FDNY Racing Overview
FDNY Racing, formerly known as Jim Rosenblum Racing, Jocko’s Racing, Linro Motorsports, and Golden Annie Racing, is an American professional stock car racing team that competes in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Owned by Jim Rosenblum and based in Concord, North Carolina, the team fields the No. 28 Chevrolet Silverado part-time, primarily for driver Bryan Dauzat. Founded in 1978, the organization rebranded in 2002 to honor and support firefighters and police officers affected by the September 11 attacks.
The team consists of volunteers from the New York City Fire and Police Departments, and all winnings earned through competition are donated to the Uniformed Firefighters Association Widow’s and Children’s Fund. Although FDNY Racing has not recorded a victory in either the NASCAR Cup Series or the Craftsman Truck Series, the team maintains a notable presence in the sport through its strong community mission and enduring dedication to first responders and their families.
Founding and Organizational Origins
FDNY Racing traces its origins to 1978, when Jim Rosenblum established his first stock car racing operations. A native of Mamaroneck, New York, Rosenblum was a street drag racer in his youth before being inspired by his friend and 1960 Indianapolis 500 winner Jim Rathmann. He began competing in the Trans-Am Series during the 1960s and later captured a championship in that series. In 1968, Rosenblum shifted his focus toward team ownership, beginning what would become a long career in stock car racing management.
During the 1980s, Rosenblum formed Linro Motorsports, which began fielding cars in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series in 1983 for his friend Jocko Maggiacomo. The operation later expanded under additional banners, including Golden Annie Racing, and supported a variety of Cup drivers such as Randy LaJoie, Eddie Bierschwale, Gary Balough, Jeff McClure, Bob Schacht, and Kerry Teague through 1993. The team’s best Cup finish during this period was 24th, recorded twice by Maggiacomo at Pocono Raceway and by sports car veteran Oma Kimbrough at Watkins Glen.
Growth Into NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Competition
Rosenblum entered the Truck Series during its inaugural 1995 season, initially fielding the No. 51 for Kerry Teague. After financial difficulties forced a brief shutdown in 1996 and 1997, the operation was revived in 1999, with the team switching to the No. 28 in the same year. Drivers during this rebuilding phase included Ronnie Hoover, Kenny Allen, and Conrad Burr. Following the September 11, 2001 attacks, Rosenblum partnered with retired firefighter Lt. Mike Bolnik, who suggested rebranding the team to support those affected by the tragedy.
Teaming with Bob Rahilly of RahMoc Enterprises, Rosenblum renamed the team FDNY Racing in 2002. The rebrand aligned the team’s identity with the New York City Fire Department and transformed its mission into a charitable effort. Since that time, FDNY Racing has operated as a volunteer-driven organization funded largely by Rosenblum himself, including a 2005 decision to cash in his life insurance policy to keep the team running. His brother Norman, the former mayor of Mamaroneck, also contributes to the team’s operations.
FDNY Racing Competitive Journey
Across its history, FDNY Racing has competed in both the NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, accumulating 101 total races, including 27 in the Cup Series and 74 in the Truck Series. The team has yet to record a pole position or a race victory, but its Truck Series program has produced occasional top-ten finishes, highlighted by Bryan Dauzat’s eighth-place run at Talladega in 2018 and a ninth-place finish at Daytona in 2024.
Early Seasons and Development (1978–2001)
FDNY Racing’s earliest competitive years were spent in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series under the Linro Motorsports banner. Fielding the No. 13 for Jocko Maggiacomo beginning in 1983, the team built its foundation around road-course racing. After Maggiacomo’s serious wreck at Pocono Raceway in 1988, Rosenblum hired sports car veteran Oma Kimbrough as a road course ringer for the Watkins Glen International events from 1989 to 1991. Other Cup drivers during this era included Eddie Bierschwale, Gary Balough, Jeff McClure, Bob Schacht, and Kerry Teague, who competed under Nos. 13, 27, and 29.
When NASCAR launched the Craftsman Truck Series in 1995, Rosenblum entered the new series with the No. 51 for Teague. Despite recording a best finish of 13th at Tucson Raceway Park and Bristol Motor Speedway, financial pressures forced a temporary shutdown. After a one-off attempt with Terry McCarthy in 1997, Rosenblum revived the Truck program in 1999 under the No. 28, beginning a long-term commitment to the series that continues today.
