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Ford has established a noticeable presence during qualifying at drafting tracks in recent races. Apart from Chase Briscoe’s unexpected pole position in the Daytona 500—an achievement later marred by inspection troubles—Ford has claimed the top position in ten out of the last eleven drafting events.
This weekend, Ryan Blaney secured yet another pole for Ford as he geared up for the Atlanta race on Sunday, edging out his Team Penske teammate Austin Cindric by a mere 0.002 seconds. The performance of the Penske teams was strong overall, with Wood Brothers Racing’s Josh Berry qualifying third and reigning series champion Joey Logano starting in fourth place—this time without the need for a webbed glove for assistance.
A remarkable aspect of Saturday’s qualifying was that Ford drivers filled ten of the top eleven spots on the grid, with only Kyle Busch from Chevrolet making his way into sixth place.
With such a prominent representation of Fords at the front in Atlanta, it could prove challenging for Chevrolet and Toyota drivers to maneuver through the field. The race’s initial stage spans just 30 laps, emphasizing a swift performance for stage points without opportunities for green-flag pit stops. The second stage mirrors the first, giving Ford a chance to assert control over much of the race while amassing significant stage points.
Blaney Reflects on Race Day
Blaney heads into Sunday’s race with a favorable setup, surrounded by fellow Ford drivers, including teammates. After his impressive qualifying run, he shared with the media, “It is reassuring when you have more Fords around you. You never know when someone is going to hang you out to dry, but that’s racing. They can do what they are going to do. But it is more reassuring when you have more friendlies around you, I guess I would say.” He acknowledged the unpredictability of racing dynamics, adding, “Linking up at the start, and hopefully it stays that way, but things are going to change throughout the race.” Blaney explained that while they might find early control of the race, strategies and circumstances will evolve, affecting positioning as it unfolds.
Although it’s anticipated that other competitors will navigate the tightly-packed Ford group, it might take notable drivers some time to break through. In the starting grid, the highest-placed Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet is Alex Bowman at 13th, with Joe Gibbs Racing’s best entry—Briscoe—dead last in 25th. In contrast, only three Ford vehicles did not qualify within the top eleven slots.
Penske and Ford narrowly missed a complete sweep of the Atlanta races last year, with Blaney finishing just 0.003 seconds behind in a historically close three-wide finish, while Logano celebrated a fall victory. If the Ford contingent manages to maintain their position and unify their efforts on Sunday, their chances of success look promising.
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www.motorsport.com