Jon Wood Joins ST Motorsports for 2005 Season

Wood Joins Stacy Compton, Robert Pressley

LOCUST, N.C. – Jon Wood will drive a Ford Taurus next year on the NASCAR Busch Series circuit for ST Motorsports, team owner Tad Geschickter said Tuesday.

Wood, the grandson of NASCAR pioneer Glen Wood and son of Eddie Wood, car owner for the legendary Wood Brothers Racing team on the Nextel Cup Series circuit, will join Stacy Compton and Robert Pressley on the ST Motorsports roster.

“We will have three of the top drivers in the Busch Series next year,” Geschickter said. “Having Jon come to a team that already has the experience of Robert Pressley and Stacy Compton will be an important addition to our entire organization.”

Wood, who has driven on the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series tour for the past four seasons, said the opportunity to drive a stock car is another step in his young career.

“I wish the 2005 season was already here,” he said. “I can’t wait. A Busch Series car drives a lot like a truck, so I think it should be a smooth transition. We tested earlier with ST Motorsports at Kansas and the test went real well. I think this is a great opportunity for everyone.”

Wood said he won’t hesitate asking his father for ideas next year. In fact, he said that’s all part of the plan.

“We’re going to lean on him and his race team if we need help. That’s all part of the deal. We’ll help each other. Our Busch Series team can benefit from the Cup car; the Cup car can benefit from the things we learn,” Wood said.

Geschickter said he’s still working on finalizing plans for the 2005 season.

“We have three drivers – three outstanding drivers – under contract for next year and we plan to use all three,” he said. “Exactly how is still being worked on. We should finalize everything in the next few weeks.

“We’re very pleased with the jobs Robert and Stacy have done for us, and we’re excited to have a young driver with Jon’s talent joining the team. I think having all three working together next year will elevate the entire team to a higher level.”

Wood, 23, won the Craftsman Series truck race at the Kansas Speedway last year. He’s currently ranked 14th in the standings with seven top-10 finishes heading into Friday’s season finale, the Ford 200 at the Homestead-Miami Speedway.

“The thing that excited me most about Tad and ST Motorsports is he knows where his cars finish every week,” Wood said. “Those race teams are his biggest priority, his only priority. It’s all they do. It’s not a little piece in a great big operation. It’s like my Dad’s operation: He has the one team and it’s all he does. He doesn’t divide his interest around to a lot of different projects, and neither does Tad. I like that kind of commitment.”

Wood said the addition of new cylinder heads and engine blocks for Ford teams in the Busch Series next year will help him get up to speed.

“We’re going to be 50 horsepower better just by turning the key,” he said. “You have to be excited about that. I look for all of our teams to be strong right out of the box.”

Pressley and Compton will finish the current Busch Series campaign in this Saturday’s Ford 300 at Homestead. Both are trying to lock down Top-15 finishes in the point standings.

“We’ve finished the season strong and we’re already up to speed for the start of the 2005 season,” Geschickter said. “We’re real happy with the direction of this race team.”