Winners of the 59th annual Ford/AAA Student Auto Skills competition in June will observe Sprint Cup driver David Ragan and his team at Roush's headquarters in Concord, N.C., then fly with the team to the Cup race at Chicagoland Speedway on the weekend of July 12.
"In Michigan, we've got a 3,000-employee staff that services the automobile industry," team owner Jack Roush said. "So, in addition to the race team activities that we've got in Charlotte, we've also got great interest in what goes on in Michigan."
Roush listed several of his employees who had taken part in the competition, including truck shop mechanic George Stone, fabrication shop worker Wade Moore and parts manager Sean Ballantine.
"They have all acquired and developed the skills, the experience, that let them be successful today in our work force through this program," he said.
The competition for high school automotive technology students is the largest in the country. The 2008 National Finals will be held June 24 at Ford World Headquarters in Dearborn, Mich.
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FORCE FIELD: When 25-year-old Ashley Force beat her father, John Force, in last Sunday's final round at the NHRA Southern Nationals, it was the first time a woman won a national Funny Car event.
"I'm just proud of her as a woman to accomplish that," said John Force, a 14-time NHRA champion. "Shirley Muldowney led the way, not just for Ashley to win in Funny Car, but so many other women who are trying to be in this sport.
"Melanie Troxel is fighting every day ... Hillary Will and Angelle (Sampey) ... everybody. ... And I just think now that (the NHRA Powerade Series) is just another place in history that can say, 'Women are showing their stuff.' And they beat this old man pretty good-- even if it was my kid. I'm proud of her and I love her."
The 58-year-old Force was trying for his 1,000 round win in his 500th career race. He got his first overall victory in his 75th career event and 10th final round. His daughter got her first overall win in her 27th career event and fourth final round.
"I would have liked to have had that (milestone), 500 (races) and then backed it up with (the 1,000th win)," he said. "But it's also important in her career because it took me a lot of years to win and it's good for her that she gets that win and gets it out of the way."
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POPULAR DUO: Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Danica Patrick, two of the most popular drivers in American auto racing, will go one-on-one Thursday night on Earnhardt's XM Satellite Radio show, "Dale Jr. Unrestricted."
The interview with open-wheel star Patrick, who recently became the first woman to win an IndyCar race, will air nationwide on the XM Sports Nation channel (XM 144) at 7:30 p.m.
"Danica is a talented driver, and she backs up that talent with the kind of commitment and dedication you've got to have to succeed," NASCAR star Earnhardt said in a statement earlier this week. "We've hung out a little, and I'm glad to see her hard work pay off."
The two drivers have more in common than auto racing. Patrick is co-host of the XM show "Andretti Green Racing Hour" on Tuesday's at 7 p.m. on the same channel.
Stewart has plenty of reasons to leave JGR
