The 2023 NASCAR season has seen its fair share of twists and turns. But one narrative that remains constant is Ford’s struggle to assert dominance on the track. As the season progresses, a stark divide within the Ford camp becomes increasingly evident, leaving Team Penske to shoulder the brunt of the criticism.

Ford teams have faced a challenging year in the NASCAR Cup Series, grappling with a need for near-perfect performances to remain competitive. The 2023 season has brought both highs and lows for Ford. But it’s the latter that casts a shadow over Team Penske.

Steve Letarte declares the best Ford car on the grid as he lashes down on the Fords of Team Penske

At the heart of Team Penske’s struggles are changes to the Ford body, implemented for the 2023 season. While these adjustments favored Ford on superspeedways where NASCAR limits horsepower, they revealed shortcomings on intermediate ovals, the cornerstone of NASCAR racing. Wind tunnel tests further underscored Ford’s deficit in downforce compared to Chevrolet and Toyota, raising concerns among Ford teams.

While NASCAR maintains that Ford’s downforce numbers remain within the target range for manufacturer parity. The on-track performance suggests otherwise. The competition seems to have capitalized on their offseason adjustments, leaving Ford teams to search for elusive speed.

In a bygone era, NASCAR occasionally allowed manufacturers to make significant changes to enhance competitiveness. However, with cost considerations at the forefront, such opportunities are now a distant memory. In the current landscape, only RFK Racing’s Chris Buescher and Front Row Motorsports’ Michael McDowell have challenged for victories, particularly on intermediate tracks, a crucial component of the playoff schedule.

In a recent conversation on Dirty Mo Media. Steve Letarte, a legend at Hendrick Motorsports, did not mince words when discussing Team Penske’s performance. Letarte declared that the best Ford on the grid right now is that of Chris Buescher. And he did so by hitting hard on Team Penske for their subpar race cars.

“I don’t know how to say this nicely, but I am gonna tell you right now. Buescher’s riding a horse, and Blaney’s riding a donkey. Those Penske cars, I mean, they’re awful. I mean, how can we say this nicely?” Letarte declared with candor. The stark contrast in performance between Chris Buescher and the Team Penske drivers has become increasingly apparent. Letarte went on to challenge the notion of Blaney’s superiority by emphasizing that Buescher has outperformed all three Penske cars in the majority of races.

“Listen, it’s no guarantee. I hope this fires up Blaney and he hauls as*. But the simple fact is he’s 1 in 10,” Steve concluded. While Letarte’s assessment may be harsh, it underscores the pressing need for Team Penske to address their performance issues and bridge the gap within the Ford stable.

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Amidst this discussion of Ford’s fortunes, the spotlight shines on Ryan Blaney, who recently secured a monumental win at Talladega, catapulting him into the Round of 8 in the playoffs.

Kyle Petty believes Ryan Blaney can become unbeatable in contention for the championship title

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In a NASCAR on NBC discussion, Kyle Petty drew parallels between Ryan Blaney and former driver Casey Kane, highlighting inconsistencies in Blaney’s performances. He emphasized Blaney’s vast potential and the need for him to maintain peak performance consistently.

Petty spoke about Blaney on the day of his Talladega win. “Ryan Blaney has so much potential, and we keep talking about it, talking about it, talking about it. If this Ryan Blaney that showed up today, shows up at the ROVAL, shows up at Vegas, shows up at Martinsville, shows up for the rest of the year, you’re not gonna beat him because he’s on top of his game,” Petty challenged.

As the playoffs intensify and the competition reaches its zenith, Blaney faces both an opportunity and a challenge. To prove his detractors wrong and establish himself as a consistent contender for the title.

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Do you think Ryan Blaney can go on to make it a 2 in-2 at Charlotte Roval? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.