FDNY Racing
FDNY Racing is an American stock car racing team that competes part-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, fielding the No. 28 Chevrolet Silverado for driver Bryan Dauzat. The operation is owned and funded by Jim Rosenblum and is based in Concord, North Carolina. The team is notable for its ties to New York City first-responder communities: volunteers from the New York City Fire and Police Departments have supported the effort and the team donates its winnings to the Uniformed Firefighters Association Widow’s and Children’s Fund.
FDNY Racing Overview
FDNY Racing races on a part-time schedule in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and runs the No. 28 Chevrolet Silverado. The team operates out of Concord, North Carolina, and is privately owned by Jim Rosenblum. The program combines a small, independent shop structure with fundraising and volunteer support linked to New York City fire and police organizations.
Founding and Organizational Origins
Jim Rosenblum began owning stock car teams in 1968 after a background in road racing and the Trans-Am Series during the 1960s. Rosenblum, a native of Mamaroneck, New York, built his team over decades with personal investment; the organization traces formal roots to activity beginning in 1978 and expanded into national series racing by the early 1980s.
Rosenblum has operated the team largely with his own resources. Over the years the effort has relied on a mix of paid staff, volunteers from New York City first-responder communities, and occasional outside technical partnerships and race-by-race funding support. The team has also received public recognition for its community links, including honors tied to New York City civic groups.
Growth Into NASCAR Competition
Rosenblum entered NASCAR national competition in the early 1980s, fielding cars under banners such as Linro Motorsports and Golden Annie Racing in what was then the NASCAR Winston Cup Series. The team made its Winston Cup debut in the 1983 Mason-Dixon 500 at Dover and ran a variety of car numbers and drivers through the early 1990s.
Following the creation of the Truck Series, Rosenblum added truck entries to his operation. The truck program began in the inaugural Truck Series season of 1995 and evolved through intermittent seasons, number changes and different drivers before the team adopted the FDNY Racing identity in the early 2000s.
FDNY Racing Competitive Journey
Across more than four decades, FDNY Racing has evolved from a privately financed, small-scale Cup entrant into a persistent part-time presence in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. The team’s path has included Cup starts in the 1980s and a long-running truck program characterized by occasional full-race entries, multiple drivers, and community-focused fundraising.
Early Seasons and Development (1978–1994)
During the 1980s Rosenblum ran cars in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series under names such as Linro Motorsports and Golden Annie Racing. Drivers who competed for the operation during that period included Jocko Maggiacomo and Oma Kimbrough on road courses, and other short-track and road-course specialists over a run of Cup appearances that totaled 27 races for the organization.
The Cup program produced modest finishes, with the best results in that era being 24th place finishes at Pocono and Watkins Glen. Rising costs led Rosenblum to scale back Cup activity and shift more focus to the Truck Series when that championship launched in 1995.
Breakthrough in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (1995–Present)
Rosenblum debuted a truck entry in the 1995 Truck Series season, initially running the No. 51. The team cycled through drivers and one-off programs in the late 1990s, changing its primary truck number to No. 28 in 1999. The truck program has run intermittently since its first season and became the enduring core of the organization.
In the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks, Rosenblum rebranded the operation as FDNY Racing in 2002 to honor first responders and support affected families. The team has continued as a part-time competitor in the Truck Series, providing race opportunities to a range of drivers including Joe Ruttman, Ryan Ellis, Andy Seuss, and Bryan Dauzat. The program’s most notable race results include an eighth-place finish at Talladega Superspeedway in 2018, the team’s first top-ten in the Truck Series, and a ninth-place finish at Daytona International Speedway in 2024.
Modern Program and Current Direction (2018–Present)
FDNY Racing announced an intended retirement by Rosenblum in early 2018 but continued competing thereafter. The modern team is a small independent shop that fields part-time entries with an emphasis on durability, occasional superspeedway strength, and pragmatic race strategy to maximize results with limited resources. The No. 28 truck has become the team’s primary identity in recent seasons.
As of the current period the team runs the No. 28 Chevrolet Silverado with Bryan Dauzat as the principal driver on a part-time schedule. The organization continues to combine owner funding, community fundraising campaigns and volunteer labor tied to New York City first-responder groups to keep entries on track. The team’s base in Concord, North Carolina, positions it near NASCAR infrastructure and suppliers while retaining its civic ties to New York.
Engineering Philosophy and Competitive Strengths
FDNY Racing operates as a resourceful independent program that prioritizes consistency and reliability on race day. The team has shown occasional single‑lap speed in preseason testing and strong performances on superspeedways, where drafting and racecraft can elevate a smaller operation into competitive finishes.
Key Milestones and Major Moments
Key milestones include the team’s Winston Cup entries in the 1980s, the Truck Series debut in 1995, the rebranding to FDNY Racing in 2002 to support first-responder families, the first Truck Series top-ten finish with an eighth at Talladega in 2018, and a ninth-place finish at Daytona in 2024. The program remains winless at national series level but retains a long record of persistence and community service.
FDNY Racing Achievements and Results
FDNY Racing’s verified record shows a long participation history but no national series race victories, pole positions, or drivers’ championships. The operation has provided race starts across Winston Cup and the Craftsman Truck Series and has delivered occasional top-ten finishes and development opportunities for a range of drivers.
Cup Series Achievements
In its Winston Cup era the team entered 27 races and produced best finishes of 24th at Pocono Raceway and 24th at Watkins Glen International. The Cup entries delivered experience and exposure but did not yield wins, poles or championships before the program shifted emphasis to the Truck Series.
Truck Series and Development Program Success
FDNY Racing has entered 74 Craftsman Truck Series races as a persistent part-time competitor and has served as a platform for drivers working to gain experience in national NASCAR competition. Highlights include top-ten finishes at superspeedways and testing performances that underscored the team’s ability to prepare competitive trucks despite limited resources. The program continues to focus on selective race entries and driver opportunities.
Across national NASCAR competition the organization is credited with 101 total race starts, remains without national series race victories, and continues to campaign the No. 28 truck with community-focused support and an emphasis on sustaining first‑responder ties.
