The NASCAR world is ablaze, and the momentum is only building. Last weekend saw the conclusion of NASCAR’s regular season, crowning Joe Gibbs driver Martin Truex Jr. as the regular season champion. Amidst mid-season evaluations, speculations are running wild, and now a consensus is forming about team and manufacturer performances, with one manufacturer notably lagging behind.

A recent NASCAR on NBC podcast featured a veteran driver and well-versed figure in the NASCAR paddock pondering Ford’s lackluster performance and reviewing their 2023 runs. In straightforward terms, he criticized the leading Ford teams for their underperformance, pulling no punches in his assessment.

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During the podcast, Kyle Petty pointed out the surprising absence of RFK Racing from discussions in recent years, and subsequently expressed astonishment at the accomplishments of Brad Keselowski and RFK Racing, acknowledging their success. However, he also lauded the achievements of Front Row‘s triumphs. In contrast, he highlighted the disappointing performance and lackluster showings of Tony Stewart‘s and Roger Penske‘s squads.

“RFK has not been in the conversation over the last few years. I am blown away by the success of that team, [RFK Racing]. Maybe I’m not as blown away by the success of that team as I am by the success of this team, and the success of Front Row, and the lack of success from Stewart-Haas Racing, and the mediocre performances that we are seeing from the Penske organization.”

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Petty also emphasized the shift in gears among low-tier teams within the Ford roster, marking a departure from the historically dominant first-tier players. “Because it’s like the momentum has shifted to the third-tier and fourth-tier teams, and not the first two players; the first-tier teams. So, you gotta give credit to Brad.”

Ford’s 2023 Performance Under the Microscope: Unveiling the Ride So Far

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The story of Ford’s 2023 regular season races unveils both triumphs and transformations within their roster. With four teams in the game, Ford’s statistics fall below the desired mark. Hovering at the bottom of the manufacturers’ standings, their five wins pale in comparison to Chevrolet’s commanding 13 wins and Toyota’s 7. While Ford’s point tally isn’t far off from Toyota’s, it’s not the numbers that are igniting discussions.

Digging into those five wins uncovers a surprising twist—Stewart-Haas Racing, once a powerhouse, is conspicuously absent from the winner’s circle. More astonishingly, three of the five wins belong to RFK Racing. In 2023, RFK and SHR have exchanged positions, leaving enthusiasts awed by RFK’s resurgence and disappointed by SHR’s lackluster performance. Team Penske, once a Ford powerhouse, finds itself yielding to the ascendant RFK Racing—a striking parallel to history repeating itself. Harkening back to RFK’s dominant runs in 02′ and 05′, Team Penske previously halted RFK’s reign, emerging as the Ford powerhouse.

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However, the buzz centers around RFK Racing’s resurgence, particularly under Keselowski’s guidance. After bidding farewell to his 12-year tenure with Team Penske, where he clinched a championship win, Brad moved to RFK in 2022 as both driver and co-owner. A challenging year ensued, with Brad missing the playoffs for the first time since 2013 and a winless 2022 season. Yet, a glimmer of hope emerged with teammate Chris Buescher‘s triumph at Bristol in 2022, ending a personal 222 win-less race streak. And then came 2023. Buescher secured consecutive victories at Richmond and Michigan, culminating in a triumphant RFK 1-2 finish—the first since 2014—at the regular season finale at Daytona.

With six Ford drivers locked into the playoffs, all eyes are now on the ongoing season, eagerly waiting to see if RFK Racing can maintain their newfound consistency and if Keselowski can take home a victory this year.