#06 Team News and Links Page
LINKS
OFFICIAL - team/drivers
Roush Racing
Roush Fenway Racing
Todd Kluever
David Ragan
SPONSORS
Primary:
3M
Pennzoil
Sharp AQUOS(1 race - Ragan)
Associates:
UN-OFFICIAL - team/drivers
none..
#06 Team Past News and Rumors
(NOTE: some older links may not work)
Kluever's 2006 Schedule (7 races)
Chicagoland, July 9 - 3M sponsor
Michigan, August 20 - 3M
California, September 3 - 3M/Post-It
Kansas, October 1 - 3M
Lowe's Motor Speedway, October 14 - 3M
Texas, November 5 - shifted to Ragan in the #60
Phoenix, November 12 - 3M
Homestead, November 19 - 3M [missed at Phoenix]
Ragan's 2006 Schedule (1 race..so far)
Dover, Sept. 24 - sponsor Sharp AQUOS
Martinsville, Oct 22
Atlanta, Oct 29 - withdrawn
Texas, November 5 - will run the #60 car
Homestead, November 19 - will run the #60 car
- Roush Racing & Fenway Sports Group partner up: Today, during Speedweeks in Daytona Beach, Fla., Roush Racing and Fenway Sports Group (FSG) announced the formation of Roush Fenway Racing. Under the agreement, FSG will purchase 50% of
Roush Racing to form the new entity. Jack Roush will continue to manage the competitive operations of the race teams and Geoff Smith will continue as president to oversee business activities. FSG will support Roush Fenway Racing’s marketing and sales activities by using their experience, network of relationships, and powerful demographic base to add value to Roush Fenway Racing sponsors and help Roush Fenway Racing maintain an unsurpassed position among NASCAR teams on and off the track.
“This partnership will bring a whole new perspective to our business,” said Jack Roush. “There is a lot of hard work that goes into being successful in sport. John Henry and FSG understand what it takes. Anybody that has watched the Red Sox has been impressed with their tenacity and their ability to prevail after all the frustration. To be able to have someone to bounce ideas and strategies off of will be fun. Everyone at Roush Racing is excited to welcome our new partner and we look forward to our success together.”
“This is an unprecedented partnership of two extremely successful organizations with proven track records for winning in their respective businesses and sports,” said Mike Dee, chief operating officer of the Boston Red Sox and president of Fenway Sports Group. “We believe in NASCAR and like its long-term business future and are thrilled to be a part of this exciting and growing industry.”
The new Roush Fenway Racing logo will make its track debut at Daytona International Speedway beginning Thursday, February 15 during the Gatorade 150 qualifying races. All of Roush Fenway Racing’s 13 teams will be competing throughout the weekend.
Off the track, the Roush Fenway Racing focus will be to continue to service its world-class sponsorship base which includes such great companies as; DeWalt Power Tools, Diageo (Crown Royal), AAA, Office Depot, Ameriquest Mortgage Company, 3M, Ford Motor Company, Northern Tool + Equipment, Dish Network, Discount Tire and Coca Cola, whose sponsorships Roush supports with public relations, licensing, event marketing and account management services.
