FDNY Racing

FDNY Racing
Owner(s) Jim Rosenblum
Base Concord, North Carolina
Series Camping World Truck Series
Car numbers 1, 28, 51
Race drivers 1. Andy Suess (part-time)
28. Ryan Ellis, Kyle Soper (part-time)
Manufacturer Chevrolet
Career
Races competed Total: 287
Winston Cup: 27
Truck Series: 49

FDNY Racing, formerly named Jim Rosenblum Racing, and formerly Jocko's Racing, is a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team. The team currently fields the No. 28 Chevrolet Silverado for Ryan Ellis.

The team consists of volunteers from the New York City Fire and Police Departments,[1] with all winnings earned being donated to the Uniformed Firefighters Association Widow's and Children's Fund.[2]

Team history

Jim Rosenblum

Jim Rosenblum (born c. 1940) first began racing in the 1960s, after being inspired by friend and 1960 Indianapolis 500 winner Jim Rathmann. Rosenblum would compete in the Trans-Am Series, winning a championship.[1] To continue operating FDNY Racing, in 2005, he cashed in his life insurance policy.[3]

In 2004, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg awarded Rosenblum the New York Post's Liberty Medal Award. Four years later, he was named an Honorary Battalion Chief by the FDNY.[1]

Winston Cup Series

Rosenblum began fielding cars in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series for friend Jocko Maggiacomo,[1] running the No. 63 for Maggiacomo in 1983 and 1986–1988. He later fielded rides for Randy LaJoie, Eddie Bierschwale, Oma Kimbrough, Gary Balough, Jeff McClure, Bob Schacht and Kerry Teague until 1993 with Nos. 13, 27 and 29. Rosenblum's team had a best finish of 24th, accomplished twice by Maggiacomo and Kimbrough at Pocono Raceway and Watkins Glen International, respectively.[4]

After the creation of the Truck Series, Rosenblum fielded Cup and Truck teams until he shut down the former due to rising costs.[1]

Camping World Truck Series

Truck No. 28 history

Ryan Ellis was hired by the team in 2014.

Rosenblum started a team in the Truck Series' inaugural 1995 season for Teague as the No. 51; Teague's best finish with the team was 13th, achieved at Tucson Raceway Park and Bristol Motor Speedway.[5] In 1996, 1999 and 2000, Rosenblum fielded one-off runs for T. J. Clark, Ritchie Petty and Perry Tripp (1996), Ronnie Hoover (1999), Kenny Allen and Conrad Burr (2000).[6]

After the September 11 attacks in 2001, Rosenblum partnered with retired firefighter Mike Bolnik and RahMoc Enterprises owner Bob Rahilly[7] to rebrand the team as FDNY Racing[1] to tribute and support first responders,[2] while also renumbering the truck from No. 51 to 28. Burr returned to the team in 2002, qualifying for all but one race in six attempts.[8] Joe Ruttman also ran a race for the team at Darlington Raceway. In 2003, L.W. Miller ran the first five races of the season.[6]

In 2005, for the season-opener at Daytona International Speedway, the truck ran with a decal stating "Always remember... never forget" and the names of firefighters Lt. Curtis Meyran, John Bellew, and Richard Sclafani; the three had died in fires earlier in the year.[9] The team attempted two races with David Ragan in 2005, including another run at Lowe's, but failed to qualify for both.[10] The team made a return to a race in 2006 with Carl Long at Lowe's Motor Speedway. From 2007 to 2010, the team would attempt six races with Brandon Knupp, Wayne Edwards, Andy Lally and Chad McCumbee. Wes Burton ran four races for FDNY, and in 2013, Blake Koch and Dominick Casola contested a race each.[6]

In 2014, Grand-Am driver Ryan Ellis tested with the team at Daytona's Preseason Thunder session, and led the speed charts with speeds of 186 miles per hour (299 km/h).[7] On January 22, he joined the team on a part-time basis starting with Daytona's NextEra Energy Resources 250.[2] During the race at Charlotte, Ellis was involved in a crash with Jake Crum, which destroyed FDNY's truck. After receiving some funding from a GoFundMe campaign and Ellis' Kappa Sigma college fraternity, the team returned at Pocono.[11]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Tyler, Marty (February 9, 2015). "The First Responders of FDNY Racing Return to Daytona". Catchfence. Retrieved May 14, 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 "Ellis signs with Jim Rosenblum/ FDNY Racing for 2014 NCWTS Tour". Ryan Ellis. January 22, 2014. Retrieved May 14, 2015.
  3. ↑ Swan, Raygan (July 22, 2007). "FDNY Racing has the heart despite odds against them" (PDF). NASCAR. Retrieved May 16, 2015.
  4. ↑ "NASCAR Sprint Cup Results (races)". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 14, 2015.
  5. ↑ "1995 NASCAR SuperTruck Series by Craftsman Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 14, 2015.
  6. 1 2 3 "NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Results (races)". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 16, 2015.
  7. 1 2 "Ryan Ellis signs with Jim Rosenblum/ FDNY Racing for 2014 NCWTS Tour". P1 Groupe. January 17, 2014. Retrieved May 16, 2015.
  8. ↑ "2002 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 16, 2015.
  9. ↑ Delfiner, Rita (February 7, 2005). "RACER HAILS HEROES – NASCAR TEAM $UPPORTS FDNY FAMILIES". New York Post. Retrieved May 14, 2015.
  10. ↑ "2005 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 16, 2015.
  11. ↑ Wolkin, Joseph (August 2, 2014). "FDNY Racing Makes Comeback Return Thanks To Fans". Speedway Digest. Retrieved May 16, 2015.

External links

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