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During the break between the Sprint All-Star Race and Coca-Cola 600 team co-owner Jack Roush reflected on the Roush Fenway Racing season so far.
But first he was asked about the loss of Matt Kenseth to Joe Gibbs Racing after a 17-year association.
“I often told Matt that when he decided that we couldn't do what we needed to do for him, that I wanted to go out the door the same time he did,” said Roush. “He bolted before me, so that was a disappointment. I'm not unhappy for Matt and his success. I wish he would have been able to realize the same success with us. The Gibbs organization has jumped off to a fast start this year, clearly going to be a factor in the championship with most, if not all, of their cars and Matt's a part of that. I'm happy that he's not having a transitional year that would have left him in the lurch.”
Not that long ago the Roush organization, before it became Roush Fenway Racing had daunting array of five drivers in the Sprint Cup Series. NASCAR legislated it had to be reduced to four. And, now, due to sponsorship issues he has only three pilots in his squadron.
The loss of Kenseth to JGR made it possible to move up Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. who came off two-straight Nationwide Series' titles.
After 11 races the rookie Stenhouse has been running steadily in the top-20 putting him 16th in the points standings.
According to Roush “He's doing great and, of course, his young crew chief Scott Graves is doing great as well. It's the rookie season for both of them. Scott is doing a lot to anticipate Ricky's needs, and to be sensitive to his rookie status, as he is for his status. By the same token, Scott is an engineer - a mechanical engineer - and he has a better than average, crew chief average, sense for what's going on behind the scenes. It's made a really good blend of both of them learning what they need to learn on what they need to do to survive in this sport. Ricky's not giving up his aggression. He charges the corner faster than it would dictate most of the time.
Carl Edwards has been the Roush driver closest to bringing home a Cup championship since Kurt Busch won it in 2004. Edwards was finished second in 2008 and lost the title to Tony Stewart at the last race of 2011 in a tie-breaker.
Last year Edwards went winless, did not make the Chase and he split with long-time crew chief Bob Osborne. This year he's been working with veteran Jimmy Fennig who was Kenseth's crew chief last year.
“Jimmy Fennig doesn't suffer fools very well,” said Roush. “Some days, some ways, he doesn't really have as much patience for a rookie program or rookie circumstances as he might have. He's to the point where he expects to be productive; he expects to be able to use his experience. He struggles and is challenged by all the new ideas that engineering brings him. Happily, he's got two good engineers behind him that wind up backing him up; that traditional and conventional experience that Jimmy has, tailored with the engineering that we're able to bring to it, has been really good for Carl this year.
Carl has been more engaged this year than he was last year. (Former crew chief) Bob Osborne would put up for him on the plate, here's the answer for you, I've got it sorted out, trust me on this. Carl would. Jimmy and Carl have more of a give and take, where Carl says what he thinks, Jimmy says what he thinks, and they reach an accommodation somewhere in the middle.”
But first he was asked about the loss of Matt Kenseth to Joe Gibbs Racing after a 17-year association.
“I often told Matt that when he decided that we couldn't do what we needed to do for him, that I wanted to go out the door the same time he did,” said Roush. “He bolted before me, so that was a disappointment. I'm not unhappy for Matt and his success. I wish he would have been able to realize the same success with us. The Gibbs organization has jumped off to a fast start this year, clearly going to be a factor in the championship with most, if not all, of their cars and Matt's a part of that. I'm happy that he's not having a transitional year that would have left him in the lurch.”
Not that long ago the Roush organization, before it became Roush Fenway Racing had daunting array of five drivers in the Sprint Cup Series. NASCAR legislated it had to be reduced to four. And, now, due to sponsorship issues he has only three pilots in his squadron.
 |
| Roush Fenway Racing drivers in action for testing, Carl Edwards and Greg Biffle. (Photo: NASCAR) |
The loss of Kenseth to JGR made it possible to move up Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. who came off two-straight Nationwide Series' titles.
After 11 races the rookie Stenhouse has been running steadily in the top-20 putting him 16th in the points standings.
According to Roush “He's doing great and, of course, his young crew chief Scott Graves is doing great as well. It's the rookie season for both of them. Scott is doing a lot to anticipate Ricky's needs, and to be sensitive to his rookie status, as he is for his status. By the same token, Scott is an engineer - a mechanical engineer - and he has a better than average, crew chief average, sense for what's going on behind the scenes. It's made a really good blend of both of them learning what they need to learn on what they need to do to survive in this sport. Ricky's not giving up his aggression. He charges the corner faster than it would dictate most of the time.
Carl Edwards has been the Roush driver closest to bringing home a Cup championship since Kurt Busch won it in 2004. Edwards was finished second in 2008 and lost the title to Tony Stewart at the last race of 2011 in a tie-breaker.
Last year Edwards went winless, did not make the Chase and he split with long-time crew chief Bob Osborne. This year he's been working with veteran Jimmy Fennig who was Kenseth's crew chief last year.
“Jimmy Fennig doesn't suffer fools very well,” said Roush. “Some days, some ways, he doesn't really have as much patience for a rookie program or rookie circumstances as he might have. He's to the point where he expects to be productive; he expects to be able to use his experience. He struggles and is challenged by all the new ideas that engineering brings him. Happily, he's got two good engineers behind him that wind up backing him up; that traditional and conventional experience that Jimmy has, tailored with the engineering that we're able to bring to it, has been really good for Carl this year.
 |
| Carl Edwards and his Roush Fenway Racing crew. (Photo: NASCAR) |
Carl has been more engaged this year than he was last year. (Former crew chief) Bob Osborne would put up for him on the plate, here's the answer for you, I've got it sorted out, trust me on this. Carl would. Jimmy and Carl have more of a give and take, where Carl says what he thinks, Jimmy says what he thinks, and they reach an accommodation somewhere in the middle.”