Geoff Smith summed up the overall goal by saying, “We wholeheartedly believe that the addition of FSG, and the incorporation of its expertise and demographic power will insure that Roush Fenway Racing will indefinitely preserve our pre-eminent position among NASCAR teams both on and off the track.” FSG’s core strengths include property representation and acquisitions, entertainment marketing, sponsorships and consulting services. For more information please visit FenwaySportsGroup.com.(Roush Fenway Racing PR)(2-14-2007)
- Kluever entered at Homestead..up to 55: Todd Kluever will be attempting his fifth Nextel Cup start this weekend at
Homestead. He will be driving the #06 3M/Sharp AQUOS Ford Fusion for Roush Racing. Kluever will be competing in both the NEXTEL Cup and Busch Series races at Homestead this weekend. "This race was not originally on my schedule of races to run this season, but since we missed Phoenix we wanted to run another one for 3M," said Kluever.(Roush Racing PR), the Homestead Entry List is now up to 55 teams/cars.(11-14-2006)
- Kluever to run Phoenix in #06: Todd Kluever will be attempting his fifth Nextel Cup start this weekend at Phoenix International Raceway. He will be driving the #06 3M/Sharp AQUOS Ford for Roush Racing. Kluever will be competing in both the Nextel Cup and Busch Series races at Phoenix this weekend.(Roush Racing PR)(11-7-2006)
- Ragan in the #60 at Texas UPDATE: In addition to racing in the Truck Series race this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway, David Ragan will also attempt to make his third start in the Nextel Cup Series, driving the #60 Pennzoil Ford in the Dickies 500.(Roush Racing PR)(10-31-2006)
UPDATE: David Ragan has received NASCAR's approval to run at Nextel Cup tracks 1.5-miles and less and will attempt to qualify the #60 No Fear Racing Ford [sponsored by Pennzoil] Friday for the Dickies 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. Roush Racing had sought to get Ragan approved to attempt his third Cup start last week at Atlanta Motor Speedway, but that approval was denied. NASCAR spokesman Kerry Tharp said Tuesday afternoon that Ragan had been approved for Texas and would be under observation, standard procedure for drivers approved to advance to the next level.(SceneDaily.com)(11-1-2006)
- Roush's #06 team limited to one more race in 2006: Roush Racing can only enter the #06 in one more Nextel Cup race this year because of the team limitations imposed by NASCAR, team president Geoff Smith confirmed Saturday. Roush already has its fifth full-time team grandfathered in on the four-team NASCAR Cup limit. Teams are also allowed to enter an extra team for a rookie to get ready for next season. Smith said Roush Racing interpreted that limitation to mean seven races with any rookie, but NASCAR informed the team at Martinsville last week that it could run only one more race - the eighth Nextel Cup attempt overall for the #06 car this year. The #06 has attempted to run six events (including one where the team failed to qualify) with Todd Kluever and two with David Ragan. That final race for the #06 will be Phoenix with Kluever at the wheel. Smith said it is the team's plan to run Ragan in whatever races he is eligible for the rest of the year in the #60 No Fear Racing car, which has an affiliation with Roush. Ragan originally was supposed to drive the #06 car at Atlanta this weekend. When Roush Racing found out last week it could only run that car one more time this year, it withdrew the car and planned to have No Fear enter Ragan in the #60. Before it could get the new entry filed, NASCAR ruled that Ragan was not approved to run the 1.5-mile Atlanta track in the Cup race because of struggles at Martinsville Speedway last Sunday. Smith said the team is fine with the limitation imposed.(SceneDaily.com)(10-28-2006)
- Ragan finds a way to talk to Stewart: With last week's on-track run-in with Tony Stewart still fresh in his mind, David Ragan came to Atlanta with reconciliation on his mind. Knowing that it might be hard to get Stewart alone, Ragan bid $5,750 at Thursday night's Speedway Children's Charities auction to buy the pre-race ride around the track with Stewart. "I've never spoken to Tony before; I'm kind of happy he knows my name actually, but not for these reasons," Ragan said. "This will give us a chance to talk a little bit." Ragan, the son of former NASCAR driver Ken Ragan, triggered a three-car wreck last weekend in Martinsville, taking out Ken Schrader and Tony Stewart, angering both veterans. Stewart had a few choice words for the young driver after the accident, and Ragan knows that he can't start his career in Nextel Cup making enemies. "Tony, he criticized me a lot after last week, and when a champion does that, it's good to go talk to him," Ragan said. "I think I'll ask him his thoughts, what I should have done different, just introduce myself so that if I step out of line in the future he'll come and talk to me about it." Ragan was expected to attempt to qualify for both Saturday's Craftsman Truck race and Sunday's Nextel Cup race, but NASCAR did not approve him to compete in the upper level event. He is still hopeful that he will be approved before next weekend's race in Texas. "I was disappointed, but at least I'll be running the truck
race here," Ragan said. "I'm happy; I'm just 20 years old, and I'm here in the truck series."(AMS Pit Notes)(10-27-2006)
