Greg Specht (Team PR Photo)

Recently retired Ford Racing Technology employee Greg Specht couldn't stay "retired" for long. After a 30-year career with the Detroit-based auto manufacturer, many of which were spent on the racing side of the equation, Specht returns to his roots after signing on to lend his assistance to the Wood Brothers/JTG Race teams in 2007.

"He's been a fixture among us for a long time," said co-owner Eddie Wood. "What we've come up with makes a lot of sense for us both and I think we stand to make some pretty big gains in areas where, quite frankly, we've needed some help," he added.

Greg Specht's lists of accomplishment at the Ford Motor Company are numerous. He began with the company in March, 1977 and first handled positions in facilities engineering and finance. For eight years, he was in charge of Ford's test and proving grounds in Dearborn, Michigan, Naples, Florida and Minnesota. He moved into his final position with the company in 1996, serving as the North American Operations Manager, where he oversaw all racing operations with the Ford. In that time span, Ford's teams won three Nextel Cup Titles.

Specht holds a mechanical engineering degree from the Lawrence Technological University in Michigan. He later earned a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Detroit.

At the Wood Brothers/JTG Organization, Specht will work closely with Director of Competition Michael "Fatback" McSwain and their newly-revamped engineering staff, of which is headed by long-time Wood Brothers employee Hoyt Overbaugh. The team has recently added nine engineers, bringing the total engineering staff to 21.

"I'm really thrilled to be working with this fine group of individuals," said Specht. "The history they bring to the sport is unmatched when you consider the loyalty they gave my former employer. I think we have a lot of ground to cover but all of us here are pretty excited to roll up our sleeves and get down to the business of racing and the success we can achieve together on the track," he added.