A Ford Fusion stock car, identical to the one which will race this weekend at the New Hampshire International Speedway, was fired up and rolled out from behind the center-field garage door and onto the warning track.

The car, freshly minted with baseball seams, Red Sox logos and the No. 99 in Red Sox numerals, made its debut.

"This is amazing," said NASCAR driver and Busch Series leader Carl Edwards, who will wear a racing helmet with similar logos. "Never did I ever think I'd see a race car on a baseball field, let alone Fenway Park."

It will be Edwards' job this weekend to try to make the Red Sox and Red Sox sponsors Lumber Liquidators and Gillette proud as the No. 99 Red Sox car debuts in Loudon, N.H.

Executives from Lumber Liquidators and Gillette were on hand at Fenway on Thursday for the event to thank both sponsors for signing on to back Roush Fenway Racing and Carl Edwards.

As Red Sox sponsors, both companies have the right to use the Red Sox logos for marketing and promotional purposes. This weekend's NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race is such an event.

"We are excited to have Lumber Liquidators and Gillette sponsoring the No. 99 Ford Fusion and using the opportunity to promote their affiliation with the Boston Red Sox," said Jack Roush, the founder of Roush Racing and now the co-owner, along with John Henry, of Roush Fenway Racing. "We hope Red Sox fans watching the races in Loudon will support us with the same intensity as they do when watching the Red Sox."

Before the race, the Roush team will get a mighty sendoff in the form of a pep rally, as the Red Sox will host Roush Fenway Racing Day presented by Gillette at Fenway prior to Friday's Red Sox-Rangers game. Not only will players and fans get an up-close look into NASCAR, there will be a Gillette shaving booth and a Gillette showcase.

"One of the reasons that we got involved with Roush was that Fenway Sports Group was involved in so many things that we wanted to concentrate on something that was major league like baseball was and was national in scope," Red Sox principal owner John Henry said.

The timing of this weekend couldn't have worked out any better for Gillette since Edwards is one of the rising stars of NASCAR and is featured as a Gillette "Young Gun" on the circuit.

While currently seventh on the NEXTEL Cup leader board this season, Edwards is mirroring Boston's domination of the American League East with his performance in the Busch Series standings, leading the pack after 17 races.

While the Ford Fusion Edwards will race will be busy circling the track at Loudon, the replica car on the warning track Thursday will be on display for fans beginning Monday at 8 a.m. at the Lumber Liquidators in Braintree at 240 Wood Road.

"There's a whole section of fans who are racing fans, and because of something like this, they're getting exposure to the Red Sox and we could be generating new baseball fans," Henry said. "We know how loyal NASCAR fans are to the advertisers. We might generate new Red Sox fans."

While Roush Fenway Racing, formed in February during Speedweeks in Daytona Beach, Fla., has the potential for generating more revenue for Fenway Sports Group and New England Sports Ventures, the Red Sox's principal owner said his baseball team and its finances are totally independent.

"There's no intention of using Roush Fenway revenues and moving those over to the Boston Red Sox," Henry said. "I think people have a tendency to think it's the Red Sox [driving business], but it's really Fenway Sports Group."

But what is clear is the great potential to build a fan base and championships, something Edwards can already sense.

"What's cool about the Fenway Group and John Henry is that they're not over-the-top," said the driver. "They know how to build championships and partnerships. You have partnerships sometimes and you can tell they're trying to cram it down everyone's throat. This is just the real deal. John Henry loves auto racing and Jack Roush loves auto racing, and it's just a cool thing. It's something that's going to develop over the long term and it's a long-term partnership."

But for now, Edwards can't stop thinking about Friday night when he gets his first taste of baseball at Fenway.

"It's Thursday, and as of right now, I've never been to a game at Fenway Park," Edwards said. "I don't think it's really set in to me. I can't wait to come here [Friday] to be part of the event this is going to be. To me, it's surreal.

"To be involved with someone like the Red Sox, with the history and the respect and everything that comes along with it, that's cool."

Just like any other new fan to Red Sox Nation, Edwards is a fast learner.

"I've never had any time to follow anything, and now I'm flipping through the channels and a baseball game's on, and I start watching," he said. "I'm aware of their lead right now and I'm kind of learning. I'm really excited to go to the game [Friday], because I think with any sport, NASCAR included, you can't really understand something until you're actually there and see it and feel the energy of the event."