By: DJ DeSpain

Ford Motor Company and Roush Yates Engines have partnered together to develop a new, NASCAR-approved race engine. Code-named “FR9,” the engine is the first purpose-built NASCAR racing engine to ever come out of Ford Motor Company. Its design has been spearheaded and developed by Ford Racing engineer David Simon, and famed engine builder Doug Yates, along with input from legendary Ford Racing engine engineer Mose Nowland.

“With the exception of a few cylinder head changes through the years, we’ve had the same engine since 1991 and have been able to squeeze out every ounce of power and speed possible,” said Doug Yates. “What’s got me so excited is we’ve won races and championships with an engine many consider old, and this new piece is definitely a notch above, so we’ve got a lot to look forward to for years to come.”

The new engine will have three main differences compared to today’s engines. First, the cooling system has been re-worked and will allow teams to optimize the amount of tape they can put on the front grille, which will improve downforce. Second, the valve train has been improved, and will cut down on the wearing of parts. Finally, the production and assembly of “FR9” will be much easier, and should result in lower build costs on an on-going basis.

Roush Fenway Racing had an opportunity to test the new engine at the last Talladega race in the cars of Matt Kenseth and David Ragan. During the weekly NASCAR teleconference yesterday, I was able to ask their teammate Greg Biffle about his impression regarding the new engine.

“I’m really excited about the engine,” said Biffle. “We know it’s going to take a little while, you can imagine how many engines and parts that they need to build up in order to ramp up next season to get the engines full time in all the cars.”

“So that’s going to take awhile,” he continued. “We still have a big uphill battle in front of us implementing that new engine once we’re satisfied with the performance and the reliability.”

“But I’m very, very excited about it. The engine looks promising. It ran well in the restrictor plate races, both cars at Talladega. That was a huge statement for that engine not to have any issues in either car.”

When asked about the new engine coming into 2010, Biffle responded “It’s going to take a little while for it to get implemented in all these cars. I know that I raised my hand and said ‘You know, hey, the first third of the season instead of us jumping all over the map, because you really have to have these cars built differently for the engine bay to work, I said I’ll run the old engine for the first third.’”

He goes on the explain, “Simply for the fact that our old engine has a lot of power, has a lot of reliability, and five or eight horsepower really isn’t going to win or lose a race in, I don’t think, that first third of the season.  But after that I’m looking forward to having that thing in the car for the next five years to come.”

Finally, I asked Biffle if he thought the new engine tryout at Talladega was a good test and should it be tested live on a track without restrictor plates.

“We’re definitely going to try it, he said. “I believe it’s going to run at either Phoenix or Homestead.  I haven’t heard yet what the schedule is.  But I’m confident that they’re going to run an open race with it this season. “

“I’m impressed that they ran that restrictor plate race with that engine and had absolutely no issues.  So they’ve really done their homework.  My hat’s off to those guys. But I know they’re going to run it at a down force open motor racetrack this year, continue to develop over the winter, and get as many engines built up as they can to start the season next year” Biffle concluded.

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