Toyota dominating in 2nd half of Cup season
Statistically speaking, the first and second halves of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season have been dramatically different for Toyota.
Toyota drivers won two of the first 11 races (although they had some promising runs at tracks where they didn’t score). The most recent 11 races? Toyotas have won eight, including four of the first five in the playoffs.
Ford ended a 13-race winless streak with Brad Keselowski’s last-lap victory Sunday at Talladega Superspeedway. That win also ended a four-race victory string by Toyota. Chevrolet is looking for its first playoff win as the series moves on to Kansas Speedway this weekend.
Toyota’s Martin Truex Jr. has been the season’s dominant driver with six victories — no one else has more than four — and 19 stage wins. Toyota’s Kyle Busch is second in stage wins with 13.
“They’re ahead of everybody, no doubt,” Ford driver Joey Logano said. “They’re the best cars out there on the racetrack, and a lot of that is because they’ve done their homework. They made some great decisions and they’re reaping the reward now.
“Good for them. Not good for us. We’ve got to go to work.”
It’s a particular plus for Toyota that its teams seem to be riding a
“They’re the best cars out there on the racetrack, and a lot of that is because they’ve done their homework.” Joey Logano, NASCAR Cup Series driver, on Toyota’s success
high at the most critical point of the season.
“I feel like they started the season not super-strong, kind of worked their way up as the season went along, and I’d say they’re peaking at the right time,” Ford driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr. said. “I felt like at the beginning of the season our Fords were really strong when the Toyotas weren’t, but I think it’s kind of flip-flopped now. I feel like Chevy has kind of maintained that middle ground.”
Toyota strength sparked a minor debate at the start of the playoffs when Keselowski, after four Camrys had led the opening practice for the first playoff race at Chicagoland Speedway, tweeted, “We are all in for a rude awakening. Haven’t seen NASCAR let a manufacturer get this far ahead since the 70s.”
Toyota’s Denny Hamlin and Busch were quick to lob responses in Keselowski’s direction, Hamlin urging Keselowski to “concentrate on your own program bro.”
Despite Toyota’s clear success this year (and particularly of late), Toyota Racing Development President David Wilson said the playing field is level.
“Our competition in both the Ford and Chevrolet camps is right on top of us,” Wilson told USA TODAY Sports. “To the earlier commentary ( by Keselowski), I find it flattering overall. I try to not let it become a distraction.
“I think most people understand and appreciate that our road through the sport has been very rocky. This is our
11th year in the Cup series. We have one manufacturer championship and one driver championship. To suggest we’ve been dominant is a gross exaggeration.”
Toyota has won 12 races this year. Chevrolet has won 10 and Ford nine. Five races remain.
Toyota drivers have led 53% of the laps run this year compared with 25% for Ford and
22% for Chevrolet. Wilson said Toyota’s preseason goal was to have two Camry teams in the final four at Homestead. That remains quite possible, with Truex virtually a lock for the final round of the playoffs and Hamlin, Busch and Matt Kenseth still in the mix.
Each of the three manufacturers has four drivers in the final 12, with four drivers scheduled to be eliminated from the playoffs at Kansas.