Ryan Blaney claimed victory at Pocono Raceway on Sunday, marking his second win in the past five NASCAR Cup Series races. This win, at the track where he secured his first career Cup win, also contributed to a successful weekend for Team Penske, with Scott McLaughlin and Will Power winning IndyCar races at Iowa Speedway for team owner Roger Penske.
Blaney, the 2023 NASCAR champion, had recently won the inaugural Cup race at Iowa Speedway and secured two additional top-10 finishes before Pocono. His consistent performance in the No. 12 Ford this summer positions him as a strong contender for a second consecutive championship. Reflecting on the team’s progress, Blaney noted improvements in speed and execution compared to last year.
During the race, Blaney maintained his lead over the final 10 laps, fending off competitors Denny Hamlin and Alex Bowman. Although Hamlin, holding a record seven wins at Pocono, pursued Blaney closely, he couldn’t surpass him. Bowman, who won the Chicago Street Race last week, also performed well but fell short.
Hamlin, expressing his thoughts on the race, said, “Never lose a race, just always run out of time, right? That’s just part of it.” Blaney’s crew chief, Jonathan Hassler, admitted to being nervous given past experiences, specifically when Blaney ran out of fuel in June at World Wide Technology Raceway.
Team Penske has seen substantial success recently, with Austin Cindric winning in Illinois and Joey Logano claiming victory in Nashville. Including Blaney’s wins, Penske drivers have secured four wins in the last seven Cup races. Blaney, continuing his family’s racing legacy, led the final 44 laps and now boasts 12 career Cup wins, starting with his first for the Wood Brothers in 2017 at Pocono.
Blaney emphasized the significance of his Pocono victory, describing it as “super special” seven years after his initial win there. He acknowledged the importance of peaking late in the season, as demonstrated by his strong performance in last year’s playoffs, which helped him secure his first career title and the fourth Cup championship for Team Penske.
Pocono Raceway announced a sellout crowd for the second consecutive year, though heavy rain and severe weather caused significant traffic delays. The track management promised to address the situation for affected fans.
The race saw some early exits, notably Ross Chastain, who was out after 53 laps, impacting his playoff chances. Kyle Busch, involved in a late wreck with Corey LaJoie, also struggled to gain the needed points to remain competitive in the playoff race, extending his winless streak this season.
