Ford vs. Chevy was one-sided matchup
The Associated Press
— Ford vs. Chevrolet is always a subplot to watch when the top auto racers come to Michigan.
This past weekend, it was no contest.
Clint Bowyer’s NASCAR Cup Series win Sunday capped a weekend in which Ford dominated in qualifying and on race day. Bowyer was one of seven Ford drivers in the top eight in the rain-shortened race. The highest Chevy was Chase Elliott in ninth (Kyle Busch finished fourth in a Toyota).
“It’s just unbelievable the start to the season with the wins and success that we’re having, come here to our home track with our employees here watching,” said Mark Rushbrook, global director of Ford Performance. “To have this performance and strength across all of our teams, to win the race, it’s just tremendous for all the company.”
The races at Michigan International Speedway always seem to take on extra significance, since it’s about 70 miles from downtown Detroit. There is a Michigan Heritage Trophy that goes to the race- winning manufacturer for Cup weekend, too.
There’s little debate over who ended up with Motor City bragging rights this time. Bowyer, Kevin Harvick and pole winner Kurt Busch gave Stewart-Haas Racing a sweep of the top three spots. Team Penske — another Ford team — finished 6-7-8 with Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano and Ryan Blaney.
Blaney was the winner of the race’s first stage.
“We were really fast. We got our car better all day and won that stage and kind of got back there and a lot of guys took two,” Blaney said. “We were making it back up but then the rain came. It was a really great race car. Definitely not an eighthplace car but unfortunately that is where we ended up.”
The Fords were fast in qualifying too, taking six of the top seven spots, with Busch winning the pole .
The victory by Bowyer was the eighth of the year for Ford in 15 Cup races. It’s been a decade since Ford finished with the most victories by a manufacturer, and in that 2008 season, it finished tied with Chevy with 11 wins each.
“It’s a team effort to not have any weaknesses. We also come here to Michigan for bragging rights,” Busch said. “I’ve always driven that way. It really shines through when you see Doug Yates (of Roush Yates Engines) here, Mark Rushbrook is here, everybody from all departments, the chief aero guy was here this weekend from Stewart-Haas. We put in a full effort. It’s bragging rights to win at Michigan.”