Ryan Blaney got here from practically three seconds again to problem teammate Joey Logano for the Phoenix race win and Cup Collection championship, however he merely ran out of time to get the job executed. On the checkered flag, he was 0.330s away from changing into a back-to-back NASCAR Cup Collection champion, and he was worn out. The AMR Security Staff tended to him on pit street after the race.
“I used to be drained, man,” stated Blaney. “I used to be driving laborious and huffing and puffing and felt like I used to be going to go out after the race. I used to be working laborious attempting to shut the hole down. There have been numerous similarities to final week and simply did not fairly get there this week.”
William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports, Joey Logano, Staff Penske, Ryan Blaney, Staff Penske, Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing
Photograph by: NASCAR Media
The essential second got here on a Lap 259 restart when William Byron managed the race with two Hendrick Motorsports teammates at his again. Whereas Logano made a superb three-wide go for the lead, Blaney remained trapped behind two of the Hendrick drivers. That turned out to be the profitable second, as Logano by no means relinquished the lead once more
Blaney fought laborious with Kyle Larson and later Byron, however by the point he cleared them each, Logano was 2.3 seconds up the street with simply over 20 laps to go.
“Simply obtained bottled up,” stated Blaney of that pivotal restart. “I took sixth. I assumed the highest was most likely the higher row, personally, and simply obtained put in sort of a bizarre aero spot. Loads of guys washed up in entrance of me there via 1 and a couple of, and Joey sort of obtained clear, after which I solely obtained to fourth.
“That was the end result. Simply Joey obtained to the lead fairly fast with how the restart went, and it labored out for him. By the point I settled in, I used to be fourth and needed to work my ass off to attempt to get by the 5 and the 24 and run Joey down, after which I had nothing left. All the things was spent on that automobile.
“I knew after I was operating him down, I’ll get there, however I did not have something as soon as I obtained there. When you get in soiled air they usually can begin sort of guessing the place you are going, it simply makes it that a lot more durable. Yeah, simply the restart, if I might have simply been nearer, if I might have got here out second or so, I would not have needed to work as laborious and are available from as far again and perhaps would have had a bit bit higher shot.”
Simply wanted to get out entrance
Whereas passing was tough, Blaney was one of many stronger drivers on a long term, making it work higher than most by driving in deep on nook entry. Nevertheless, it was by no means going to be sufficient in opposition to a driver with clear air.
“I simply — I want I ever obtained management of the race. Like I by no means obtained the lead. I obtained the lead as soon as, and I believe the inexperienced flag stops occurred or I obtained the lead on the finish of Stage 2, Stage 2 ended, after which I obtained the lead again — nicely, I lastly handed Joey for second within the third stage when the inexperienced flag cycle occurred, Bell pitted, I got here out second — I simply by no means obtained the lead.
“I felt like if I obtained the lead, I am gone. But it surely simply did not play out. Automotive was nice, and Jonathan and people guys did an amazing job of getting us to the place we would have liked to be.”
