IRL loses another USAC driver to NASCAR.

[jcollins28]

Ford signs Bobby East: In a move designed to help advance his career long-term, 19-year-old USAC National Midget Car Series Champion Bobby East has signed a long-term contract with Ford Racing Technology. East, son of legendary USAC team owner and car builder Bob East, became the youngest USAC National champion in the organization's 49-year history when he captured seven feature victories and 21 top-10 finishes on the way to the 2004 National Midget crown. "We are thrilled to have signed Bobby to a long-term contract with Ford," said Dan Davis, director of Ford Racing Technology. "He's a very impressive driver who has shown a tremendous amount of talent, ability and success at a very young age. We look forward to working together with Bobby to provide him opportunities to help him realize that same success long-term in NASCAR." Davis said East will continue to run at least one more season in the USAC National Midget Car Series and the USAC Silver Crown series, while Ford arranges for him to test a variety of NASCAR race vehicles, with an eye on moving eventually to NASCAR NEXTEL Cup.(Ford Racing PR)(12-8-2004)


LOL so another young deserving open wheel racer shuns the IRL.

[Forza Lancia]

As a matter of fact, Road & Track magazine did a feature article about midget racing a month or so ago and mentioned Bobby East as one of the best new talents in the series. As I racall, they asked him whether he saw his career leading to the Indianapolis 500, and he said no, he wanted to follow the footsteps of guys like Jeff Gordon into NASCAR. So the status of the "Greatest Spectacle in Racing" continues its decline.

[cart7]

As I recall, about the only current earl team owner who had even looked at East was of all people, Mo Nunn. Mo has showed up at dirt tracks, sometimes with RM in tow and is actually giving these guys a look. Too bad he apparently will have to take Yoda yen next year to field a car.

[Sean O'Gorman]

I don't think the IRL considers it a loss since they aren't looking for those types of drivers in the first place.

[pineapple]

^ That's so true. Champ Cars doesn't have those type of drivers in its series (since the only place the IRL seems to look for its drivers these days is in the Champ Car paddocks). :)

[Easy]

Since NASCAR is a domestic series shouldn't that department be, Ford America Racing Technology?

[Al Czervik]

Since NASCAR is a domestic series shouldn't that department be, Ford America Racing Technology?

They tried that before and it failed. Now that department has a stench attatched to it. <rimshot>