Sunset Ford Dealer Blog

If you’re a NASCAR fan and you love Ford cars, you’ll have twice the reason to cheer at the 2009 Busch Series.

The Ford Motor Company recently announced that it might be replacing the Fusion that currently races in the NASCAR series with the iconic Mustang. This was the first time the automaker confirmed the rumors that have been circulating for more than two years.

The switch makes sense for Ford and NASCAR alike. For Ford, switching from a Fusion to the Mustang gives the company advertising for more than just one brand of vehicle. It also gives the Busch series “its own identity” because teams wouldn’t be able to gather as much information about the cars on the day before the race.

Before the Mustang enters NASCAR, engineers will need to bring it up to the standards set forth by the Busch cars. Safety specifications must be similar to those on the Nextel Cup “Car of Tomorrow.” These specifications go into effect after February 2009.

The switch isn’t completely official yet, though. If other automakers can’t make the switch to “pony car” coupes, it might not happen at all. If the change does happen, look for an official announcement from Ford and NASCAR soon after the start of 2009. Until then, just keep hoping.

Hypermiling is a term used to describe practices that save gas. Many of these techniques are inconvenient and, at times, even impossible. But some of these techniques are showing up in one of the most unusual places – the NASCAR track.

Dale Earnhardt, Jr. recently won the race at the Michigan International Speedway. During the race, he used one common hypermiling technique - coasting. This was most noticeable because he drove for the last 110 miles, or 55 laps around the track, without refueling. The last time he stopped, his pit crew told him he should refuel when he had about six laps left to go. But Earnhardt was able to avoid one last fueling stop by allowing his car to coast when the caution flag was out.

As an even bigger surprise, he coasted across the finish line. Apparently, he was basically running on fumes because his car ran out of gas just a few seconds afterwards. Earnhardt Jr. hasn’t had a NASCAR victory since May 6, 2006.

But Earnhardt isn’t the only one on the circuit who is trying to drive more responsibly with regards to the environment. “Everybody’s doing it,” he said in an interview with ESPN.

If you’re driving one of the many Ford cars on the market today, you can employ hypermiling in your daily habits, too. If it’s good enough for NASCAR drivers, it’s certainly good enough for you!