Ford Struggles in 2023 NASCAR Cup Series: The 2023 NASCAR Cup Series has been brutal on Blue Ovals supporters. They take consolation in Chris Buescher‘s heroics, who won the championship with a flourish at the end of the season.
However, on September 16, the Ford camp received discouraging news. Zane Smith, the 2022 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion and Front Row Motorsports flagbearer, made a shocking surprise. Smith, Ford’s development team standout, left the Blue Oval team to join Chevrolet’s Spire Motorsports outfit, a significant change. A technological relationship with the Trackhouse Racing Team enabled this.
Ford was in trouble after Smith’s departure, even though racing constantly changes. He was Ford’s crown jewel and poised to rise in the Cup Series. Ford wasn’t ready to replace him. This contrasts with Chevrolet and Toyota, whose Xfinity and Truck Series teams feature young drivers.
Chevrolet’s success relies on long-standing teams like JR Motorsports, Richard Childress Racing, and Kaulig Racing, which groom young talent. The most prominent Toyota research facility is Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR). Kyle Busch joined Chevrolet, and TRICON Garage became Toyota Racing Development in the Truck Series. Chevy has many racing teams, including Kyle Busch Motorsports, Niece Motorsports, GMS Racing (till next year), and McAnally-Hilgemann Racing, giving new racers many opportunities.
Let’s revisit Ford. What weapons does Ford have? SHR has two Xfinity cars, FRM has one Truck Series car, and ThorSport Racing has four more trucks. The growth pipeline is hit hard by Zane Smith’s departure. This hole portends awful things.
Cole Custer and Riley Herbst represent SHR Xfinity. Herbst has yet to make the playoffs in three years and uses the same equipment that helped Chase Briscoe win nine games in 2020. Despite winning two road races this year, Custer is no longer dominant. Even if either was ready for a promotion, SHR’s budget issues may force them to cut their team in the 2024 Cup Series.
Ford’s hope following Zane Smith may shine through Ty Majeski. In his debut full-time Truck Series season with ThorSport last year, the young driver won two races and a Championship 4 position. He is an excellent candidate to win again in Phoenix.
Ford’s ThorSport stable includes 47-year-old pro-Matt Crafton, who has driven the No. 88 truck for years. Despite seven wins and a Truck title at 26, Ben Rhodes seems content to continue in Trucks. Hailie Deegan, who has been in the top 10 four times in 66 Truck races, awaits her moment.
Toyota and Chevrolet, however, have created a youth symphony. John Hunter Nemechek, who won six Xfinity races this season, will join Legacy Motor Club’s Toyota Cup team next year. The Truck Series regular-season win by Corey Heim suggests he will move up to the Xfinity Series. JGR’s Xfinity stable will welcome ARCA Menards Series East winner William Sawalich, who will turn eighteen. In Phoenix, 19-year-old Xfinity winner Sammy Smith throws a long shadow of potential.
Chevrolet, bolstered by Zane Smith’s Cup win, suggests Carson Hocevar’s addition. Austin Hill may soon join the Richard Childress Racing (RCR) Cup team. Trucks champion Christian Eckes has won three races this year. Chandler Smith, the rookie to Xfinity, won at Richmond Raceway in April. This demonstrated his Cup readiness. Trucks and Xfinity rookies Nick Sanchez and Sheldon Creed are close to winning.
Ford faces a bleak future. Despite its benefits, free agency for known performers is risky. Ford may have been better off if Kevin Harvick had retired at the end of 2022 to make place for Kyle Busch. Now that Harvick won’t leave until 2023, fewer top drivers exist. Although signing Josh Berry from JR Motorsports is significant, Berry will need time to adjust to his new team and grow.
In motorsport’s intricate dance, free-agent signings and growth pipelines determine a manufacturer’s success. Ford faces peril due to a lack of the latter.
The changes were noticeable when Team Penske and Wood Brothers Racing granted Austin Cindric and Harrison Burton Cup rides. Penske’s No. 22 Xfinity car slept instead of finding a driver. No current drivers are eager to move to SHR, ThorSport, or FRM, even though there are available slots. Ford might need more cars to return to a market where Chevrolet and Toyota dominate the lower series.
Ford’s Cup Series struggles compound Zane Smith’s exit. SHR needs a superstar driver to replace Kevin Harvick, who is retiring. Penske teammates Joey Logano and Ryan Blaney are battling this year. Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) and Hendrick Motorsports dominate car racing. Ford’s front line needs to be more staffed, and a recovery is unlikely.
ALSO READ: Zane Smith NASCAR Plot Twist: Joining Trackhouse Racing and the Road Ahead
Our Reader’s Queries
What is the new Ford NASCAR in 2024?
Ford has exciting news for car enthusiasts as they announced that the Mustang Dark Horse will be making its way to the NASCAR Cup Series in 2024. This iconic vehicle will have a familiar yet fresh look that fans are sure to love. The Dark Horse was first introduced as a street car in late 2022, marking the seventh generation of the Mustang nameplate. With its sleek design and powerful performance, the Mustang Dark Horse is sure to make a statement on the racetrack.
When did Ford leave NASCAR?
For the majority of NASCAR’s existence, Chrysler, Ford, and General Motors were the main players in the game. Although Plymouth had some success in the 1960s with the Hemi, they never managed to win a Manufacturers Championship until Ford withdrew from racing in the early 1970s.
Why did Dodge get pulled out of NASCAR?
Dodge ultimately made the tough decision to call it quits for 2013 instead of half-heartedly participating. The reason behind this move wasn’t due to politics, corporate drama, or a disapproving European parent. Rather, it was simply because they couldn’t find a suitable partner to dance with. This news is undoubtedly a major setback for NASCAR.
What engine is in the NASCAR Ford Mustang?
The Mustang’s latest nameplate, The Dark Horse, has been the inspiration for the GT3 and GT4 models. The GT4 boasts a powerful 5.0-liter V8 engine based on the Coyote, while the GT3, which will be competing in the 2024 Hours of Le Mans, is equipped with a larger 5.4-liter V8 from M-Sport. These impressive engines are sure to make The Dark Horse a force to be reckoned with on the track.
