Ford Closing In On Their Competition

1. If the drivers don’t like a repave, is it safe to assume the racing will be good?

Rusty Wallace, on the Motor Racing Network Radio broadcast, said he couldn’t believe what he was watching. 

After a Cup season with less-than-stellar short track racing and a week of worry from drivers about the repaved bottom lanes in the turns, the NASCAR Hall of Famer and designer of Iowa Speedway was seeing three-wide racing all throughout the field.

Sunday’s (June 16) race averaged 11.7 green flag passes per lap according to NASCAR loop data, an even higher rate than at Bristol in March when there were 54 lead changes. There’s plenty of things that factored into what made the racing at Iowa great like tire wear concerns and less shifting, but let’s focus on just one here.

Many drivers had their minds made up on the repave at Iowa before the haulers even pulled into the Infield of Dreams. Kevin Harvick called it “one of the biggest F-ups of the year” on his podcast. Christopher Bell said after a tire test that it was going to become a one-groove race track. 

Then it provided one of the most entertaining races of the season, one that winner Ryan Blaney said “exceeded his expectations.”

Here’s a quick catch-up on recent NASCAR repaves. Atlanta announced a repave/reconfiguration, drivers hate it and it produces a new hybrid superspeedway style of racing that’s constantly entertained. 

North Wilkesboro Motor Speedway announces a repave, drivers hate it, but it produces more lanes and more wear for better racing. 

Sonoma Raceway announced a repave and drivers go out and set new track records with no pavement issues.

Before the next incoming “biggest F-up of the year” arrives, be it a repave or otherwise, maybe it’s best to wait for the results to speak for themselves.

2. Has Ford caught up to Toyota and Chevy?

Ford went from one of their worst starts as a manufacturer — going 0-for-12 to start the Cup season — to littering the playoff picture with blue ovals.

Blaney not only won at Iowa, he dominated with 207 laps led. It would have been his second win if he had a gallon of gas to spare at Gateway, where teammate Austin Cindric took the win. At Darlington, Brad Keselowski got the winner’s sticker that teammate Chris Buescher was denied.

Ford’s either won or been runner-up every week since.

Blaney wasn’t alone in his success at Iowa.

For the third week in a row, four Fords…