Ford Cosworth Comes to NASCAR

CONCORD, N.C. - NASCAR's top full-time Ford team in the Busch Grand National Series looks like it is going to be even stronger in 2001. Akins Motorsports's cars will be powered by the world's premier racing engine builder.

Akins Motorsports, which fielded one of the top Busch cars in the country this season and will field two cars in 2001, will run Ford Cosworth engines next season. The announcement was made by owner Brad Akins. Elton Sawyer drives the #98 which finished sixth in the national championship chase this season. He will be joined for 15 races in 2001 by the Great Clips-sponsored team of rookie Christian Elder.

"We had a good season this year but you can't stand still in this sport. If you're not moving ahead, you're moving backwards. This is a giant step forward," Akins said. "The Roush engines we have been using have been great, and they performed above and beyond our expectations. This change, though, enables us to have more of a hands-on approach with our engine program. This gives us not only an extensive research and development program with our aerodynamic work but now our engine work too in our association with Ford Motor Company."

Excellence is a goal Akins has set for all of his activities. He has certainly proved that in business as owner of Akins Ford in Winder, Ga., one of the top dealerships in the country, and as the leader of Ford's top Busch Grand National team.

Ford Cosworth is the premier racing engine builder in the world. Primarily involved with Formula One and CART teams, this will mark the company's first involvement with a major team in Busch Grand National racing. Before this year, Ford Cosworth had built components for stock car engines.

"We're honored to be working with Ford Cosworth in developing the best engine we can in this series," Akins said. "We feel we have a pretty good race car and the addition of a world-class engine program should definitely put us solidly among the elite in Busch Grand National racing."