- #06 Withdrawn from Atlanta after Ragan not approved: Roush Racing has withdrawn its #06 Ford from the entry list for this weekend's Bass Pro Shops 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway after driver David Ragan wasn't approved to compete on 1.5-mile tracks at the Nextel Cup level. The team announced last week that Ragan would run both the Craftsman Truck Series race and the Cup race at Atlanta as he prepares to take over for Mark Martin in the team's #6 entry next season. First, though, Ragan needed approval from NASCAR to step up to that level. Currently, he's only cleared to race on tracks 1 mile or less in length in Cup. The 20-year-old has made just two Cup starts thus far, at Dover and this past Sunday at Martinsville. Ragan was involved in two accidents at Dover, where he finished 42nd after completing just 46 laps. He finished all 500 laps at Martinsville on Sunday, but angered a number of his fellow competitors in the process after making contact with Dale Jarrett and Ken Schrader, among others. "Currently he's approved to participate at NASCAR tracks 1 mile in length or less," NASCAR spokesman Kerry Tharp said Tuesday of Ragan's Cup eligibility. "There is an approval process in place and his status will continue to be reviewed on a weekly basis. "We take a lot of things into consideration: Experience, qualifications, that type of thing. There's a NASCAR committee that convenes on this each week and they'll continue to review any application that he makes regarding the rest of the series." While Ragan is cleared to race the truck series event at Atlanta, he was not on the entry list as of Tuesday afternoon. That, though, could still change by the time practice begins on Friday.(SceneDaily.com)(10-24-2006)
- Ragan to run four more races in #06 this season: Roush Racing announced that they will field David Ragan in four of the final five Nextel Cup Series races in 2006. Ragan will pilot the #06 Ford Fusion in an effort to get a head start on the 2007 season, when he will become the driver of the #6 AAA Ford Fusion. Ragan is entered for this weekend's Subway 500 at Martinsville Speedway. In addition, Ragan will also be behind the wheel of the #06 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on October 29, Texas Motor Speedway on November 5, and the season-ending Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 17. "I'm looking forward to making the most of this opportunity to race in the Nextel Cup Series this year," said Ragan. "This will be a great chance for me to gain some additional seat time and experience before coming over here full-time in 2007. We had a great test in Homestead earlier this week, and I think any additional time I can get behind the wheel of these cars is just going to be that much more of a help to me. It's going to take some time to get familiar with the feel of these cars, and getting the opportunity to do it now is going to be a big benefit for next year." Ragan made his Nextel Cup debut in September at Dover International Speedway, finishing 42nd after being involved in an accident. Ragan will perform double duty for the balance of 2006, as he will continue to compete in the Craftsman Truck series. To date, Ragan has made 15 truck starts in the 2006 season. He has scored one top-five and six top-10 finishes, and one pole at O'Reilly Raceway Park. Ragan has also made three starts for Roush Racing in the NASCAR Busch Series this season, recording finishes of 41st at California Speedway, 23rd at Dover and 36th at Lowe's Motor Speedway.(Roush Racing PR), no sponsor mnetioned, Todd Kluever was supposed to run at Texas and Phoenix, looks like Texas is out with Ragan in the car, no work on Phoenix.(10-18-2006)
- Ragan named to drive the #6 AAA Ford in 2007: Roush Racing today announced that David Ragan will be the full-time driver of the team's flagship #6 AAA Ford Fusion in 2007. The #6 has been the foundation of the Roush Racing stable, dating back
to Jack Roush's beginning into NASCAR's premier series in 1988. "We are very pleased to have David Ragan going into the #6 AAA Ford Fusion next season," said Jack Roush. "David is a driver with outstanding talent and as a result of his actions he is the young man I selected to fill the seat. The #6 is obviously a special car to me personally and this organization and we are confident in David's ability to step up and get the job done." Ragan currently shares the #6 Scotts Ford with Mark Martin [in the Truck Series] and also pilots the #50 Roush Racing Ford [in the Truck Series]. Ragan started his first career Nextel Cup race at Dover three weeks ago. He is set to make four more starts in the Nextel Cup Series in 2006 and will make his first start in the #6 AAA Ford in next season's famed Daytona 500. "This is a tremendous opportunity and I look forward to racing on behalf of AAA's millions of loyal members in 2007. Obviously, I've got big shoes to fill and quite a legacy to follow, but I look forward to the challenge and the next chapter of the #6 race team," said Ragan. "AAA has great confidence in Jack Roush and his entire organization, including their selection of David Ragan as the promising new driver of the #6 AAA car," said Kristin Warfield, director AAA Motorsports. We look forward to cheering David on as he competes in NASCAR NEXTEL Cup racing for the first time, and to introducing him to our members and other race fans at tracks and special appearances throughout the coming year." Ragan has one pole and six top-10 finishes in 15 starts in the Craftsman Truck
