Roush fixing kinks to build on championship

CONCORD, N.C. -- Though Matt Kenseth's 2003 NASCAR championship march included few, if any, visible weaknesses, engine strength and endurance in the DeWalt Ford was at times suspect.

Kenseth failed to finish two races in the final stretch run due to blown motors, including the season finale at Homestead when a blown engine forced him into a backup car just to perform a celebratory burnout.

And he wasn't alone. Overall, Roush Racing's five drivers lost 16 engines prematurely throughout the season. And if you throw in Ricky Rudd, who also runs Roush Racing engines, 20 Roush engines failed to reach the finish line in 215 total starts. That's roughly a nine percent failure rate.

That shouldn't be an issue any longer.

	Mark Martin is aiming to find his way back to Victory Lane in 2004.

To remedy those engine woes, Roush has aligned with Robert Yates Racing, widely considered the premier Ford engine-building entity, and will run RYR power plants in 2004.

"I'm sure the sharing program with Yates is gonna help us some," said Roush driver Greg Biffle during NASCAR Preseason Thunder. "It's gonna help them and us together, collectively, so we're excited about that."

Roush Racing has plenty to be excited about entering 2004. Last season was a landmark year for the organization, as three of its five drivers scored victories and, of course, Kenseth won the title.

Jeff Burton, who still seeks sponsorship on his No. 99 Ford, and Mark Martin both failed to reach Victory Lane in 2003; but Martin is optimistic entering his 17th season at Roush Racing.

"I have a lot to look forward to this year," Martin said. "We've had very little change (on my team) and have had some slight modifications that I'm really, really excited about. That should tune things up a little bit."

Kurt Busch was dominant at times last year, especially early in the season. He finished second in three of the first five events, and won two of the first 10, before fading late in the year and failing to finish in the NASCAR Top 10.

Biffle, meanwhile, won the Pepsi 400 on a calculated fuel gamble the last time he was in Daytona Beach.

ROUSH RACING  •  Roush team page  •  Conversation: Greg Biffle  •  Jeff Burton to carry TNT logo in Daytona 500  •  Conversation: Kurt Busch  •  Conversation: Matt Kenseth  •  Tryson, Leslie in crew chief swap

"It was kind of neat when I was walking in this morning because I thought about the fact that the last time I was here we won," said Biffle, who also plans to run the entire NASCAR Busch Series schedule this season.

"That's pretty exciting. I don't know if we're gonna be back in that position or not. I know the guys worked really, really hard all winter long to speed our program up."

Speaking of speed, Ford Taurus drivers hope the new nose and tail will bolster their effort. Martin doesn't see much difference, however.

"In my opinion it's not really a new car because it's not a car that was developed with a clean sheet of paper," Martin said. "It's still the basic Taurus shape with some improvements in the front and the back and those improvements will have a slight effect on the performance, but it's not gonna turn the world upside down."

Pat Tryson will direct Martin's team in 2004, marking the third time in as many seasons that Martin has a new crew chief. Tryson joined the Viagra team late last season after a crew chief swap sent Ben Leslie from Martin's team to Rudd's and Tryson to Martin's from Rudd's.

	Roush and Jeff Burton are working on sponsorship for the No. 99. Credit: Autostock

"I love Pat Tryson and I think the team does, too," Martin said. "I'm really optimistic about having Pat with us for the whole year. I liked Pat before, but I was a little apprehensive about making the move because you never know for sure. He's very assertive and I liked the way the races went last year."

And the off-season has only bolstered that feeling.

"I especially liked Homestead and the way things went there, but I've liked the way he's handled the shop and the team over the winter even more," Martin said.

"That's what has really been the key for our enthusiasm coming into the year. We should have stronger cars than we had last year. That's what we all work for and that's what they work so hard for, so we're looking forward to it."

Alongside their Nextel Cup duties, Kenseth, Martin and Burton will join forces during the 2004 NASCAR Busch Series season. Kenseth is tentatively scheduled to drive the No. 9 Pennzoil Ford in the Mar. 6 event at Las Vegas, the Oct. 9 race at Kansas Speedway and the Nov. 13 race at Darlington Raceway.

Martin will run the season-opener at Daytona, as well as events at Texas and Michigan, and Burton will man the ride at Chicago, Richmond, and Phoenix.