FDNY Racing’s Closure Marks the End of an Era

By Seth Eggert, Staff Writer

One of the two remaining teams from the inaugural NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season has shut its’ doors. Jim Rosenblum’s FDNY Racing made its final start in the NextEra Energy Resources 250 at Daytona International Speedway.

FDNY Racing never scored a victory, or a top-10, but were always a feel-good story in the Truck Series. The team was always one of the many under-funded teams, made up primarily of part-time employees and volunteers. Rosenblum’s team was not as competitive as their peers, but usually had a good time competing. Over the past years, the team has donated much of their proceeds to the 9/11 charities.

FDNY Racing has had a host of drivers compete behind the wheel of its No. 28 Chevrolet Silverado. Andy Seuss, Andy Lally, Blake Koch, Carl Long, Chad McCumbee, L.W. Miller, and Ryan Ellis each had a chance to drive the truck carrying the colors of the FDNY and NYPD. Bryan Dauzat was the final driver to pilot the No. 28 FDNY / American Genomics Chevrolet Silverado.

Dauzat briefly ran inside the top-10 at the “World Center of Racing.” For a moment in time, it looked like FDNY Racing’s swan song would end with, at the very least, a top-10 finish. Unfortunately, it was not meant to be as Dauzat was caught up in an accident with just 17 laps to go. The No. 28 Chevrolet spun down the track, backing into the inside wall. The damage was minimal compared to others involved in the wreck.

After the accident, Dauzat was no longer a factor. The team finished one lap down in 18th, which was a career best for Dauzat.

The closure of FDNY Racing leaves MB Motorsports as the only team left from the inaugural NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season. The team’s swan song may not have been what they hoped for, but they had fun competing.