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The adage is almost certainly as old as stock-automobile racing itself: Win on Sunday, Sell on Monday. But, is that axiom as pertinent these days as it was, say, in the 1960s?

Ford, which for the very first time in almost four decades, has introduced an all-new model and gone NASCAR racing with it at the identical time, is confident that cassock the answer is yes, if not on Monday, then at least as soon as you happen to be searching for a new auto.

Fusion replaces Taurus as the Ford entry into NASCAR's Nextel Cup and Busch series, becoming the manufacturer's very first all-new nameplate to debut simultaneously on the racetrack and in the showroom because Torino in 1968. Torino's debut 38 years earlier resulted in a driver's championship for NASCAR Hall-of-Famer David Pearson, and more than two.6 million units sold in the course of its eight-year (1968-75) run.

"The great interest in NASCAR racing will assist us tie the Fusion name to the Ford brand, and it really is only proper that we race Ford's newest car in America's flagship racing series," mentioned Marty Collins, Common Marketing and advertising Manager, Ford Division.

Racing has created good business sense for Ford, dating back far more than a century, when firm founder Henry Ford raced to prove out his new item, and to acquire favorable publicity for his efforts. His victory in his one particular and only race, in 1901, proved to be the turning point in buy advent candles attracting the investors who helped him commence the Ford Motor Company in 1903.

"My wonderful-grandfather understood the value of racing, and what it could do for a company," stated Edsel B. Ford II, a member of the Ford board of directors and a lengthy-time supporter of Ford's racing applications. "He knew what racing could do, each in terms of technological innovation and marketing and advertising. I feel he'd be pleased seismic retrofit that those are important factors we still race today."

The NASCAR Fusion replaces the venerable Taurus race vehicle, which captured 4 NASCAR championships (3 in Nextel Cup and 1 in Busch) and 100 Nextel Cup points victories from 1998-2005. It concluded its storied run with a 1-2-three-four finish at the season-ending Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway in November 2005, as Greg Biffle scored his series. "We truly wanted to send Taurus out with one more championship," noted Dan Davis, director, Ford Racing Technologies. "But the time is proper to move on to Fusion."

The production Fusion aims to emulate Taurus' off-the-track success, also: It was the very best-selling vehicle in America for 5 consecutive years (1992-96), and sold more than 6.five million units amongst 1985-2005.

Current Ford Racing driver Dale Jarrett, who won a NASCAR championship with the Taurus in 1999 and also is a Ford dealer in North Carolina, is optimistic about the production Fusion.

"It's got a extremely good driving and handling package, plus the inside is really roomy and the interior is nicely completed as effectively," said Jarrett. "I assume this is just what we've been hunting for to increase sales."

Start off Your Engines-Fusion, an all-new nameplate, debuts on the racetrack and in the showroom.