June 17th, 2010 
T.C. The struggles for the Ford teams have been well documented this season. There is even a tidbit on Jayski’s Cup Series page right now about how this is Ford’s longest winless drought to start a season since 1983. And those struggles haven’t just been on the Cup side. Roush Fenway’s Nationwide Series program hasn’t been as strong this season as they’ve been in past years. Carl Edwards has led the way, but for a time, two of the other RFR teams were outside the top 30 in points. The #16 team has since raced their way back in, but the #6 team remains 102 points out of a guaranteed starting spot. The one Ford team that did have a moderate amount of success over the first part of the season, especially with limited resources, was Baker Curb Racing’s #27 team with Greg Biffle.
After Eddie Pardue was dismissed as crew chief of RFR’s #16 a few weeks back, Ben Leslie took over as the interim boss. It was announced this week however, that starting at Road America the #16 team would have a new leader; none other then Baker Curb’s Ricky Viers.
With Red Man tobacco on the hood, Greg Biffle behind the wheel, and Viers calling the shots, Baker Curb’s #27 was the best running Ford in several races this season. They managed to finish second twice, just missing wins at Las Vegas and Richmond.
A new FDA regulation that basically ends tobacco advertisements curtailed Red Man’s sponsorship, and with the team’s future in jeopardy, Roush took the opportunity to bring Viers on board. Who better to help turn around your company’s NNS program then the guy who’s been beating you all season?
Viers joins Drew Blickensderfer, Matt Puccia, and Mike Kelley as crew chiefs at Roush Fenway, and the pressure is on these four to slow down Joe Gibbs Racing’s dominance of the series.
Besides hopefully helping the whole program, Viers is tasked with making contenders out of Roush prospects Colin Braun and Brian Ickler. Braun and fellow Roush young gun Ricky Stenhouse Jr. have both struggled mightily in their first full seasons, and those struggles have led to their schedules being cut. Ickler was brought in from Kyle Busch Motorsports to strengthen Roush’s driver development program and fill those holes in the schedule.
The NNS teams tested at Road America today in advance of Saturday’s race, and things may already be looking up for RFR. Ford drivers were first and second fastest in both sessions, and the combo of Viers and Braun was good for fourth quick. With Braun’s road racing background, this might be just what this team needs to turn the season around.
We’ve all heard the saying “if you can’t beat them, join them.” In the ultra competitive world of NASCAR, it becomes “if you can’t beat them, steal what makes them better then you.”
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I’d like to see Colin Braun’s recent performances merit more seat time rather than split it with Ickler. That is critical to improved performance. Consistency with a crew chief can be an equally important factor. Since Colin has been able to keep the 16 in the top 30 there is a good likelihood he has the chance to actually finish the season a dozen or so places higher because the team will have the luxury of focusing on race setups rather than qualifying; a formula known for better race finishes. In the short history of Braun in Nascar he has had remarkable surges the last half of the previous two seasons.
Since the 6 team is considerably outside the top 30 it is a much better platform for breaking in Ickler. There are plenty of un-sponsored races remaining in the schedule and with Stenhouse’s points-per-race average several markers lower than Braun’s such a decision would seem pragmatic.
Give Braun a chance to build something. With 3 road races ahead of him, 2nd half surges a habit, and fresh off his 2nd consecutive top 10 Colin Braun can, and will finish the 2010 season strong…..if, well….he doesn’t finish it from the spotters stand.