Team Penske should lead the way for Ford’s 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup effort

This is the third and final in a series of 2016 NASCAR team manufacturer previews. This week, Ford:

Team Penske

Both of Team Penske’s drivers will be among the favorites for this season’s championship. Until Joey Logano’s feud with Matt Kenseth derailed Logano’s hopes last season, he was in position to win his first championship. Brad Keselowski, while he made the Chase again, will look to bounce back from what was for him a sub-par season (just one victory).

Roush Fenway Racing

There will be lots of pressure at Roush Fenway, which didn’t produce a Chase driver in 2015 for the first time in team history. The team hasn’t won since Greg Biffle’s victory at Michigan in 2013. Biffle’s 20^th-place finish last season was the best of the team’s three drivers, so there’s plenty of room for improvement from Biffle, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Trevor Bayne.

Richard Petty Motorsports

A new era begins at RPM with Brian Scott replacing Sam Hornish Jr. Aric Almirola didn’t return to the Chase after qualifying for the postseason in 2014. There are still questions for the Mooresville-based team, primarily who will sponsor Scott’s No. 9 car. Scott only has 17 career Cup starts.

Wood Brothers Racing

One of the sport’s iconic teams returns to Cup racing on a fulltime basis next season. Ryan Blaney will drive the famous No. 21. Blaney drove a partial schedule for the Woods in 2015, with one top-5 and two top-10 finishes. The Woods will receive technical assistance from Team Penske.

Front Row Motorsports

Xfinity champion Chris Buescher will drive for Front Row, with Scott Graves as his crew chief. Although a decision on the team’s No. 38 car hasn’t been announced yet, the team will have an alliance with Roush Fenway Racing.

This story was originally published January 7, 2016 at 9:49 PM with the headline "Team Penske should lead the way for Ford’s 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup effort."