LEBANON, Tenn. — Ryan Blaney and Crew Penske have been quick together with his No. 12 Ford Mustang this 12 months solely to have races slip away when it mattered most.
Not Sunday night time.
Blaney ran away down the stretch for his first Cup Sequence victory of the 12 months Sunday night time at Nashville Superspeedway, then he celebrated with a burnout in entrance of the roaring followers after what he known as a tough 12 months.
“I am able to go rejoice,” Blaney mentioned.
The 2023 Cup champ had been racing properly with 5 top-five finishes over the primary half of this season. He lastly bought to victory lane for his 14th profession victory and first since Martinsville in November.
“I by no means gave up hope that is for certain,” Blaney mentioned. “We have had nice pace all 12 months. It simply hasn’t actually been one of the best 12 months for us so far as success. However [No.] 12 boys are superior. They keep it up irrespective of the way it goes.”
He grew to become the ninth totally different winner this season and the fifth driver to win in as many races at Nashville. He additionally gave Crew Penske a second straight Cup win at Nashville’s 1.33-mile concrete observe.
Blaney, who began fifteenth, rapidly drove his option to the entrance as he gained the second stage. He simply held off Carson Hocevar by 2.83 seconds. Hocevar matched his career-best end at Atlanta in February after complaining in the course of the race that his No. 77 Chevrolet was undriveable.
“Both I am actually dramatic or they’re actually good on changes,” Hocevar mentioned. “Most likely somewhat little bit of each, however, yeah, pleased with this group pleased with this automotive. A spot that’s actually, actually tough to go, we’re capable of go twenty sixth to second.”
Denny Hamlin completed third in his 700th profession Cup Sequence race, matching the third-place end by Jeff Gordon at Darlington in 2013 for one of the best end in a driver’s 700th race. Joey Logano, who gained right here final 12 months, was fourth and William Byron fifth.
Hamlin hoped for another warning that by no means got here after seven cautions for 35 laps.
“Simply could not run with the 12 [Blaney] there within the tremendous future,” Hamlin mentioned. “After 40 laps, I might preserve with him. However then after that, he simply pulled away and stretched it on us.”
There was a dash to the end beneath inexperienced forcing groups and drivers to select and select when to pit. Blaney had led 107 laps when he went to the pits beneath inexperienced flag on lap 248. Hamlin took the lead earlier than going to pit highway on lap 256.
Crew chief Jonathan Hassler mentioned they selected Blaney’s fifth and last pit cease to strive to verify he might get again out into the cleanest air doable.
“It was very nice simply to complete off a race,” Hassler mentioned.
Brad Keselowski had the lead when he went to the pits on lap 269. Blaney took the lead for the ultimate 31 laps.
Ready on a name
Hamlin raced Sunday night time hoping to make the most of his beginning spot spot beside pole-sitter Chase Briscoe. Whether or not Hamlin would chase his third win this season had been in query together with his third youngster, a boy, due the identical day.
Hamlin practiced and certified properly, so he drove his No. 11 Toyota whilst Joe Gibbs Racing had Ryan Truex on standby in case Hamlin bought the decision that his fiancee was in labor. Hamlin gained the primary stage and survived the ultimate stretch with out water or recent air.
Tyler Reddick beat his boss Hamlin, a co-owner of his 23XI Racing group, to new dad or mum standing, which Reddick introduced on social media earlier Sunday.
His household welcomed their second son at 2:20 a.m. on Could 25, then Reddick adopted up hours later by ending twenty sixth within the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte.
Early night time
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. did not end his first race this 12 months. He was the primary out when Hocevar tapped his No. 47 Chevrolet, spinning Stenhouse into the wall between Turns 3 and 4 for the second warning of the race on lap 106.
Punishment and extra penalties doable?
AJ Allmendinger began in the back of the sector and served a stop-and-go penalty after the inexperienced flag for an unapproved adjustment to the splitter throughout Saturday’s observe. His No. 16 Chevrolet was despatched again to the storage after which the scanning station earlier than observe and qualifying.
The No. 66 Ford of Chad Finchum failed inspection twice resulting in engineer Austin Webb’s ejection. The Storage 66 group additionally misplaced pit stall choice.
Up subsequent
NASCAR heads to Michigan Worldwide Speedway for the Cup Sequence on June 8.