Rebrand and Identity in the Truck Series (2002–2017)
Following the September 11 attacks and the suggestion of Lt. Mike Bolnik, Rosenblum rebranded the team as FDNY Racing in 2002. Conrad Burr returned to the team that year, qualifying for all but one race in six attempts, while Joe Ruttman and others also made appearances. In 2005, the team’s No. 28 truck carried a decal reading “Always remember… never forget” along with the names of three firefighters lost earlier that year. This tribute reflected the team’s growing role as a symbol of remembrance and community support within NASCAR.
Throughout the mid-2000s and early 2010s, FDNY Racing operated as a part-time effort, attempting races with a rotating cast of drivers including David Ragan, Carl Long, Brandon Knupp, Wayne Edwards, Andy Lally, Chad McCumbee, and Wes Burton. The team’s best results during this stretch came through persistence rather than dominance, as Rosenblum funded operations personally to keep the charitable mission alive. In 2014, Grand-Am driver Ryan Ellis joined the team part-time, and Whelen Modified Tour driver Bryan Dauzat made his Truck Series debut at Bristol Motor Speedway, completing only four laps before suspension issues ended his run.
Modern Program and Current Direction (2018–Present)
FDNY Racing’s modern era has been defined by the partnership between Rosenblum and Bryan Dauzat, who has become the team’s primary driver. In 2018, the team announced the Daytona season-opener would be Rosenblum’s last, though the operation returned later that season, with Dauzat finishing eighth at Talladega for the team’s first top-ten result. The 2019 season-opener at Daytona was marked by an incident when Dauzat accidentally struck jackman Billy Rock on pit road due to braking problems; Rock was treated for a broken shoulder and released from the hospital shortly after.
Through the early 2020s, Dauzat and FDNY Racing expanded their part-time schedule as NASCAR temporarily expanded Truck Series field sizes due to the cancellation of qualifying during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2024, Dauzat survived a final-lap crash at Daytona to finish ninth, the second-best result in team history, before running additional races at Nashville, Pocono, and Talladega. The team continues to compete part-time in the Craftsman Truck Series with Chevrolet equipment, maintaining its volunteer-driven model and charitable mission.
Philosophy and Competitive Strengths
FDNY Racing operates as a passion-driven, volunteer-led effort rather than a factory-backed program. The team’s strengths lie in superspeedway-style races at Daytona and Talladega, where pack racing provides opportunities for top finishes despite limited resources. Its identity remains rooted in service, charitable giving, and resilience.
Key Milestones and Major Moments
Key milestones include the team’s Winston Cup debut at Dover in 1983, its first Truck Series race at Phoenix in 1995, and the 2002 rebranding as FDNY Racing. Other notable moments include Dauzat’s first top-ten finish at Talladega in 2018, the 2019 pit-road incident at Daytona, and Dauzat’s ninth-place run at Daytona in 2024, the second-best result in team history.
FDNY Racing Achievements and Results
Across more than four decades of competition, FDNY Racing has accumulated 101 total starts without a victory or pole position in either the NASCAR Cup Series or the Craftsman Truck Series. The team’s most celebrated achievements are tied to its charitable mission and occasional top-ten finishes, including Dauzat’s eighth-place result at Talladega in 2018 and his ninth-place run at Daytona in 2024.
Craftsman Truck Series Achievements
Since debuting in the Truck Series at Phoenix in 1995, FDNY Racing has made 74 starts in the series. The team has yet to record a win, pole position, or drivers’ championship, but it has posted multiple top-ten finishes in recent years. The best results include Dauzat’s eighth place at Talladega in 2018 and his ninth place at Daytona in 2024, both of which stand as defining moments for the team’s modern program.
Winston Cup Series Achievements
In the NASCAR Winston Cup Series, FDNY Racing and its predecessor entries made 27 starts between 1983 and 1993. The team’s best finish was 24th, recorded by Jocko Maggiacomo at Pocono Raceway and Oma Kimbrough at Watkins Glen. Rising costs ultimately led Rosenblum to shutter the Cup effort and focus exclusively on the Truck Series.