As Hallie Deegan Continues Her Streak of Sub-Par Results, Ford Rests Hope on Driver Accused of ‘Blatant Cheating’

It was absolute heartbreak for Stewart-Haas Racing team, after Sunday’s Cup Series race at Bristol. The team’s sole championship contender and the dark horse Kevin Harvick failed to qualify for the Round of 12. In his last season as a NASCAR driver, the 2014 Cup Series champion’s performance in the series was subpar. Although he notched a consistent streak of top 5 and top 10 finishes, victory eluded him.

Kevin Harvick’s individual challenges highlight the broader frustrations Tony Stewart’s team’s manufacturer faces. Only three from the Blue Oval banner are in contention for the championship. The scenario in the minor leagues is more dismal. However, it seems it is ready to undergo a major rejig within the teams.

Ford encounters a daunting task as the silly NASCAR season intensifies

The teams under the Blue Oval in the elite series of NASCAR seem to be in a more stabilized state, thanks to RFK Racing and Front Row Motorsports. Meanwhile, the teams belonging to Ford in the Xfinity, as well as the Truck Series, are embroiled in a series of problems. They have failed to gain momentum on the track.

Moreover, to secure the future, the manufacturer tried to house the younger talents, who would eventually rise up to the Cup Series. But the plans seem to have failed to hold water. One was the transfer of Zane Smith, one of their biggest prospect to Trackhouse Racing, in the Cup Series, a Chevrolet team.

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To add to the woes, hinging their hopes to churn out better results from Hailie Deegan is turning out to be a big risk for the manufacturer. The driver has notched 4 top 10s in her 66 starts. Moreover, the driver has struggled to live up to the expectations that she had shown early in her career. She has also been involved in wrecks and contentious contact in consecutive races. Owing to this, the only viable prospect that remains and could challenge Zane Smith is Ty Majeski.

He has scored two wins and has advanced to the Championship 4. But he was accused of using unauthorized modified parts in his car during the race at Milwaukee. The driver was slapped with a fine along with the docking of points and also the suspension of the crew chief. Owing to this, Brett Griffin, in an episode of Dooe Bumper Clear, had termed it as a ‘blatant cheating.’

Zane Smith discloses his hopes for the future after joining Trackhouse

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As Ford Performance struggles to find a foothold on the tracks of NASCAR, Chevrolet has already started mending its fortress with the signing of Zane Smith being the surprise development.

Speaking on being upgraded to the Cup Series, Smith in a press conference revealed, “This is an incredible moment for me. Trackhouse is one of the most progressive organizations in the garage. I told some friends a year ago that I wanted to be a part of what Trackhouse is doing and I just can’t believe this is all coming true. I am very excited and thankful to have a future with the organization.”

“The Cup Series is the pinnacle of racing in America, and I cannot wait to compete, learn and hone my skills against the best in the world. I am really looking forward to working with the Spire Motorsports team in 2024 and believe the alliance with Trackhouse will help continue Spire’s ascent up the grid.”

Read More: As Spire Motorsports Swooped Up Zane Smith, $50.47 Billion Dollar Manufacturer Faces Glaring Reality at the End of Dismal Season

With that being said, it’s high time that Ford Performance takes a futuristic approach to making its presence felt better among the other two teams. As the upcoming season approaches, it is to be seen how the team addresses the changes.