First On Race Day- FORD

From NASCAR.com

Looks like Ford is moving ahead of the competition.

"Ford Sprint Cup teams will begin using a new engine later this season, but the exact rollout hasn't been determined, Roush Yates Engines president Doug Yates said Thursday.

The FR9 engine is the first purpose-built NASCAR racing engine ever built by Ford and the first new piece for the manufacturer since 1991. It has been in development for three years.

"The rollout for the new engine is probably the second half of the year. [It won't be] in all of the cars," Yates said. "We'll see how our strategy develops as points and teams go."" NASCAR.COM - Notes: New Ford engine will be available in 2009 - Jan 22, 2009