DANNY O’QUINN, JR. IS NAMED THE 2006 BUSCH SERIES RAYBESTOS ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Danny O’Quinn, Jr. and the No. 50 Stonebridge Life and Associate Sponsored Barr-Nunn Transportation Ford Fusion
HOMESTEAD, Fla. (November 18, 2006) – After struggling through Saturday’s race and finishing out the night with a broken transmission, Danny O’Quinn, Jr. was less then pleased that the final race of the season would end with such disappointment. Within an hour of the race ending O’Quinn, Jr. was given the news that he had won the title of Rookie of the Year for the Busch Series and that disappointment turned to excitement.
“I hate that we had the kind of race that we did tonight,” said O’Quinn, Jr. “That is definitely not the way I envisioned our season ending, but winning the Rookie of the Year battle is a goal that we set for ourselves as a team at the beginning of the season and to achieve that is an awesome feeling.”
O’Quinn, Jr. qualified 15th for the Ford 300 on Saturday afternoon and was able to maintain a position in the top-25 throughout the majority of the race despite his struggles with a tight race car.
The team made several air pressure and track bar adjustments throughout the race to improve the handling of the No. 50 Stonebridge and associate sponsored Barr-Nunn Ford. By lap 160 O’Quinn, Jr. had made up some ground and was running in 19th position. The caution flag flew on lap 174 and when the field went green again on lap 178 the transmission in the No. 50 Ford broke and left O’Quinn, Jr. coasting his way into the garage area.
With only 12 laps to go there was not enough time for repairs to be made and for the team to finish the race. O’Quinn, Jr. was sure at this point that his chances at Rookie of the Year were over, but only moments later he was congratulated on securing the title and headed over to meet team owner Jack Roush to celebrate.
“I feel so fortunate to be in this situation,” said O’Quinn, Jr. “I cannot thank Jack and my team enough for helping me get to where I am right now. This time a year ago, if someone had told me that I would be running in the Busch Series in 2006 I would be blown away let alone my team winning the title of Rookie of the Year.”
Presently, Roush Racing has not secured sponsorship for O’Quinn, Jr. for the 2007 season; therefore plans for next year are not yet in place.
“I had a great time in the Busch Series this year,” O’Quinn, Jr. continues. “I would love to take the knowledge I have gained this year and use it to really run well in the series in 2007. Honestly, I am up for anything. I love racing and it is what I want to do!”
To find out more about the racing program at Barr-Nunn Transportation or to become part of the Barr-Nunn team call: 1-888-999-7576.
Roush Racing is a subsidiary of Livonia, Mich., based Roush Enterprises which operates 14 motorsports teams; five in NASCAR Nextel Cup Series with drivers Mark Martin, Matt Kenseth, Jamie McMurray, Greg Biffle and Carl Edwards, six in the Busch Series with Martin, Kenseth, Biffle, Edwards, Todd Kluever and Danny O'Quinn, and three in the Craftsman Truck Series with Martin, David Ragan, Erik Darnell and Michel Jourdain, Jr. For sponsorship inquiries, contact Robin M. Johnson, Roush Racing, (704) 720-4645.
