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After the Daytona 500, you would be onerous pressed to discover a NASCAR fan who thought Ford can be citing the rear of the pack in wins six weeks into the season.
Whereas a Chevy in William Byron received the Nice American Race, Fords led 106 of the race’s 200 laps. Joey Logano, Brad Keselowski and David Ragan have been all viable threats to win earlier than an enormous crash worn out the sector.
Fords have been as soon as extra sturdy at Atlanta, with defending champion Ryan Blaney arising simply three one thousandths of a second in need of victory.
Nonetheless, after six races, Fords are nonetheless but to win a race. After Toyota destroyed the sector at Phoenix and Bristol, they have been overwhelmed by Hendrick Motorsports at COTA on Sunday. The one producer to not be present in race-winning competition? Ford.
The very best ending blue oval on Sunday was Chris Buescher in eighth, the Texas native’s fourth prime 10 within the first six races. Ryan Blaney is the Ford driver highest within the standings at the moment, sitting third, 80 factors above the playoff cutline.
Whereas Blaney and Buescher have been constant to open the season, they, together with the remainder of the Ford drivers, have did not do a very powerful factor in racing: win.
Toyota and Chevy have every had weekends the place they’ve blown away the competitors. Daytona is the closest Ford has come to that, however they nonetheless did not seize the final word prize.
Apart from Buescher and Blaney, just one different Ford, 2012 champion Brad Keselowski, resides within the playoff image in sixteenth. Chase Briscoe and Austin Cindric sit proper outdoors the highest 16, however simply three Fords inside the present postseason image simply is not ok for a producer that has received the final two NASCAR Cup Sequence championships.
One of the stunning info of the 2024 season to this point is that two-time Cup Sequence champion Joey Logano sits simply twenty second in factors, 33 factors again of the Keselowski for the ultimate playoff spot. Logano solely has one prime 10 by the primary six races, a ninth place end at Las Vegas. For a driver and staff with a championship pedigree, one thing has to vary to ensure that the No. 22 staff to search out themselves in title competition.
Noah Gragson, who was essentially the most constant driver out of the Stewart-Haas steady for the primary few weeks completed thirty fourth on uncooked velocity, whereas his SHR teammates in Josh Berry and Ryan Preece did not fare significantly better, with each drivers ending outdoors the highest 20. Even the lovable underdogs in Michael McDowell and Todd Gilliland have fallen off after they confirmed profitable velocity within the first two races.
Rick Ware Racing driver Justin Haley was essentially the most constant Ford all through the day, operating anyplace from ninth to thirteenth all through the race earlier than ending a strong seventeenth.
For a younger race staff making an attempt to develop, that is a strong day so as to add to what’s been a strong season. Nonetheless, all good issues should come to an finish — Haley was disqualified after post-race inspection, relegating him to a final place end.
Whereas Ford does have the defending champion doing good issues for them, most of their drivers are within the slums of the pack to begin the season. One thing has to vary going into Sunday’s race at Richmond, however it looks like no one in Detroit is aware of the reply.
Loads of Ford executives shall be pacing the boardrooms this week, they usually want to determine a solution earlier than Toyota and Chevy run away with the season.
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