Ryan Blaney, who is eleven races into the Cup season, is looking for his first victory of the year, although he could have had several wins by now if everything had gone his way. The race at Texas last weekend gave the former Cup champion yet another dose of annoyance. Additionally, Blaney’s lack of success carries over from the most of his Cup career. He has only triumphed once before to the season’s thirteenth event. Blaney is the only Team Penske driver without a Cup victory this season after teammate Austin Cindric won at Talladega the week before and Joey Logano won at Texas. Blaney is the only Team Penske driver without a win after Joey Logano won in Texas and teammate Austin Cindric won at Talladega the previous week a Cup victory this season
Last weekend at Texas, Blaney was in second place and decided to restart on the inside line behind leader Kyle Larson on a restart that was 23 laps from the scheduled end. Michael McDowell was positioned outside the front row as a result. Just before a caution was issued, McDowell overtook Larson for the lead. While competing against McDowell and Joey Logano, Blaney finished second and had the opportunity to restart on the outside but was unable to take the lead on either of the final two restarts. After placing third at Texas, Blaney remarked, “The one time I didn’t pick the outside (McDowell) got the lead and then I couldn’t get it back.” “Just a driver not doing his job and making stupid decisions.” Thank you to the team. The 12 vehicle moved quickly today. I just can’t do anything right currently. Hopefully it will work itself out.”
This season, Blaney has frequently been left to boast about his fast car and his hope for further victories.
Think about:
With 32 laps remaining in the season’s second race in Atlanta, Blaney was in fourth place when Carson Hocevar’s push sent him spinning. Blaney recovered to take fourth place. Following the race, Hocevar apologized to Blaney. Blaney was in ninth place with 23 laps remaining in the season’s fourth race at Phoenix when his engine failed. In the season’s fifth race in Las Vegas, Blaney crashed when racing sixth on a restart with 72 laps remaining after misinterpreting his spotter and failing to recognize that he had two cars outside of him.
Blaney won the first stage, placed third in the second stage, and led a race-high 124 laps in the season’s sixth race at Homestead, earning 18 stage points. With sixty laps remaining, he was in third place when his engine failed. He remarked at the time, “It was an extremely, incredibly fast race car today.” We’ll remain vigilant. It’s simply one of those situations where things aren’t going our way at the moment, but at least we’re bringing fast vehicles, which is all you can hope for. Blaney and the series will go to Kansas Speedway for the race on Sunday in a new week. In 2014, he made his Cup debut on this track. In the previous year’s playoff race, he placed fourth there. Sunday will be his 21st start at the track and his best finish was third in the 2017 playoff race.