Series in 2006. He will make his next Cup start at Martinsville Speedway on October 22nd.(Roush Racing PR)(10-11-2006)
- Sharp to sponsor Ragan at Dover: Sharp AQUOS, maker of LCD TVs with Vikuiti™ technology from 3M, has secured the primary sponsorship of the #06 Ford driven by David Ragan at Dover International Speedway this weekend. Ragan, who currently competes in the Craftsman Truck Series, will make his Nextel Cup Series debut in the Dover 400 on Sunday. “We’re happy to join with 3M to sponsor the car and make NASCAR fans aware that Sharp AQUOS LCD TVs are made with 3M Vikuiti technology and help us deliver amazing picture quality to AQUOS customers,” said Bruce Tripido, Sr. Director and Group Leader of Marketing for Sharp’s Product and Marketing Group. The Sharp Electronics’ Sharp Vikuiti paint scheme is scheduled to run as the major associate sponsor on both #06 Fords in the Busch and Cup Series at Phoenix November 11 and 12.(Roush Racing PR)(9-22-2006)
- Boston Red Sox owner in talks to buy part of Roush: While Roush Racing president Geoff Smith isn't sure where discussions with Boston Red Sox owner John Henry and his Fenway Sports Group will lead, he doesn't envision a scenario in which Jack Roush would relinquish control of the operation. Negotiations have been ongoing throughout the summer, Smith said late Tuesday afternoon. He's not sure what percentage of the team - which competes in all three of NASCAR's national series - could be sold, if any, but expects one thing to remain the same. "I can't see Jack Roush giving up control of Roush Racing," Smith said. "I don't see that as an outcome." Roush and Henry, who heads the NESV partnership, have been friends for several years, sparking occasional rumors that Henry was looking to buy into Roush Racing. In the past, though, Smith said the two sides were just discussing marketing possibilities, not a sale. The two were seen together on Sunday at New Hampshire International Speedway and Roush Racing released a statement Tuesday that confirmed discussions about selling an interest in the team were ongoing.(in part from the SceneDaily.com)
AND: According to multiple executives briefed on the negotiations, Fenway Sports Group is in talks to buy as much as 50 percent of privately held Roush Racing, the class of NASCAR, for something north of $50 million. No deal is imminent, these executives cautioned, and the negotiations, which have started and stopped before, could still falter. Both the Fenway Sports Group and Roush Racing confirmed the talks, but both said there is no agreement. Geoff Smith, president of Roush Racing, called the Red Sox unit "attractive partners" because of its marketing capabilities, particularly in the Northeast. Said Mike Dee, president of Fenway Sports Group: "If these discussions are fruitful, we will be happy to talk about them."(in part from the Boston Globe)
AND II: “Roush Racing confirms,” said Geoff Smith president of Roush Racing, “It has entered into discussions to sell an interest in Roush Racing to Fenway Sports Group, Boston. Should these discussions ultimately materialize into a definitive agreement Roush Racing will provide further information on the topic.”(Roush Racing PR)(9-19-2006)
- No more Roush Gong show; Ragan in the #06 at Dover? UPDATE: Geoff Smith, head of Roush Racing, "We are committed to a rookie in the (#6) car. There are tremendous long-term business advantages to doing a program with a rookie, if the rookie can get the job done. And we expect any of our rookies to get the job done. We have been able to put four of our Gong Show drivers in rides this year to scrutinize them: Todd [Kluever]; David Ragan, splitting duties with Mark in Trucks; Erik Darnell, rookie-of-the-year leader in Trucks; and Danny O'Quinn. "One of those guys will be in the six [Cup car]. And by the time we get to Kansas City, we have to be done. We haven't had home runs out of the box with all four, but David and Erik have done extremely well. And Danny and David are only 20 years old. So we feel very good about where we are." Smith said he and Roush have thus canceled this year's Gong Show.(Winston Salem Journal), look for David Ragan to run the #06 Ford in the Dover Cup race.(9-18-2006)
UPDATE: Ragan to attempt Dover Cup race in the #06: Roush Racing announced that David Ragan will attempt to make his first attempt at a Nextel Cup Series start in the #06 Ford this weekend at Dover International Speedway. Ragan is currently competing in the Craftsman Truck Series. "I've looked forward to this day for a long time," said Ragan. "I never thought that the day would come this soon. It just goes to show that hard work and determination really can pay off. I have gotten a lot of racing experience in the Craftsman Truck Series that will help race with the guys in the Nextel Cup Series. I'm looking forward to working with Frank Stoddard and the #06 Ford team." Ragan will also make his second Busch Series start of the 2006 season in the #50 Barr-Nunn Ford when he competes in the Dover 200 on Saturday. "This is an awesome opportunity to get some more experience in the NASCAR Busch Series," said Ragan. "The guys with the #50 team had a great run with Danny O'Quinn here in the spring. It's a really good opportunity to get some valuable seat time to help me get familiar with Dover. I've never raced here so every lap I make is really going to help me."
