Rylan Blaney during the Straight Talk Wireless 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. (Photo: Ricky Martinez | The Podium Finish)
HOMESTEAD, Fla. — With two laps remaining in the Straight Talk Wireless 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Ryan Blaney took the lead away from Denny Hamlin and looked like he would clinch a spot in the Championship 4 to defend his NASCAR Cup Series title.
The only problem was Tyler Reddick had other plans.
Reddick came storming to the front on the final lap, getting by Hamlin in Turns 1 and 2 and using a power move around the top of Turns 3 and 4 to pass Blaney and secure the victory, clinching a championship berth. When Blaney took a high line going into Turn 3, it gave Reddick an opportunity to get out around Blaney and take the lead and the win.
Blaney was relegated to finish in second place. It was a good day for Blaney, but it was not what he was looking for with his title defense on the line.
Ryan Blaney (12) battling Ross Chastain (1) at Homestead-Miami Speedway. (Photo: Ricky Martinez | The Podium Finish)
“I had a good shot to win it and I didn’t have a very good last lap,” said Blaney. “I thought I got into [Turn] 3 hard and the [No.] 45 just went in there and it stuck for him, which is really impressive. I hate to give one away there like that. I don’t know if we gave it away. We got the lead back after losing it on the restart and just that last lap didn’t play out for us.”
Looking back at the final lap, Blaney acknowledged he can learn a lot from this race. He will not to let it stick with him too much, but keep it in the back of his mind heading into Martinsville.
“It is easy to think about it after the race when it doesn’t go well,” Blaney said. “I try to learn from them and know that something could have been a better route to do and maybe if you are in that spot next time you do that. I try not to sit around and let it eat at me because then you are going to go crazy.”
Ryan Blaney driving at Homestead-Miami Speedway during the Straight Talk Wireless 400. (Photo: Ricky Martinez | The Podium Finish)
Entering the elimination race at Martinsville, Blaney finds himself 38 points below the cut line, practically in must-win territory. The good news though is Blaney won at Martinsville last season to clinch a spot in the Championship 4.
“It is a shame it didn’t work out but we did have good fortune at Martinsville last year. So, hopefully we can bring the same kind of speed and be in contention to win,” Blaney said. “I am super excited about the speed we had today. Hopefully, we bring that same speed to Martinsville.”
In Blaney’s career, Martinsville has been a good track for him. To go along with the victory last season, Blaney has an average finish of 8.8 and has finished inside the top 10 in every start since the introduction of the Next Gen car in 2022.
Blaney knows that going into the race at Martinsville, a lot is on the line and as he looks ahead to Phoenix with the possibility of competing for the NASCAR Cup Series Championship.
“I had a really great shot to go to Phoenix and I still have one more chance, so we still have to look forward to that,” said Blaney.
