Former Marlins and current Boston Red Sox owner John Henry was at Homestead-Miami Speedway Sunday for the NASCAR Nextel Cup finale and because Fenway Sports Group is in discussions to purchase a stake in Roush Racing.

Henry wouldn’t discuss the deal because he said it isn’t completed, but said FSG would like to create a motorsports division. FSG is a subsidiary of New England Sports Ventures, which includes the Red Sox, Fenway Park and New England Sports Network. Roush owns five race teams including the No. 16 National Guard/ Subway Ford driven by Greg Biffle, who won Sunday’s Ford 400.

Henry said he met Jack Roush a few years ago before either had won a world championship in his sport. Roush since had back-to-back Nextel Cup championship winners in 2003 and 2004 and the Red Sox won the 2004 World Series. They discovered they had a lot in common, including being from a county with the same name – Adams – but in two different states: Henry from Illinois; Roush from Michigan.

“We struck up a friendship and we’ve discussed ways we might work together,” Henry said.

No Comment on Japanese Pitcher

Henry was even more tight-lipped about last week’s news that the Seibu Lions had accepted the Red Sox’ jaw-dropping $51.1 million bid for the right to negotiate a contract with pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka. (That’s more than three times the Marlins’ on-field payroll last season.)

“We’re extremely happy to be in negotiations at this point, to be the team that won the bid and we think it’s potentially a great thing for Red Sox Nation,” Henry said refusing to discuss the bid amount. “I think when the deal is final, I think people will be able to understand it.”