Ryan Blaney observes how Watkins Glen demands perfection each lap. (Photo: Wayne Riegle | The Podium Finish)
WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. – Ryan Blaney has showcased potential and promise throughout the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season.
At times, he has showcased pace and might equal to Joe Gibbs Racing’s Martin Truex Jr. and Hendrick Motorsports’ William Byron and Kyle Larson. Then, there are those afternoons where misfortune rears its ugly head while running toward the front of the field.
Then again, this year has been an improvement versus last season’s winless campaign. A victory in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway eased the stress and pressure of making the Playoffs versus the last second dramatics in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona.
Ahead of Sunday’s Go Bowling at The Glen, Blaney considered his season in terms of the successes and areas of opportunities.
“Kinda up and down,” Blaney said. “I feel like we lacked a little bit at the beginning of the year. I think at the end of May (when) we won the 600, first part of June, I thought we put together some really strong races and we were able to get up there close to the points lead.
“Then, we had a bad month and it really kinda killed us on that side. It wasn’t necessarily a bad month attributed to anything. Things didn’t really go our way. We had mechanical issues or what not and you’ll have that. It’s been a decent year.”
When a driver and team capture a crown jewel event, it is more than a decent year. Still, Blaney and his No. 12 Menards Ford Mustang team want to elevate their performances when it comes to the speed department.
“We’re trying to find a little bit of speed,” he said. “I think we’re getting there. I feel like we’re OK on the speed train but obviously there’s still more out there. Hopefully, we can find that before the Playoffs come.”
Over the years, the Hartford Township, Ohio native has showcased flashes of brilliance with fast cars at The Glen. Finishes of eighth in 2017 and fifth in 2019 are good starting points. Then again, he has four finishes of 12th or worse, including a 24th in last year’s race.
That is not to say that the Team Penske racer and crew are giving it a less than 100% effort. If anything, they are throwing everything they have to be consistently quick and strong.
“We’re working hard to get going in that right direction,” he said. “It’s never a lack of effort from the team side. They’re always really working hard to try and get better and better. Hopefully, we’re going the right way.”
By all means, Blaney will need to go the right way at Watkins Glen International, this weekend’s Cup circuit. The 2.45-mile, seven-turn road course can be likened to navigating a tightrope by remaining balanced and focused.
Ryan Blaney feels confident about the direction of his No. 12 Menards Ford Mustang at Watkins Glen and ahead of the Playoffs. (Photo: Wayne Riegle | The Podium Finish)
“Super fast road course, pretty short road course,” he said. “A lot of high speed corners. The Bus Stop is a huge area to gain or lose time. I don’t think it’s too important racing people. You can’t really pass anybody in The Bus Stop. Qualifying and making lap time is big.
“But then you’ve got off of Turn 11, how you brake into 1 is important. How you come off of the Carousel sets you up for 10. Just prepare for a lot of grip and a lot of speed. Qualifying good here is going to be really important.”
In Blaney’s case, he qualified 23rd for Sunday’s 90-lap race. While less than ideal, he knows an old school like road course race may play a pivotal with the all important track position game.
“It doesn’t have a lot of falloff,” he said. “Since they repaved, even before then, it didn’t really have a lot of falloff just the way the surface is. And you never know how cautions are going to fall. You can switch up strategy wise and last week at Indy, we had a whole plan.
“We didn’t qualify terrible. We qualified 16th. But we had our whole plan switched up cause of cautions or things like that. We just never got that opportunity. So, you never know what could happen here. Qualifying makes your day a lot easier if you qualify well.”
Throughout Blaney’s Cup career, he has showcased a cool customer approach. That confident, relaxed approach may his serve Austin Cindric well considering the 24-year-old’s tenacious style.
“Just be patient,” he said. “He’s had a little bit of a long year on that side. They’ve had some bad breaks. They’ve worked really hard. These next two races here at the Glen and Daytona, he’s a great road course racer.
“He’s a good superspeedway racer. He won the 500 last year. Just be patient and do your thing. Don’t try to overreach. There’s times when you can do that. They’re talented enough and that team’s really good enough to where they can do their thing and they can have a shot at it.”
Naturally, Blaney hopes all of his Penske teammates make the Playoffs. Consider how Watkins Glen is a bit of an individual effort for a driver and team versus a superspeedway like next Saturday night’s regular season finale at Daytona.
Although the focus will be about scoring the best possible result, a Saturday night battle at Daytona may offer a promising chance for a Penske Playoffs pursuit.
“We’ll see how this weekend goes,” Blaney said. “If not, we’ll see what helping hand we can give them next week at Daytona with us working trying to work together and trying to get that No. 2 car in the Playoffs. That would be huge for the whole Penske organization, so we’ll see what happens.”
Editor’s Notes
Nathan Solomon contributed to this article from Watkins Glen International in Watkins Glen, New York.
