NASCAR has approved Ford’s new “D3” class cylinder head for use in the Busch Series. The approval came after Ford officials presented that the years old design wasn’t as developable as the much newer Chevy and Dodge pieces being run now by the competition. NASCAR ordered chassis dyno tests this year, which showed that the Ford Tauruses were off by about one percent to the competition. Making the argument easier were the Ford generated graphs that showed the other makes improving at rates far beyond what the Ford operations were coaxing out of their design. This fact, along with the power deficit helped NASCAR give the green light to the “D3” for the Busch Series.(Team Ford Racing)(10-16-2004)
UPDATE: According to Jack Rouch the new Busch/truck engine program is starting to take shape, now that NASCAR has approved Fords D3 cylinder heads for those series. The decision was made early to create the new departments work under the same roof as the Cup program, which, according to Roush, should help engineering move from the Cup side to the Busch and trucks much faster. The new Busch/truck department for Roush/Yates Racing Engines (a 50 / 50 partnership between Roush Racing and Robert Yates Racing, will be headed by George Gable. He will receive assistance from Roushs Junior Paxton. Race day duties will be split between the two engine heavies with Gable doing the Busch garage and Paxton taking the Cup garage.(Team Ford Racing)(11-1-2004)
