NASCAR
2024 NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Preview: Ford
The most well-represented manufacturer in 2024’s NASCAR Playoffs, six Ford Mustangs won their way into the 16-man dance. All of flagship Team Penske made the cut, as well as one car apiece from RFK, Stewart-Haas, and the Wood Brothers. Ford is in a unique circumstance this season–racing for their third-consecutive Bill France Cup. Can either of their past winning teams or a new contender show out over the next 10 weeks?
Ryan Blaney – 2,018 points
To be the best, 15 drivers must beat the best in defending Cup champion Ryan Blaney. A year ago, Blaney survived and advanced all the way to Phoenix, and won it all in his maiden Championship 4 showing. Team 12 entered last year’s Playoffs as the 12 seed with one win. They have bettered that with two wins so far and now as the fifth seed.
Blaney’s run to the title was defined by an electric final six races. That chunk of the schedule remains unchanged, allowing Blaney a clear shot at repeating. Whether or not he lasts until the pivotal Round of 8 remains to be seen. Driver 12 will try and become the first repeat champion since Jimmie Johnson’s five-peat in 2010. Entering on the plus side of the first few eliminations, Blaney just needs to stay mistake-free over the first few rounds.
Brad Keselowski – 2,008 points
Coming into a postseason as a winner for the first time in three years, Brad Keselowski is a true anomaly. Experience and the team surrounding the past champion are certainly factors that point towards a deep run. Only one win through 26 weeks however shows some inconsistency in elite-tier pace.
Keselowski’s possible greatest challenge ahead are the two road courses across the opening two rounds. Driver 6 does not have a top-10 across his last 13 road course starts. This shows a glaring weakness for Watkins Glen and the Charlotte Roval. In order to ward off any poor results there, Keselowski needs to earn top-fives if not win elsewhere. Between Atlanta, Bristol, and Talladega though, the 6 does have a few great chances ahead at victory. Keselowski isn’t necessarily a championship favorite today, but he has the potential to make the top teams sweat nervously in the coming weeks.
Joey Logano – 2,007 points
It’s an even-numbered year, so a decade’s worth of history says Joey Logano will be a Championship 4 finalist. The two-time champion has had a largely forgetful regular season, only earning one win in Nashville overtime shenanigans.
Logano has shown contending pace on one track type though–flat short ovals. If the 22 can make it to the Round of 8, the semifinal race at Martinsville is their golden ticket to Phoenix. Penske has proven a Playoff-winning strategy over the last two years. Flying under the radar until a clutch Round of 8 win and showing out at Phoenix may be the Penske way for a three-peat. While much easier said than done, the 22 is a threat as long as they’re alive in this format.
Austin Cindric – 2,007 points
Tied with Logano is his teammate and Gateway winner Austin Cindric. The 2 crew were the ultimate beneficiaries of Ryan Blaney being a lap short on fuel in June, making the postseason Penske perfect. Cindric’s second career win led to his second postseason showing in three years.
When the 2 team made the 2022 Playoffs, they did eek out a Round of 12 showing. The same is very plausible for Cindric in 2024, with a road course and superspeedway in the opening round. The Charlotte Roval in the Round of 12 also paves a potential semifinal round path for the road racing ace. Cindric must stay mistake-free across each of these first few races though, and not fall victim to unforced errors.
Chase Briscoe – 2,005 points
The latest winner is riding off of pure emotion and the will of 300 employees in their final run together. Chase Briscoe wheeled Stewart-Haas Racing’s flagship No. 14 to Southern 500 victory lane Sunday at Darlington, giving their building one final shot at the Cup.
Reset to the 13th seed, Briscoe does have an uphill battle to avoid first-round elimination. Multiple drivers will inevitably run into trouble across the opening three races though. If the 14 simply has three quiet afternoons and earns some Stage points, they may be Round of 12 bound. Last Sunday proved there’s no quit within the walls of SHR. Just how far can this newly-energized crew go in their final quest?
Harrison Burton – 2,005 points
Call him Cinderella, David taking on Goliath, or The Little Engine that Could, but Harrison Burton is Playoff racing. The ultimate bracket-busting upset triumph happened under the lights two weeks ago at Daytona, putting NASCAR’s oldest team into the 16-man club.
It may be easy to write this team off as an easy first round exit. In reality however, Daytona proved Burton and team 21’s drafting prowess, a possible omen for this weekend in Atlanta. A 14 seed making it out of the Round of 16 is a tall task, but far from impossible. If others run into issues, then Burton may just squeak on by into the next round.
Three past champions and three young talents are who Ford will go to battle with over the next 10 weeks. Having a higher shot at the title than either Chevrolet or Toyota, Ford may just find a way to win it all once again. Their drivers represent both extremes of the experience spectrum, leaving great room for favorites or upsets to rise to the occasion.
Written by Peter Stratta
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Photo Credits to Meg Oliphant/Getty Images
