As the NASCAR Cup Series returns to EchoPark Speedway with seven races remaining in the regular season, Ford teams arrive carrying momentum on multiple fronts.
Ryan Blaney continues to lead the charge. The Team Penske driver recorded his seventh consecutive top-10 finish at Chicagoland Speedway, extending the longest top-10 streak of his Cup Series career. Blaney now leads all drivers with 14 top-10 finishes through 19 races and sits third in the championship standings.
Meanwhile, teammate Austin Cindric has quietly strengthened his playoff outlook. The 2022 Daytona 500 winner ranks 15th in points and holds a 27-point cushion above the postseason cut line. Cindric has finished 15th or better in four of the last five races and has been especially strong at EchoPark Speedway, leading at least five laps in each of the last eight events at the track.
Beyond the playoff battle, Ford is also on the verge of a historic milestone. The manufacturer’s next NASCAR Cup Series victory will be its 750th all-time in NASCAR’s premier division. Ford’s first series win came in 1950 when Jimmy Florian drove a flathead Ford to victory at Dayton Speedway.
EchoPark Speedway has been a successful venue for the Blue Oval over the years. Brad Keselowski delivered the first Cup Series victory for the modern Ford Mustang in 2019 at Atlanta, while Joey Logano won both Atlanta races during the 2024 season.
On the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series side, Ford’s Layne Riggs enters Lime Rock Park atop the standings after winning three of the last four races. Riggs owns a series-leading four victories this season and carries a commanding 65-point advantage in the championship race.