"I see a lot of potential in these young drivers," said Jack Roush. "This will give us an opportunity to evaluate David Ragan and it will also give him valuable experience running in both series at Dover. Dover International Speedway is a very challenging track, but I know David will perform to the best of his ability."(Roush Racing PR)(9-19-2006)
- Kluever set for 3rd Cup start at Calif: Todd Kluever will be attempting his third Nextel Cup Series start this weekend in the Sony HD 500 at California Speedway. Kluever will compete in both the NEXTEL Cup and Busch Series races in his #06 Post-it/3M Ford Fusion. Kluever’s two previous starts came at Chicagoland in July and Michigan in August. After problems entering pit road during green-flag pit stops at Chicago, a NASCAR penalty cost Kluever two laps which resulted in a 41st-place finish. At Michigan, he was the victim of an early accident while running three-wide between Bobby Labonte and David Stremme and finished 43rd. Frank Stoddard will serve as Kluever's crew chief.(Roush Racing PR)(8-31-2006)
- Kluever confident he will be in the #6 Cup Ford in 2007 UPDATE: Despite a steep learning curve, Todd Kluever is confident with his talent and job security as he prepares to take over Mark Martin's Nextel Cup Series seat in the #6 Roush Racing Ford next season. Martin, 47, is expected to run a full NASCAR Trucks Series slate in 2007. But since Kluever hasn't run well, it has been rumored the 20-year veteran will stick around Cup another season. Another possible scenario that has been floated is that Martin will run a 12-race Cup schedule and will run full-time in the Trucks Series, giving Kluever an additional season of experience in Busch. Kluever said in a telephone interview Tuesday that team owner Jack Roush has not indicated to him that he is dissatisfied with his results. "The rumors are just that - they're speculation," said Kluever, who spent one season in Trucks before moving to Busch this year. "In all honesty, and I've talked to Mark about this, I'm worried about this weekend. I'm not really worried about next year. I'm very realistic, I live for the weekend. Rumors are rumors and if I go out and win the Busch race this weekend, they all seem to disappear. ... The plans are still that I will be driving the #6 (Cup) car next year."(in part from the Capital Times)(8-18-2006)
UPDATE: Jack Roush isn't convinced that Todd Kluever is ready to slide into Mark Martin's seat in the #6 car next season.
