Photo Credit: Speed Sport

Our next team in The Sports Chief 2019 NASCAR season preview is Roush Fenway Racing. Led by racing icon Jack Roush, the organization has been running NASCAR Cup races since 1988. In 2007, John Henry leader of Fenway Sports Group, purchased a 50% stake in Roush Racing. The team has 2 championships with Matt Kenseth and Kurt Busch as the drivers in 2003 and 2004. With 137 wins to their name, needless to say, Roush Fenway is a staple team at the top level. In the last few years however, they have not been as successful. Truthfully, the team is “nearly” a train-wreck. Last year, they replaced Trevor Bayne for Matt Kenseth in a few select races, thinking they would learn something in order to be more competitive…Kenseth did just as bad as Bayne, in fact Kenseth still had an average finish of 20th, compared to Bayne’s 23rd. For some reason, the Roush engines are not performing the way they should. Maybe this year, they can right the ship and get some wins. Roush Fenway is a team trying to regain the “top-notch” status that they used to attain with Mark Martin, Kurt Busch, Matt Kenseth, and Carl Edwards.

#17 Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

The veteran driver for the Roush stable is Ricky Stenhouse Jr. With a successful 2017 in which he won two races, he went winless in 2018. Those two victories are his only wins in the top level of NASCAR, and that includes six full-time seasons. Stenhouse is a two-time Xfinity champion, and had high expectations for the Cup level, unfortunately Roush has not offered him the top equipment he needs to reach that next level. His highest points finish is 13th. The talent is there for Stenhouse to get some wins, it’s just a matter of how good Roush can be in the upcoming years. Fastenal is the main sponsor for the #17 machine, and the car looks pretty sweet, but I am a sucker for black and blue. Stenhouse is a solid qualifier as he started in 15thplace on average, and is arguably the best restrictor-plate racer out there. It will be interesting to see how he performs with the new aero package NASCAR is rolling out. Ricky is honestly solid at most tracks, Bristol is one of his sneaky good ones, as well as Dover. My 2019 predictions have Ricky getting 0 wins, 2 top-5’s and 8 top-10’s. Prove me wrong Ricky.

#6 Ryan Newman

The “Rocket-Man” has 19 years of Cup racing under his belt and is with his 4thteam in that span. Newman is a different driver than his last days in a Ford. While driving for Penske, he was attaining poles at an insane rate. With 18 victories to his name, Newman has had a rather successful NASCAR career. The veteran failed to earn a top-5 last year driving for Richard Childress and may be on the tail-end of his career. The main reasoning for Roush bringing him in was to help the team in understanding the cars better. Newman always seems to be lurking in the teens in terms of running position, and will provide stability in a car that may not be that great. Just like Stenhouse, Newman is solid pretty much everywhere. I would say flat tracks like Loudon are his specialty, and maybe even Pocono. Driving in the Ford stable, he will be competitive at the restrictor plate tracks, so if he was to win, it will be at those tracks in my opinion. It is exciting to see Newman in another ride, and I really want Roush to be good again, but I see Newman getting 2 top-10’s and nothing else.

AustYn

References: Jayski, Racing Reference

2019 NASCAR Preview: Roush Fenway Racing