Scott Speed was happy to lead two laps in last Sunday’s Daytona 500, finishing on the lead lap without a single scratch on his No. 95 DISH Ford Fusion.
However, he and Leavine Family Racing (LFR) wanted more than a 23rd-place finish..
“There are a lot of teams that would be pleased with a 23rd-place finish in the Daytona 500, especially if they’re a small team that runs a limited schedule,” Speed said. “I’m proud to say we came to race. We got up front; we ran with the leaders. I just wish we could have got the kind of finish we deserved.”
The Manteca, California, native had a narrow escape from the carnage of the Lap 139 wrecks and later lead laps 177-178 to end the race as one of only 24 cars on the lead lap.
Last Thursday, Speed’s Leavine Family Racing team raced its way into the starting lineup with a 15th-place finish in the Budweiser Duels at the Daytona International Speedway. This strong performance put his No. 95 machine 31st in the lineup for the Daytona 500.
Hours later, the team picked up sponsorship from DISH and its Hopper Whole-Home HD DVR.
“We beat a lot of odds to come to Daytona, race our way into the Daytona 500 and create a partnership with DISH,” team owner Bob Leavine said. “This is a great way to start our season. We have created a strong platform to build on for the rest of the season.”
Speed and crew chief Wally Rogers were methodical in their approach to the race. The team used NASCAR’s Generation-6 race car which created a recognizable identity to the Fusion brand. The cars ran in a long train against the outside wall for most of the race before making a mad dash in a six-lap shootout following a final restart.
“Things got real crazy up front so we decided to let things play out,” Speed said. “When it was time to go at the end, everybody was driving into every opening possible. We made a strong run up there, but things were too jumbled. That’s the way things shake out in a restrictor-plate race.”
Speed and Leavine Family Racing will make its next appearance at the SUBWAY Fresh Fit “500” on March 3 at the Phoenix International Raceway.
“All we have to do is take the car home, wash it off and get it ready for the next race,” Wally Rogers said. “We accomplished everything we needed. Of course as racers, we wanted more. If the draft had moved in another direction, who knows? We were good enough to be higher in the running order if things shook out a little differently.”
LFR PR
