Tony Stewart's Sprint car team partners with Ford for 2017

The former NASCAR, IndyCar and USAC Triple Crown champion and eight-time World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Donny Schatz will pilot Fords for TSR.

Ford Performance is in the process of developing a 410-cubic inch engine to power the TSR cars.

“We are happy to be partnering with Tony Stewart Racing in this racing effort,” said Dave Pericak, Global Director, Ford Performance. “Tony and his team have been leaders in many of the grassroots racing efforts in this country, and we are happy to assist them in this program going forward.

“Although our Ford engine will not be ready at the start of this season, we are committed to getting a competitive engine package available to this program as soon as possible.”

TSR will continue to run its current engines.

In TSR’s Ford debut, Schatz won the Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champion’s opener at Bubba Raceway Park in Ocala, Fla. He qualified second prior to winning his 14th All-Star race. Stewart finished 17th.

“The strength of any team is the sum of its parts and we are so fortunate at TSR to be surrounded by so many incredible people and partners,” said Stewart. “It takes a total team effort to have success, and to sustain that success, a vision of the future must continue to evolve from within. Mike Curb and Cary Agajanian have been part of our commitment to championships the past five seasons helping us to continue raising the bar in this sport.

“And I’m extremely excited that Ford Performance is teaming up with our organization with an eye the future.”