FDNY Racing And Wayne Edwards
Head For The Chevy Silverado 250
by Marty Tyler- Sr. Staff Writer and Asst. Sr. Editor
02/13/2008

Jim Rosenblum, owner of CTS team FDNY Racing, has been around racing for "40 years, something like that," he said from Daytona. Jocko Maggiacomo was his Trans Am and Cup driver early on. Despite the fact that he won a Trans Am Champioship with Rosenblum, Jocko may be most remembered for the T-bone wreck at Pocono in 1988 with Bobby Allison. That wreck ended Allison's racing career. Lack of sponsorship limited Rosenblum's team from running a full schedule back then.

Just about everything in racing has changed since those early days for Rosenblum, but that particular aspect, finding adequate sponsorship, unfortunately has not changed. The hood remains blank at Daytona, of all places.

I don't understand that, either. Here is a team owner who has plenty of racing experience within the NASCAR upper series. In 1995 he rebuilt his Cup cars and turned them into Craftsman trucks because it was more economical and hoped to find the money to complete simply because this team loves to race. Still that funding has not been found.

The types of sponsorship splashed on these racing machines have changed over the years, as well. Liquor and beer, charities, medications, musicians and all sorts of different company depictions, and now even military branches have found space on the coveted hoods of these cars and trucks. Yet, here is a team who wants to race well and symbolizes the men and women who put their lives on the line 365 days a year in Anytown, U.S.A.. In past years the truck has been adorned to memorialize fire fighters and other emergency personal of New York who fought to save lives, with some losing their lives in the process. This team's heroes are our heroes. And with the existence of so many manufactures of fire fighting and fire prevention equipment, one would think a connection for quality funding and advertising would have been made long ago. It makes no sense to me.

Jim Rosenblum, a New York native and retired FDNY Lt., is a great owner with plenty of experience in NASCAR Series. FDNY Racing is a great team with a great passion for racing, great pride in fire fighters all across this country and a great dedication to the "UFA Widows' & Children's Fund" . No sponsor could invest in a more dedicated racing team anywhere and with adequate funding this team could not only be competitive, but, be a real favorite among race fans...a real bang for the buck, so to speak..

FDNY Racing has named Wayne Edwards as their driver for 2008, but, the schedule for the team is undetermined because of funding. "As usual our schedule is up in the air." concluded Rosenblum. "Right now it depends on how much money we accumulate in my right pocket to go in my left pocket."

Norman, Jim's brother said, "Our team is the last of a breed. We represent the true NASCAR fans who love the sport of racing versus multi-million dollar corporations who we still beat out in qualifying because of the volunteers." I couldn't have said it better myself, Norman!

Good luck, guys!

To learn more about this team and sponsorship opportunities please visit their website FDNY Racing. Contact info and a link to the UFA Widows' & Children's Fund can be found there. Also information and a link to the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association is listed. Donations can be made directly to these worthy associations through the links provided.

Barnwood Logistics Inc. and Al Svede provide for the transportation needs of FDNY Racing, so, please be sure to check out their website.

Be sure to tune in Friday February 15 at 7:30 P.M. EST on Speed! You won't want to miss it!

Questions? Comments? Contact Marty at mtyler@catchfence.com

	Web www.catchfence.com