Roush: ‘We did not micromanage or dictate’

Roush: ‘We did not micromanage or dictate’

Special to the Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service

 

(October 25, 2011)

 

Roush Fenway Racing co-owner Jack Roush said Tuesday there were no attempts to “micromanage” how Ford drivers raced, or whom they raced with, during the closing laps of Sunday’s Good Sam Club 500 at Talladega Superspeedway.

 

“At Roush Fenway Racing we expect our individual drivers to make decisions that put themselves in the best position to win each and every race,” Roush said in a statement. “That is a philosophy that we have lived by for over two decades, and one that we will continue to abide by going forward.

 

“Of course, as in any team, we would prefer for our drivers to work together when possible. However, to be clear, we did not micromanage or dictate to any of our drivers, nor any other Ford drivers, how to race with other drivers at Talladega last Sunday.”

 

The issue became a hot topic at the conclusion of Sunday’s race when Ford driver Trevor Bayne, who competes for Wood Brothers Racing, agreed to draft with Chevrolet driver and Chase contender Jeff Gordon before the start of a green-white-checkered restart.

 

But when the Roush Fenway tandem of Matt Kenseth and David Ragan became separated on the final restart—the result of an engine issue for Ragan—Kenseth quickly latched onto the rear bumper of Bayne.

 

And Bayne, despite his earlier indication of working with Gordon, was called into service to aid Kenseth, who is also one of this year’s 12 Chase drivers.

 

Bayne said Tuesday that it was understood beforehand that if a fellow Ford driver needed assistance he would be expected to help out if possible.

 

Likewise, Front Row Motorsport’s David Gilliland, whose team also fields Fords, said earlier in the week that his team wasn’t “banned” from working with a driver from another manufacturer, but, “When you lay out your initial plans, you have to think of the big picture and Ford does a lot for us and we would really like to see a Ford win this championship.”

 

Roush said that how the drivers conduct themselves on the race track is ultimately up to each individual and stressed that there was no effort by anyone else to manipulate which drivers ran with one another in the two-car draft.

 

“There are unique codes that all drivers establish and have to live by on the track,” Roush said. “How they manage their code is up to our drivers as individuals. This weekend, there were no team orders, from myself or anyone at Roush Fenway, given to any of our drivers as to whom they could or could not choose to run with or assist, nor did I give similar directions or suggestion to any of the other Ford drivers.”

 

Roush said he has since spoken with the 20-year-old winner of this year’s Daytona 500. While Bayne is running a limited schedule for the Wood Brothers this year, he runs a full schedule for Roush Fenway in the Nationwide Series.

 

“And (I) understand that he was put in a situation requiring a split-second decision on the track and in his response to questions justifying his actions afterwards, where it was almost certain that not everyone was going to be satisfied,” Roush said.

 

“Trevor is extremely talented, but it is still very early in his career. Over time he will grow to understand that in such a high-paced, competitive and hostile environment it is unlikely that all of his decisions will make everyone happy.”