For years, Ford’s NASCAR success revolved around mastering the playoff format, but this season, there are no automatic berths. This has raised concerns, especially due to Ford's recent performance.

With five races over, Toyota leads the current season, while Ford has just one win to its name, courtesy of Ryan Blaney at Phoenix. But now, that win means nothing unless points follow for Ford.

Many fans online are wondering what is up with the blue oval, and a Reddit post has now asked that question: ‘Why does Ford struggle on non-flat tracks?’ and fans responded by warning Ford of the repercussions if performance doesn't improve.

A user responding to this question noted that despite their aero struggles, the Ford cars perform better on turns and corners, and the No.12 car seems to have something special.

“They might struggle on non-flat tracks to an extent, but they also turn and corner better than every other car. Especially the 12 team. It’s like they’ve unlocked something in that car that no one else has,” the user wrote.

Another user mentioned the Blue Oval’s lack of serious contenders for a title win, except for Team Penske Racing.

“Ford has a multitude of problems. Outside of Penske, they don’t have a serious contender organisation-wise. RFK isn’t there as far as being a serious contender. They haven’t had a serious 1-2 punch as far as organisations go since the late 2010’s with Penske and SHR,” the user wrote.

Yet another user pointed out Ford’s loose structure, due to which data sharing suffers, and how they can’t stick to their previous practices.

“They really need to get their act straight on tracks (no pun intended), just being one trick pony doesn't help. Not sure why the 12 team doesn't share the data with other Ford teams, and if they are, then aren't they able to execute?,” the comment read.

The contrast between Ford and other manufacturers was even clearer in the previous season, where we saw Chevrolet leading the Cup Series with 15 wins and Toyota trailing right behind, while Ford lagged with just 7 wins.

The last time we saw Ford win the manufacturer’s title was back in 2020. This highlights a deeper issue, as Ford is yet to clinch a manufacturer title with the Next-Gen car.

Clearly, there are issues with the Next-Gen spec Mustang, as Ryan Blaney faced engine failures on multiple occasions, resulting in an alarming 8 DNFs in the 2025 season.

The introduction of the Dark Horse body style has also brought along aerodynamic disadvantages. This meant that while these cars performed well on flat tracks, they couldn’t generate enough downforce to be effective on other track types.

A Big Picture Look

Ford's struggles in NASCAR stem from both its current car and several external factors.

The car maker has seen its portfolio reduce considerably in the last few years, leaving it with just four teams in the Cup Series: Team Penske Racing, RFK, Front Row Motorsports, and the Wood Brothers.

In recent times, we have also seen the children of NASCAR choose different manufacturers. despite their parents having raced for Ford.

Keelan Harvick, the son of Kevin Harvick, made headlines for signing up with Toyota Racing Development USA, which surprised a lot of people in the NASCAR community.

Similarly, Michael Edwards, the son of Carl Edwards, is an active racer for Toyota Gazoo in IndyCar.

Toyota’s developmental driver program also appears unbeatable. Christopher Bell, Corey Heim, and John Hunter Nemechek are three notable figures who have emerged from Toyota’s programme, while Ford’s lineups usually consist of veterans and mid-tier younger drivers.

With a majority of the season still left, and the next two races set to take place with the added horsepower package, it will be interesting to see whether the Blue Oval can regain some lost ground.

Read more at the RFK Racing Digest!

Written by

Aaradhya Singh

Edited by

Aadesh Dhote