Ryan Blaney: A Young Driver who Respects Old-School

Ryan Blaney, driver of the #21 Omnicraft Auto Parts Ford, stands on the grid during qualifying for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway on June 16, 2017 in Brooklyn, Michigan. Photo – Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images

In relation to the magnitude of the moment, Ryan Blaney’s victory celebration last Sunday at Pocono Raceway was positively subdued.

Blaney had just won his first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup race, passing 2015 series champion Kyle Busch with nine laps left and held off 2014 champion Kevin Harvick over the final eight circuits. Continue reading

Ryan Blaney Captures First Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Victory in Dramatic Pocono 400

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Dogged by Kevin Harvick for the final eight laps of Sunday’s Axalta presents the Pocono 400, Ryan Blaney held off the 2014 series champion in a breathtaking battle to claim the first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series victory of his career.

After a restart on lap 148 of 160, Blaney grabbed the lead from polesitter Kyle Busch on lap 151, with Busch on older tires, doing everything he could to block Blaney’s No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford. Racing side by side with Busch’s No. 18 Toyota down the Long Pond straightaway, Blaney stayed in the gas through the tunnel turn and cleared Busch’s Camry off the corner. Continue reading

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, Coca Cola 600 at Charlotte Preview

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Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series teams are revving up for their longest race of the season in the Coca Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Sunday, May 28th at 6 pm ET. Television coverage is on FOX at 5:30 pm ET with radio coverage on PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

Fourth Stage Implemented for Coca-Cola 600

Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway will feature a fourth stage. Each stage will last 100 laps. Stage 1 will end on lap 100, Stage 2 on lap 200, Stage 3 on lap 300 and Stage 4 on lap 400. Continue reading

Optimism Abounds at NASCAR’s West Coast Media Day in Las Vegas

Reporter Kelli Stavast (L-R) hosts a panel discussion with drivers Daniel Suarez, Kyle Larson and Ryan Blaney during NASCAR West Coast Media Day at Hyde Bellagio at Bellagio on January 7, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Photo – Isaac Brekken/Getty Images

Optimism and excitement were the common themes that flowed through NASCAR’s West Coast Media Day at The Bellagio’s Hyde night club in Las Vegas on Thursday.

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers Kyle Larson, Daniel Suarez and Ryan Blaney joined Las Vegas Motor Speedway President Chris Powell, Auto Club Speedway President Dave Allen and Phoenix Raceway President Bryan Sperber to speak to the media at the exclusive club. NBC’s Kelli Stavast hosted the event, which featured a Q&A session and one-on-one time with the assembled media. Continue reading

Blaney Honoring the Late Neil Bonnett at Talladega

Ryan Blaney and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane team are planning an encore presentation of their throwback theme first used at the Darlington Raceway earlier this season.

Blaney, at his own request, will wear the same uniform he wore during the Southern 500 to honor David Pearson.

At Talladega, he’ll wear the uniform in honor of both Pearson and the late Neil Bonnett, who was from Bessemer, Ala., and considered Talladega his home track.

Bonnett succeeded Pearson as driver of the iconic No. 21 midway through the 1979 season and used a uniform just like the one Pearson wore. Once aboard the No. 21, Bonnett won in his third start, at Dover International Speedway. He won twice more that season, at Daytona and Atlanta. Continue reading