Ford's uphill battle at Pocono
It has been a grueling 2026 season for Ford. With only one win—courtesy of Ryan Blaney at Phoenix Raceway back on March 8—the manufacturer is fighting to regain footing. They have spent the last month and a half struggling, securing only one top-five finish since May, a drought that has left them chasing the performance and execution of Toyota and Chevrolet teams.
At RFK Racing, Chris Buescher has carried the load, sitting eighth in the standings. He describes their recent stretch as a "brutal month," noting five DNFs across 20 combined starts for himself, Brad Keselowski, and Ryan Preece. Despite the hardship, Buescher remains optimistic about this weekend at Pocono Raceway, where he was fastest in both overall and five-lap averages during practice. He will lead the Ford charge from sixth on the grid.
Team Penske is equally hungry, with Ryan Blaney and Joey Logano continuing to grind for incremental gains. With no new bodywork coming until 2027, the focus is entirely on precision. As crew chief Paul Wolfe put it, it is about making sure all the i's are dotted and t's are crossed so that when the car potential hits, they are ready to strike. Blaney, the only other Ford in the top 10, qualified 10th, just ahead of Logano in 11th.
