02/17/2018

Roush Fenway Looks to Repeat 2012 Speedweeks Performance

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 16, 2018) – As the 2018 edition of the Daytona 500 draws nearer, Roush Fenway Racing remembers a historic race.

In 2012 Matt Kenseth secured his second trip to Victory Lane at Daytona International Speedway giving Roush Fenway its 300th NASCAR victory on the organization’s 25th Anniversary season.

The victory concluded a dominating performance by the Roush Fenway Fords at Daytona Speedweeks that saw the team lead several practice sessions, sweep the front row on pole day with Greg Biffle and Carl Edwards and win the second Gatorade Duel qualifying race on Thursday with Kenseth. Kenseth became the first driver to win both a duel race and the 500 since 2004. It was Roush Fenway’s second Daytona 500 win in four seasons.

“This is a special night,” said team co-owner Jack Roush. “It feels great. It is very fitting that Matt won the 300th victory that we have had since we started in 1988 and (crew chief) Jimmy Fennig has been with us for most of the time. It is great to celebrate our 300th win here with the 54th Daytona 500. This is our second 500 win and that makes it special as well.”

Kenseth and Biffle combined to lead 83 of 200 laps in the race, with Kenseth taking the lead for the final time with 37 laps remaining and holding the point until the race’s conclusion with a green-white-checkered finish. With the victory, Roush Fenway became the first team in NASCAR history to win 300 races.

Biffle, who started the race second, finished third after getting passed on the final lap going for the lead. Carl Edwards – who started the race on the pole – overcame a late accident to finish eighth, while Ricky Stenhouse Jr. finished 20th after getting caught up in a multi-car accident with only four laps remaining in his first Daytona 500.