The off-season has been one of uncertainty for Pro Stock driver Justin Humphreys.

Humphreys, who has competed in the NHRA Pro Stock ranks the past three seasons, was unsure of what direction he was headed going into 2010. Work had been done last year to develop plans for 2010, but those efforts had not proved fruitful.

“We had talked to the Doug Yates at Roush Yates Engines a few months ago and had a meeting with them. We thought we were going to move forward then, but it didn’t end up working out,” said Humphreys, who finished 17th in the point standings last year running a limited schedule. “We got to the point that we were debating on putting our own engine shop together and building our engines in-house. That wasn’t really something we wanted to get involved in.”

The off-season has been one of uncertainty for Pro Stock driver Justin Humphreys.

Humphreys, who has competed in the NHRA Pro Stock ranks the past three seasons, was unsure of what direction he was headed going into 2010. Work had been done last year to develop plans for 2010, but those efforts had not proved fruitful.

“We had talked to the Doug Yates at Roush Yates Engines a few months ago and had a meeting with them. We thought we were going to move forward then, but it didn’t end up working out,” said Humphreys, who finished 17th in the point standings last year running a limited schedule. “We got to the point that we were debating on putting our own engine shop together and building our engines in-house. That wasn’t really something we wanted to get involved in.”

Before Humphreys and his team embarked on building their own engines, he reached out once again, via email, to Doug Yates of Roush Yates Engines at the end of November. Doug Yates is the CEO of Roush Yates Engines and Jack Roush and Robert Yates co-founded Roush Yates Engines.

“I sent the email to Doug to touch base with them and a few minutes later, he emailed me back. We talked the next day, and had a meeting a day or two later,” the 32-year-old Humphreys said.

The meeting led Humphreys into a partnership with Roush Yates Engines to run a 2010 Ford Mustang in the Pro Stock class in the upcoming season. Roush Yates Engines is based in Mooresville, N.C. They supply engines for NASCAR’s Sprint Cup, Nationwide and the Camping World Truck Series as well as ARCA RE/MAX, the Grand-AM Rolex Series and the FIA GT3.

“Forming the partnership with Roush Yates Engines is something that really got us excited for (2010),” Humphreys said. “Just to have the opportunity to work with those guys down there is pretty awesome. They’re all really good people and the whole bunch down there is really excited to get racing.”

Although Humphreys is onboard with Roush Yates engines, he isn’t exactly sure when he is going to make his debut in the Ford Mustang with a Roush Yates power plant.

“I know we’re going to start the year with our Pontiac GXP and use our Bob Book engines that we already have,” Humphreys said. “As soon as our (Ford) car is done and our engines are up and running we’re going to make the switch. Hopefully, we will be able to make that switch by Gainesville. The Ford stuff is so new and this is also new to the Roush Yates Engine shop and this will give them some time to get working on it. Like I said, I’m hoping we will be able to make the switch by Gainesville, but it could be a little later or it could be a little sooner. Bob (Book) did an awesome job for us last year and we appreciate everything he did for us, but to have the opportunity to partner up with the Roush Yates guys is just something we could not pass up. It’s rare opportunity to bring a NASCAR team into Pro Stock and it’s a pretty big deal.”  

The 41st annual NHRA Gatornationals are scheduled for March 11-14 in Gainesville, Fla., and that is the third national event of the season. The Winternationals (Feb. 11-14) and the Arizona Nationals (Feb. 19-21) will proceed the Gatornationals.

Humphreys added that he is going to run the Roush Yates Engines solo; he isn’t going to have a teammate.

“This is pretty much partnership deal and I think it’s good for Ford to get back in the sport and it will be good for Pro Stock just having Ford back out there,” Humphreys said. “There are so many diehard Ford fans out there who have been itching for this to happen. We’re looking forward to working with Ford and looking forward to seeing all the Ford fans back out at the races.”

The only time Humphreys has piloted a Ford was when he started out his drag racing career behind the wheel of a Mustang street car in the mid 1990s.

During his three-year Pro Stock career, Humphreys has driven Pontiacs, and a Dodge Stratus, but he isn’t concerned about his upcoming transition.

“I have plenty of trust in my crew and I think my crew chief (Frank Gugliotta) is one of the best out there period, and he’s a diehard Ford guy at that,” said Humphreys, who finished a career-best 12th in the Pro Stock points in 2008 and also won his lone national event at Charlotte that year. “If everything goes well with the motors, I think we can get out there and run pretty good right away. We want to go out there and do as good a job as we can, and hopefully it all goes well. I also have nothing but faith in the guys at Roush Yates engines. They’re top-notch engine shop and they have more manpower and more resources than probably anybody out there.”

Despite joining force with Roush Yates engines, Humphreys isn’t about to make any bold predictions for the upcoming season.

“Our goal is to always go out there and win, but realistically being a whole new engine program and everything else, our goal is to go out and do as good as a job as we can and try to get in the top 10,” Humphreys said. “We’re looking forward to 2011 and on. This year we know is going to be a building year just getting everything up to par and hopefully we will be able to get in the winner’s circle.”

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