ROUSH Industries, Inc. was founded in 1976, which employs more than 3,000 people and operates more than 50 facilities in multiple states and globally. It is the largest independent automotive research and development company in North America. Although primarily known for providing engineering, management and prototype services to the transportation industry, Roush has developed a significant role in providing engineering and manufacturing for the electronics, sports equipment, aviation and motorsports industries as well.For over 45 years Roush has been committed to winning on and off the track. Having won 32 championships and more than 400 races in drag racing, sports car and stock car racing, Roush is one of professional sports’ premiere organizations. With championships in NASCAR’s top three divisions, Roush Fenway Racing exemplifies Jack Roush’s tradition and success and is poised to continue their winning tradition well into the future.
Born in Covington, Ky., in 1942, Roush was raised in Manchester, Ohio, a town of 2,500 people. He attended Berea College and received a mathematics degree with a minor in physics in 1964. He was recruited by Ford Motor Company that year and moved to Detroit to work on the processing of car assembling and tooling. Roush had always been fascinated with engines and was determined to work in that area. He then went on to obtain a Master’s Degree in Scientific Mathematics from Eastern Michigan University in 1970, which he felt was needed in order to move into the engine research and development area.
While working for Ford, Roush was drawn to the company’s extensive motorsports activities. Always the organizer, he soon surrounded himself with others who shared his enthusiasm for going fast in a drag racer. Roush joined a group called “The Fastbacks” in 1966.
Working for Ford provided steady income, but security and professional accomplishments were no substitute for going faster than the last time, and faster than anybody else at the race track. Roush left Ford in May of 1969 and began buying his own equipment to improve the racing performance of “The Fastbacks.” It was not long before he was doing development work for other teams.
Roush worked at Chrysler as an engineer for one year before leaving in 1970 to start his own engineering business. As “The Fastbacks” disbanded that year, Roush began his next venture into racing by forming a partnership with Wayne Gapp. For the next five years, the duo attracted national attention by winning events and one championship each in NHRA, IHRA and AHRA with their Pro Stock racer.
Roush also spent some time teaching in between his racing ventures. He taught mathematics, physics and a variety of automotive subjects at Monroe Community College in Monroe, Mich., in 1971 and 1972.
Roush was involved exclusively in drag racing until 1978, and advanced in power classes to the NHRA Pro Stock division. He also managed to find time to provide engines for race teams in other sports, such as the Pike’s Peak Hill Climb and various powerboat and oval track series.
In 1976, Roush ended his partnership with Gapp and formed Jack Roush Performance Engineering. Roush’s success at the track and his reputation as a performance engineer helped deliver project after project to his doorstep. He stopped operating the drag racing team, but kept doing race business for other teams. Roush primarily built engines for other teams throughout the early 1980’s.
In 1982 Roush formed a partnership with Zakspeed Racing to run GTX and GTP cars for Ford in the United States. Zakspeed had much success racing in Europe and wanted to partner with Roush for the US races. Some of their drivers included Kevin Cogan, Bobby Rahal and European superstar Klaus Ludwig.
In 1984, with Ford’s encouragement, Roush returned to racing in the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) and International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) road racing series. He went on to claim 24 national championships and titles in the two series, including 12 manufacturer’s championships, winning 119 races, while working with acclaimed drivers such as Tommy Kendall, Scott Pruett, Willy T. Ribbs, and many others. Roush also captured 10 consecutive sedan class championships at the prestigious 24 Hours of Daytona, teaming with drivers such as Kendall, Pruett, Mark Martin, Bill Elliot, Ricky Rudd and Kyle Petty, as well as actor Paul Newman and Olympic star Bruce Jenner.
Roush has also earned 10 consecutive 24 Hours of Daytona sedan class championships. Some of the drivers who competed for Roush are Kendall, Dallenbach, Pruett, Mark Martin, Bill Elliott, Ricky Rudd, Kyle Petty, Ken Schrader, Robby Gordon, Pete Halsmer, Lyn St. James, as well as actor Paul Newman and Olympian Bruce Jenner.
In 1988, again with Ford’s encouragement, Roush launched his first NASCAR Cup team with driver Mark Martin. In October 1989, Roush and Martin claimed their first NASCAR Cup victory at North Carolina Motor Speedway (the first of 121 to date). The two would go on to form one of the most successful partnerships in NASCAR history.
Roush joined forces with Robert and Doug Yates to form Roush Yates Engines in 2005. The engine shop, located in Mooresville, N.C., supplies horsepower for Roush Fenway Racing, Richard Petty Motorsports and many other Ford teams in racing Sprint Cup, Nationwide, Truck and the ARCA Series.
In 2007, Roush Racing and Fenway Sports Group (FSG) announced the formation of Roush Fenway Racing, an unprecedented relationship that brought together two championship organizations with a distinguished track record of success in their respective businesses and sports.
As of January 2012, Roush Fenway has won 5 Driver Championships across NASCAR’s three premier series. The win totals are 50 for truck, 124 for Nationwide, and 125 for Sprint Cup, bringing the grand total to 299. In 2010 Roush Fenway Racing turned its one millionth mile in NASCAR’s Sprint Cup series. 2012 got off to a great start with Roush Fenway celebrating the beginning of its 25th year in NASCAR by racking up its 300 NASCAR victory as Matt Kenseth won his second prestigious Daytona 500 event in February. In total, 15 different drivers have driven Roush Fenway Ford cars and trucks into NASCAR’s victory lanes during its first 24 years.
Today, Roush has expanded his racing operations to include five Nextel Cup teams, one full season and two limited-schedule Busch Series teams and two Craftsman Truck Series teams. In October of 2004, Roush earned his 300th career win in the post-drag racing era as a team owner with Kenseth’s Busch victory at Atlanta Motor Speedway. His engine facilities in Livonia, Mich., and Mooresville, N.C., also supply the horsepower for several other teams in Nextel Cup and Busch Series racing, including Wood Brothers Racing.