So, has Ford finally found a way to win? Well, we can’t really say that yet. What we know is this: It’s been over a year since anyone in a Ford other than Ryan Blaney has won any kind of a race on any kind of a track.
Blaney won last Sunday at Atlanta, a superspeedway, and he also won earlier this year at Phoenix, and Ford’s last win before that was at another superspeedway, Daytona, in August of 2025, also by Blaney. So, if you’re keeping score, it’s Blaney three, everybody else in a Ford, zero.
In other words, don’t start jumping up and down yet. On the Ford side, as a driver, Blaney is in a class by himself. Nobody else at Ford seems to have figured out how to drive the Next Gen car, and it’s getting worse, not better.
Over the last three years, Ford and its top team, Penske Motorsports, have been in a downward spiral – except for Blaney. In 2024, Ford looked like it might by getting a grip on things.
As usual, Blaney was the leader. Not counting superspeedways, which don’t count because luck and not performance pretty much determine who does well and who doesn’t, Blaney had three wins and 10 top fives.
The other three Penske drivers (the Wood brothers team is included because they get their cars from Penske) Joey Logano, Austin Cindric and Harrison Burton, combined for 11 top fives and four wins.
And then, just when it was looking good, it all started to fall apart. In 2025, Blaney had 13 top fives and three wins. The rest of Penske could only manage 11 top fives and two wins.
This year, it’s worse. Much worse. Blaney has three top fives and one win. The rest of Penske? Just two top fives. So what’s happened? Well, as has been pointed out before, the new aero paradigm in NASCAR relies mostly on generating downforce by controlling air flow under the car, and except for Blaney, Penske might be having some issues there.
Whatever it is, Penske’s pathetic performance – it doesn’t even qualify as an elite team anymore – shows up sharply in the Old Guy Sport competition index.
In the 16 races so far (remember, the OGS competition index doesn’t include superspeedways), Blaney has 157 points, ninth overall but light years behind the top four, which include three Toyotas – Denny Hamlin, 482 points; Tyler Reddick, 343, and Christopher Bell, 274, plus Chevy’s Kyle Larson, 270.
The other Penske drivers? Logano has a sickly 42 points, Cindric 13 and the Wood brothers entry, Josh Berry, none.
Blaney’s ability to separate himself from the rest of the Fords is evident when you look at the OGS competition index over the last three years. In 2024, Blaney had 392 points, the rest of Penske 353. In 2025, Blaney pulled farther ahead with 516 points compared to 272 for the other Penske drivers, and he is widening the gap again this year.
“I have a great group around me and (crew chief) Jonathan Hassler is unbelievable,” Blaney said after the Atlanta win according to NASCAR’s website. “I’m really fortunate I get to work with him.
“Then everybody else on this 12 team, engineers, mechanics, truck driver, pit crew, they do an amazing job,” Blaney continued. “Their attitude is always incredibly positive no matter how it’s going. They always have confidence that they can show up at any racetrack and win.
“It’s just a neat group to be around,” Blaney said. “I’m fortunate that most of us have been together for many years honestly. I think Johnathan is the number one. It’s fun to drive his race cars and work through things with him when we feel like we need to get better, figure out where do we need to get better.”
The question remains, though. If Blaney can do this, and he’s proven he can, why can’t drivers on the same team emulate him? What’s going on here? Well, the answer may be a simple one.
“In my mind, he’s the best in the garage,” Hassler commented. “I’m proud to have the opportunity to work with him.” Blaney may not be the best in the garage, but he’s close. And at Ford? Well, he’s by far the best they’ve got. And that’s not close.
NASCAR NOTES
Three most likely winners at North Wilkesboro: 1-Ryan Blaney, 2-Ty Gibbs, 3-Kyle Larson. Last year’s winner at North Wilkesboro: No race.
Last week’s Old Guy Sport picks for Atlanta: No picks, OGS does not pick winners in superspeedway races. OGS season record: 9-7.
OGS competition index top 10 after 16 races: 1-Denny Hamlin 482 points, 2-Tyler Reddick 343, 3-Christopher Bell 273, 4-Larson 270, 5-Shane van Gisbergen 208, 6-Gibbs 207, 7-Chase Briscoe 201, 8-Chase Elliott 181, 9-Blaney 157, 10-William Byron 111.
OGS competition index top 10 on short tracks (tracks most similar to North Wilkesboro): 1-Blaney 112 points, 2-Gibbs 91, 3-Larson 83, 4-Hamlin 76, 5-Bell 61, Elliott 61, 7-Joey Logano 41, 8-Reddick 20, 9-Byron 11, 10-Briscoe 10.
