Was 2021 a "Off-game" season for Ford teams in the NASCAR Cup Series?

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    Each season of the NASCAR Cup Series plays out in a variety of different ways. While some aspects remain consistent for periods of time, no two seasons are ever identical. Some years, teams and manufacturers are dominant, while other seasons see them fall short of every expectation.

One aspect of the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season that that stood out glaringly was the lack of performance by from Ford's NASCAR race teams. In comparison to the manufacturers' success during the 2020 season, 2021 brought high hopes for Ford, although many of those high hopes were not met. 

By far, one of the most dominate seasons put together by the Ford teams in the NASCAR Cup Series, was in 2020. The OEM won the Manufacturer's Championship by winning 18 of the 36 races on the schedule. Kevin Harvick, one of the Ford drivers for Stewart-Haas Racing, rounded up nine career victories by himself during the 2020 season. Even though he would not advance past the Round of 8 on to the Championship four, Kevin Harvick had out done everyone with victories that season; only Toyota driver, Denny Hamlin was anywhere close with seven wins in 2020

Here is a list detailing every win for Ford in 2021, and which team and driver delivered them:

• Daytona 500 - Michael McDowell [No. 34 Ford / Front Row Motorsports]
• Atlanta (Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500) - Ryan Blaney [No. 12 Ford / Team Penske]
• Bristol Dirt (Food City Dirt Race) - Joey Logano [No. 22 Ford / Team Penske]
• Talladega (Geico 500) - Brad Keselowski [No. 2 Ford / Team Penske]
• New Hampshire (Foxwoods Resort Casino 301) - Aric Almirola [No. 10 Ford / Stewart-Haas Racing]
• Michigan (FireKeepers Casino 400) - Ryan Blaney [No. 12 Ford / Team Penske]
• Daytona (Coke Zero Sugar 400) - Ryan Blaney [No. 12 Ford / Team Penske]

By observing the data above, Ford conquered seven manufacturer victories in the 2021 season, 11 fewer than the previous year. Each of these wins came before the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs, meaning there weren't any Ford drivers who managed to reach victory lane following August 28th, 2021. The manufacturer finished off the season with a dry spell.

Arguably one of the most successful Ford drivers in 2021, would be none other than Ryan Blaney. With three victories in a single season being his career best, and a round of eight playoff appearance Blaney burst onto the scene!

Whether it was aerodynamic or horsepower packages, crew changes, or even just the driver's performance throughout the year which created a low season for Ford in NASCAR competition, it's obvious that something wen't horribly wrong. One thing is for certain: Things in NASCAR tend to change fairly quick, therefore Ford should have an opportunity to break free from this slump. At least we hope.