Fords Continue Their Exceptional Qualifying Form as McDowell and Logano Swap Places for the Front Row

Beating the Ford Mustangs is going to be a handful for the other teams and drivers in the Cup Series in 2024. Just as the 2023 Cup season wrapped up, Ford announced they would be coming up with a new Mustang named Dark Horse for the next season, with a promise of buff in the exciting performance. And going by the initial run of form, it looks like the drivers and teams donning the Ford badge are quicker than the rest of the pack.

It was a Ford front row at the Daytona 500, with Joey Logano from Team Penske taking the pole, while Michael McDowell from FRM joined him in the second position. Moving on to the next qualifying round at Atlanta Motor Speedway, it was the same results, with just drivers swapping positions. McDowell bagged his first pole position, with Logano following him up in a close second spot.

Ford dominant once again in the qualifying rounds at Atlanta

Front Row Motorsport’s alliance with Ford Performance and Team Penske has started to work in their favor. Going into the second race of the NASCAR Cup Series season, FRM driver Michael McDowell, managed to clinch his first-ever pole position. It’s not the case with these two drivers. In fact, across the board, Ford cars are proving to be too hot to handle for the other teams.

Out of the top 10 positions on the grid for tomorrow’s Cup race, only three spots have been secured by a non-Ford team. Leading the chart is RCR’s Kyle Busch, placing himself third on the grid. Followed by HMS’s Kyle Larson, who’s in fifth place. Concluding the 10th spot is RCR’s Austin Dillon. Daytona 500 winner, William Byron failed to push past the first round of qualifying and was only the 11th fastest on his laps.

Surprisingly, none of the Toyota drivers could make it into the top 10 places. Toyota themselves have rolled out their new Camry XSE for the season, but it seems like Ford, with its Mustang, is running ahead in terms of pace, at least in qualifying races. Leading the charge for Toyota as the fastest car was JGR’s Martin Truex Jr, placed 12th on the grid behind Byron.

Collecting his first pole of his career, McDowell was indeed proud of his personal achievement but credited the success of the qualifying round to his team.

McDowell credits his qualifying success to his team

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It has been a known fact that for a driver to perform his best behind the wheel, the race car needs to be equally primed and ready. Credits and plaudits for positive results are often showered upon the driver, but in reality, it is a team effort. And this was rightly acknowledged by McDowell after he secured his maiden pole in the Cup Series career.

Quoted by Toby Christie, McDowell said, “Yes, it is for sure my first career pole in the NASCAR Cup Series. I’m proud of that, but at the same time, it’s more of a testament to the team. I mean, this qualifying session you have to execute everything perfectly, but at the same time, having a fast race car is what it’s all about. I’m really proud of my guys.”

Qualifying at the pole does not secure a win in the actual race, this was evident from the Daytona 500. So the challenge for the Ford drivers will be to convert the lead into a positive result at the Atlanta Motor Speedway.

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