Ryan Blaney’s experience at the Straight Talk Wireless 400 felt like a missed opportunity. In a tight, nail-biting finish at Homestead-Miami, the defending Cup Series champion was denied his third win of the season by a mere 0.24 seconds, leaving him just short of securing a Championship 4 spot. With only one race left at Martinsville Speedway, Blaney and fellow contender Denny Hamlin now face mounting pressure to keep their championship hopes alive for Phoenix.
For Blaney, this race was yet another chapter in a challenging season. After a season marked by setbacks, such as running out of gas on the final lap of the Enjoy Illinois 300 and narrowly losing to Daniel Suarez by 0.003 seconds at Atlanta, the stakes were high at Homestead. Entering the race 30 points below the elimination cutline, Blaney knew he needed an exceptional result. He led the race until the last lap, only to be overtaken by Tyler Reddick, who slipped by in the final turn, leaving Blaney with a runner-up finish.
Speaking to SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, a visibly disappointed Blaney reflected on the race, saying, “Last restart, we’re trying to get the lead back from the No. 11… and I don’t know, the last lap I probably could have done some things differently.” He added that he underestimated how quickly Reddick approached the outside lane. Though he regretted his final-lap moves, Blaney expressed pride in the team’s effort, despite the bitter loss.
Starting 20th, Blaney fought hard, making his way up the field with impressive speed, finishing Stage 1 in fourth and later dropping to fifth after 165 laps. As the race drew to a close, Blaney found himself locked in a fierce battle with Kyle Larson, which seemed like a two-car showdown until Larson spun out, prompting a caution. This led to a final showdown between Blaney, Hamlin, and Reddick, where Reddick capitalized on his outside momentum to snatch the victory. Though Blaney finished second, he now sits seventh in the playoff standings, trailing the cutline by 38 points heading into Martinsville.
Denny Hamlin also had a challenging race. Starting fourth, he was a contender throughout and managed to win Stage 2. However, in the final laps, he struggled to keep up with Blaney and Reddick, ultimately finishing third. Reflecting on his performance, Hamlin told Frontstretch’s Daniel McFadin, “I tried to cover all lanes but just couldn’t get off the corner as I needed to.” Now, Hamlin heads to Martinsville in a must-win situation, 18 points below the cutline. However, the veteran driver remains hopeful, declaring, “You’re not out of it until they throw the checkered flag at Martinsville.”
Shocking Outcome: Blaney vs. Hamlin Fued Leaves Unexpected Winner as Phoenix Looms!
