A late-night checkered flag run gets Blaney closer to another championship run.
Last week’s Atlanta race was incredible despite a lengthy rain delay. If you stayed up past 2 AM on Monday morning to catch the finish, we’re sure your boss understood. After all, we were treated to a thrilling victory for superspeedway ace Ryan Blaney and his pink and lime green Ford. Blaney is still the only Ford driver to make it to victory lane in a points-paying race this season.
Even after a long day – and night – at the race track, Blaney was all smiles. He even took his trophy, a new Harley-Davidson motorcycle, for laps around the speedway after celebrating with his team. Blaney has a big moustache, big hair, a big smile, and a big personality to match. He’s also a big problem for the Toyotas as we edge closer and closer towards the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs.
He’s now comfortably third place in points, just 65 points behind Denny Hamlin in first and 41 points behind Tyler Reddick in second. For comparison, Blaney won 75 points at the Quaker State 400. That means he started on the pole and won both stages in addition to winning the race. A fastest lap bonus point would have given him a perfect 76 point race if not for Cody Ware winning that honor.
It seems like Blaney – and by extension, his #12 Penske Ford team – are returning to their winning ways, playing to their strengths and coming in clutch when it matters. Even though the championship format has changed, it’s possible that this well-worn Penske strategy may pay dividends if Blaney can maintain the consistency he’s known for.
Carson Hocevar, who has also won this season, nearly brought home his second trophy on Monday, but he couldn’t find a dancing partner when it mattered. To quote the fictionalized James Hunt from the 2013 racing film Rush, “Every now and then, it helps if people like you.” His brash and bold driving style, as well as his controversial statements to the racing media, have endeared Hocevar to legions of fans. It has not, however, endeared him to his coworkers.
Next week the circus heads to North Wilkesboro Speedway for its first points-paying race since 1996. We’re excited to get back on a short track again after all of the high-speed, high-banked excitement of Atlanta.
Photo: Associated Press
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