This weekend's race at Michigan International Speedway is one of only three remaining races in the regular season. It's an opportunity to lock up a spot in the playoffs, but for Ford, it's also a chance to extend a staggering streak of dominance.
Ford Performance drivers have won the last nine Cup Series races at the two-mile track conveniently located 64 miles from Ford Motor Company World Headquarters. Three of them will compete in Sunday's race.
Chris Buescher won last season's Cup race at Michigan while three other Ford Performance drivers finished inside the top 10. Ryan Blaney won the 2021 race and Joey Logano won the first Michigan race in 2019.
Clint Bowyer started this nine-race streak by winning the June 2018 race at Michigan. Kevin Harvick won the August 2018 race. Harvick actually won five of the last nine races at Michigan, a run that includes a season sweep in 2020.
"It's pretty important, more important for us," Logano said about winning at Michigan. "I'd like to get it more than anybody. Probably every Ford driver would say the same thing, but it's definitely a special place to win for the OEMs.
"You think about it. All of the executives are there. The last thing you want is them to drive back to Dearborn and say, 'Uhhhhh.' You want them to be celebrating and enjoy it, so everyone brings as much as they can to try to win that one."
Logano has been particularly productive at Michigan throughout his Cup career. He has made 27 starts at the track and has posted 18 top-10 finishes. Logano has won three times at the track since 2013, his first season with Team Penske and Ford.
Blaney has been similarly productive in recent races. He has seven top-10 finishes and one win in his last 10 starts at Michigan.
This recent stretch of dominance is only the latest example of Ford Motor Company delivering wins at Michigan. NASCAR Cup teams have competed at the two-mile track 106 times. Ford Motor Company drivers have won 56 of these races (53%) split between Ford and Mercury.
David Pearson leads all Cup drivers with nine wins at Michigan, which he secured in a Mercury. Bill Elliott won seven races at Michigan in a Ford.