The Ford NASCAR Cup teams had a terrible season in 2024, failing to win a single race. The closest they came to victory was in Atlanta, where the reigning champion finished in second place in an exciting photo finish. However, there is hope that they can break this streak of defeats in Talladega, the next race.
Talladega has historically been a track where Ford has seen consistent victories. However, it remains uncertain if they can replicate this success with the new Ford Dark Horse introduced this season. Nevertheless, the importance of Talladega for Ford was highlighted by Kevin Havick, who drove for Ford in his final years at Stewart Haas Racing.
Havick believes that not winning at Talladega would be a huge failure for the team. He sees this track as the only place where Ford has an advantage over its competitors and where they can finally end their losing streak. Despite Ford teams winning two championships in the Next-Gen era, Havick does not believe that the current champion drivers have the strong cars needed to get the team out of the current situation.
According to Havick, Talladega is the only opportunity for Ford to secure a victory before the playoffs, given their performance at other tracks. This sentiment is echoed by the 2024 Champion, who emphasizes the need for serious consideration of Ford’s current state. To bounce back, the team must focus on improving their cars and supporting their drivers to regain momentum and secure a win. Talladega offers the perfect opportunity for teamwork and collaboration through drafting to achieve this goal.