"We need to see how he does in these [Nextel] Cup races and see what our sponsors say,'' Roush said after watching Kluever qualify 38th for Sunday's race at Michigan International Speedway. The outcome could have an affect on whether Martin, 47, runs a part-time or fullt-ime schedule in NASCAR's premier series next season. Martin is going under the assumption Kluever will be in the 6 and he'll be running a part-time schedule, although Roush said he wouldn't hesitate to put any of his veteran drivers in the car if Kluever isn't ready. Martin said there have been no discussions with Roush about him staying in the 6. "The 6 car is set right now,'' he said before qualifying 14th. "Todd's going to drive the car. ... The whole plan for 2006 has been to work as hard as we could to get Todd ready to take over the 6 car. We're still doing that.''(NASCAR.com)(8-19-2006)
- Kluever to debut at Chicago: Todd Kluever will be making his NEXTEL Cup debut this weekend at Chicagoland Speedway. He will be driving the #06 Post-it Ford Fusion for Roush Racing. This is a car previously raced by Mark Martin. Kluever tested this car at Kentucky Speedway a few weeks ago and was pleased with the results.(Roush Racing PR)(7-4-2006)
- Kluever to be released from Roush Racing? DENIED RacingOne is hearing Todd Kluever could be released from Roush Racing due in part to both his lackluster performance in the Busch Series [#06 Ford] this season and the proposed cap for NEXTEL Cup teams, which would force Jack Roush to eliminate one of his cars. Kluever had been named to take over the #6 NEXTEL Cup ride [AAA Ford] from the retiring Mark Martin next year, but if Roush is forced to eliminate one of his teams to fit under the cap of four, that team may be the one to go. The AAA sponsorship could then be shifted to Greg Biffle's #16, which will reportedly lose the National Guard sponsorship after this season. Kluever, who is scheduled to make his Cup Series debut [in the #06 3M Ford] at Chicagoland, has only one top-10 finish in the Busch Series this season. He also sits 23rd in the points.(RacingOne), hard to imagine Roush just letting the #6 number go bye-bye.
UPDATE: been told by Roush Racing representatives that there is no truth to the rumor regarding Todd Kluever being released from Roush Racing. There has been no change in plans regarding his future at Roush and that Kluever will still be in the #6 AAA Ford in 2007.(5-16-2006)
- Pennzoil to sponsor Kluever at Texas in Nov.: Pennzoil and Roush Racing announced that Pennzoil Platinum will be the primary sponsor for the #06 Ford Fusion entry driven by Todd Kluever in the NEXTEL Cup race at Texas Motor Speedway on November
5. Kluever's seven-race schedule will consist of Chicagoland, July 9; Michigan, August 20; California, September 3; Kansas, October 1; Lowe's Motor Speedway, October 14; Texas, November 5 and Phoenix, November 12. The other six races will be sponsored by his current Busch Series primary sponsor, 3M.(Roush Racing PR)(4-19-2006)
- NASCAR OK with Roush's 6th team: Jack Roush says he had no problems asking NASCAR for a part-time sixth team to run Todd Kluever [#06 3M Ford] in seven races in 2006 in preparation for his rookie season in 2007. When NASCAR announced its four-car cap for every owner last November, NASCAR President Mike Helton indicated an owner could field a fifth part-time car for a rookie. Roush has five full-time teams, and NASCAR has said it would not force him to break any contracts to get down to four. Roush didn't have to lobby for approval for the extra races for Kluever, since NASCAR had already indicated that a part-time rookie would not count against the cap. "Our five cars are OK for the time being, and with Todd being a rookie deal, we got the same considerations [others would]," Roush says. "They offered me to start with that I was good if I needed to do that."(SceneDaily.com)(3-9-2006)
- 6th Roush Team...for a bit UPDATE 2: Later this season, Roush Racing will add a sixth Nextel Cup team, for seven races, to get Todd Kluever [Busch Series #06] warmed up for his role as #6-Mark Martin's [retiring from Cup] replacement next season.(Winston Salem Journal)(2-26-2006)
UPDATE: Roush Racing's Todd Kluever, who is running the Busch Series [#06 3M Ford] full time and will make seven Cup starts later this year, will have the second Michigan race (Not first even with the race sponsorship) on his schedule along with Chicago, Kansas and Phoenix in November to name a few. Expect his debut to come at Chicagoland - the track closest to his hometown of Sun Prairie, Wisconsin.(RacingOne)(2-27-2006)
UPDATE 2: 3M Company and Roush Racing announced that 3M will be the primary sponsor for the #06 Ford Fusion entry driven by Todd Kluever in six NASCAR NEXTEL Cup races this season. Kluever's NEXTEL Cup races this year are intended to prepare him for the 2007 NEXTEL Cup season, when he will drive the #6 AAA Ford Fusion currently driven by Mark Martin. Kluever's six-race schedule will consist of Chicago, July 9; Michigan, August 20; California, Sept 3; Kansas, Oct 1; Lowe's, Oct 14 and Phoenix, Nov 12.(Roush Racing PR)(3-1-2006)
