WHAT HAS THE PROCESS BEEN LIKE WORKING WITH THE MANUFACTURERS, ESPECIALLY FORD, IN THE CREATION OF THE 2013 CUP CAR? 

 

“It is a process that has been underway for well over two years when you include the early planning stages. We had meetings with individual manufacturers first, and then once we sat back here in our NASCAR office we all realized that everybody had the same goal, not just NASCAR but the manufacturers themselves, based on all of the improvements we were able to make on the Nationwide car over the past two years as it relates to having more of a mainstream look. That being said, we started on a series of meetings to layout the ground rules and develop the parameters and then sent the manufacturers off in their own directions to come up with what was best for them.  From time to time we did our meetings and brought everybody back to make sure that nobody was getting too far out or that there wouldn’t be too much of a deficit. We also encouraged them quite a bit to get all their identity that they could in the race car and we would do what we do best, which was regulate and make sure everybody has a fair shot and an even playing field. As much as we all worked together, we worked independently because we didn’t want to stifle any of the manufacturer’s ideas that they had about putting the brand identity into the cars. I think it worked out quite well for everybody as you can see from the end result.”

 

HOW DID YOU WALK THE LINE OF THE MANUFACTURER BRINGING TRUE BRAND IDENTITY TO THE CAR WHILE STILL KEEPING WITHIN THE CONSTRAINTS NASCAR WANTED? 

 

“I would say that everybody was, as much as they wanted, apprehensive that individually they would get the identity but also be penalized from a competitive standpoint. So the reassurance of that and working together on those types of ideas was a key. Once we really got the ball rolling and got on the other side of all the worries, that  of having identity but not being able to perform, the manufacturers worked real hard off in their own directions to get all their brand identity in. They encouraged each other for the most part. It was difficult at times, but, for the most part, I think we all had a common goal and as we kept coming back to the table I think the common goals were realized and everybody benefitted from the ideas that we needed to have cars on the race track that relate very closely to the things in the showroom.”

 

 

“Absolutely it did. That was a long time coming to bring a vehicle like Mustang, an iconic car. To have Mustang involved in our Nationwide Series really is a big deal for us. I think it helped in that it encouraged others and maybe potentially over the course of time even encourage manufacturers that aren’t in today’s world, to get involved in NASCAR and the Nationwide series. Clearly, when we have those types of nameplates in our series it is good for everyone and it does encourage people to bring brand identity in and, therefore, it is great for them to compete on the race track.”

 
DO YOU THINK FORD HAS HIT A HOME RUN WITH THIS NEW 2013 FUSION? 

 

“I absolutely think Ford has hit a home run. I think there will be a wow factor when we start to uncover these new cars and it starts with Fusion. The detail that has gone into them and the hard work from all of the engineers, including mainstream designers, that are involved in these programs, coupled with the level of commitment and level of effort that is put into them through all levels of management to make this happen is great.  In my career I don’t think I have seen anything of this magnitude and it is hats off to everyone at Ford and the other manufacturers who have brought these cars to life on the race track.”