Ryan Blaney got here from practically three seconds again to problem teammate Joey Logano for the Phoenix race win and Cup Sequence championship, however he merely ran out of time to get the job achieved. On the checkered flag, he was 0.330s away from turning into a back-to-back NASCAR Cup Sequence champion, and he was worn out. The AMR Security Group tended to him on pit highway after the race.
“I used to be drained, man,” stated Blaney. “I used to be driving onerous and huffing and puffing and felt like I used to be going to cross out after the race. I used to be working onerous attempting to shut the hole down. There have been a whole lot of similarities to final week and simply did not fairly get there this week.”
William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports, Joey Logano, Group Penske, Ryan Blaney, Group Penske, Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing
Picture by: NASCAR Media
The vital 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 cross 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 onerous with Kyle Larson and later Byron, however by the point he cleared them each, Logano was 2.3 seconds up the highway with simply over 20 laps to go.
“Simply received bottled up,” stated Blaney of that pivotal restart. “I took sixth. I believed the highest was most likely the higher row, personally, and simply received put in type of a bizarre aero spot. Plenty of guys washed up in entrance of me there by 1 and a pair of, and Joey type of received clear, after which I solely received to fourth.
“That was the end result. Simply Joey received 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. Every little thing was spent on that automotive.
“I knew once I was operating him down, I’ll get there, however I did not have something as soon as I received there. When you get in soiled air they usually can begin type of guessing the place you are going, it simply makes it that a lot more durable. Yeah, simply the restart, if I’d have simply been nearer, if I’d have got here out second or so, I would not have needed to work as onerous and are available from as far again and perhaps would have had a little 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 received management of the race. Like I by no means received the lead. I received the lead as soon as, and I believe the inexperienced flag stops occurred or I received the lead on the finish of Stage 2, Stage 2 ended, after which I received 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 received the lead.
“I felt like if I received the lead, I am gone. However it simply did not play out. Automobile was nice, and Jonathan and people guys did a terrific job of getting us to the place we wanted to be.”
