The Cup Series is well into its 2024 season, and while NASCAR Ford drivers only account for two wins so far, a handful of racers from The Blue Oval stable were named in the midseason superlatives picked by the sport.
The superlatives, released on NASCAR.com, call out the best finishes and most impressive drivers so far this year. Right off the bat, NASCAR Ford driver Noah Gragson, who drives the No. 10 Ford Mustang Dark Horse, is named as the “biggest surprise” so far this year. He’s hitting his stride with his team, Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR), and has more top-10 finishes than top names like Ross Chastain and Joey Logano in 2024. That’ll serve him well going forward, especially if SHR closes its doors and leaves Gragson in search of a ride for 2025.
NASCAR Ford drivers have been involved in both of the closest finishes in 2024, but the “Most Exciting Moment” award so far goes to Atlanta. Ryan Blaney’s No. 12 Mustang lost out in a three-wide photo finish, tailing behind race winner Daniel Suarez in the No. 99 Chevy Camaro ZL1 and Kyle Busch’s No. 8 Camaro.
The race at Kansas, meanwhile, earned the title of “Best Race.” This race culminated in a 0.001-second margin of victory, the closest in Cup Series history, and Chris Buescher’s No. 17 NASCAR Ford was on the wrong end of it. There’s not a lot Buescher could have done differently to end up in Victory Lane instead of Kyle Larson, but overall, it was one of the best races of all time.
Finally, Joey Logano, who won the non point-paying All Star Race, was recognized as the “Top Contender Below Elimination Line.” Logano hasn’t really performed all that well this year and certainly doesn’t have the points he needs, but there’s still plenty of time to turn the season around before the Playoffs begin late this summer.
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