Ford, Chevrolet Find NASCAR's New Short-Track Package a Disaster

• NASCAR’s new short-track and road course package made its debut Sunday at Phoenix Raceway.

• Only one Ford driver—Todd Gilliland—kept the race from being a Toyota rout.

• Chevrolet, which had won the season’s first three races, was virtually non-existent.

Toyota teams will no doubt like NASCAR’s new short-track package, while Ford and Chevrolet would probably like to scrap it and start over.

NASCAR’s new short-track and road course package made its debut Sunday at Phoenix Raceway, and it was a disaster for Ford and Chevrolet. In the Shriners Children’s 500, Toyota drivers led all but 14 laps in the 312-lap race.

Only one Ford driver—Todd Gilliland—kept the race from being a Toyota rout. Chevrolet, which had won the season’s first three races, was virtually non-existent. Only one Chevrolet driver—Ross Chastain—finished in the top 10. Ironically, half of the six drivers who tested the package in December 2023 at Phoenix placed in the top five.

Toyota’s Christopher Bell won the race, while Ford’s Chris Buescher placed second and Ryan Blaney took fifth.

The package introduced at Phoenix reduced downforce on the front of the car. To compensate for the reduced downforce on the front, the rear spoiler was increased from two to three inches in height while the same length across the rear deck was kept. Goodyear developed a new tire to go with the package.

Ford’s Chase Briscoe thought the package was better, but the tires were an issue.