue reading Motorcraft/Quick Lane Team Overcomes Tough Night At Darlington To Finish 13th

No Darlington Conversation Is Complete Without Mentioning David Pearson

No Darlington Conversation Is Complete Without Mentioning David Pearson

August 31, 2016

This weekend at Darlington Raceway, in keeping with the track’s wildly popular throwback theme, the No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Fusion will carry a paint scheme honoring David Pearson’s 1976 season, which saw him win 10 major races including the Southern 500.

Even without the throwback theme, Pearson’s name comes to mind most every time a conversation turns to Sprint Cup racing at Darlington Raceway.

“You can’t really talk about one without talking about the other,” said Eddie Wood, co-owner of the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Fusion that Ryan Blaney will race this weekend and a crew member back when Pearson drove the iconic No. 21. Continue reading No Darlington Conversation Is Complete Without Mentioning David Pearson

Blaney, Motorcraft/Quick Lane At Their Best In Finishing Fourth At Michigan

Blaney, Motorcraft/Quick Lane At Their Best In Finishing Fourth At Michigan

August 28, 2016

Ryan Blaney and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane team, 40 races into their time together in the Sprint Cup Series, had one of their best efforts yet in Sunday’s Pure Michigan 400 at the Michigan International Speedway. The rookie Blaney and his team, led by rookie crew chief Jeremy Bullins, overcame an early flat tire and damage to the hood of the No. 21 Ford Fusion to finish fourth, tying their career-best finish from Talladega Superspeedway a year ago.

Bouncing back from a disappointing end to the race at Bristol Motor Speedway the week before, Blaney qualified seventh and raced in or around the top five all afternoon at Michigan. Continue reading Blaney, Motorcraft/Quick Lane At Their Best In Finishing Fourth At Michigan

Blaney Qualifies Seventh For The Pure Michigan 400

Blaney Qualifies Seventh For The Pure Michigan 400

August 26, 2016

Coming off a disappointing end to last Sunday’s race at Bristol Motor Speedway, Ryan Blaney and his Motorcraft/Quick Lane team were looking to rebound at the Michigan International Speedway.

They did just that, posting the fourth-fastest time in opening practice and qualifying seventh for Sunday’s Pure Michigan 400.

It was his second straight top-seven qualifying effort and the sixth time this season he has qualified seventh or better. Continue reading Blaney Qualifies Seventh For The Pure Michigan 400

Motorcraft/Quick Lane Team Ready For Lower-Downforce Racing At Michigan

Motorcraft/Quick Lane Team Ready For Lower-Downforce Racing At Michigan

August 24, 2016

After a week at Bristol Motor Speedway with their car carrying the logos of Virginia Tech, Ryan Blaney and his Wood Brothers team return to their traditional Motorcraft/Quick Lane colors for this weekend’s Pure Michigan 400 at the Michigan International Speedway.

That’s the home track for Ford Motor Company, and therefore an important race for the No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane team.

For crew chief Jeremy Bullins, Michigan is fresh on his mind, as the team ran there just eight races ago. Continue reading Motorcraft/Quick Lane Team Ready For Lower-Downforce Racing At Michigan