Blaney Playoff Surge: Ryan Blaney, in an astonishing turn of events, clinched the NASCAR Cup Series championship at Phoenix Raceway, mirroring his teammate Joey Logano‘s triumph from the previous season for Team Penske. Reflecting on his 2023 campaign, Blaney candidly admitted parallels between his victory and Logano’s title run in 2022.
Behind the wheel of the #12 Ford, Blaney’s season dynamics paralleled Logano’s championship journey. Bagging the Coca-Cola 600 win in the regular season, he barely sneaked into the playoffs as the 12th seed. An erratic summer stint followed, enduring 151 races without a single top-five finish, which kept him out of the title favorite discussions at the playoffs’ onset.
Despite this challenging stretch, the 29-year-old surged in the playoffs, securing two critical victories that catapulted him into the title contention. Eventually, he clinched the championship in a fashion akin to Logano’s success the previous year.
In a conversation, the 2023 Cup champion remarked on the resemblance, saying, “Joey’s championship year last year was a lot like ours… having an OK regular season but really showing up in the playoffs. I had faith in our group to get better. You never lose faith in your group of getting better.”
Blaney, mirroring Logano’s successful 2022 bid, unearthed pace during the playoffs. Notching a crucial victory at Talladega in the Round of 12 and another clutch win at Martinsville secured his spot in the championship four. Seizing his momentum, Blaney emerged as an unexpected contender for the title, a testament to his consistency at Phoenix, securing a second-place finish in the season finale to claim the 2023 title.
Commending Blaney’s remarkable playoff performance, team principal Roger Penske lauded the driver’s extraordinary achievement.
For Blaney, this championship marked a monumental achievement after over a decade, having not claimed a NASCAR national series title. Despite successes in late models and a second-place finish in the 2014 Truck Series standings, the Cup Series victory stands as an entirely different feat, as he admitted, “It’s been a long time since I’ve won a championship… This is just a whole different deal.”
Ryan Blaney’s unexpected surge to the championship signifies a remarkable twist in the NASCAR Cup Series narrative, echoing the team’s resilience and Blaney’s personal triumph on the circuit.
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Our Reader’s Queries
How did Ryan Blaney make the NASCAR playoffs?
Despite his best efforts, he could have easily been caught up in a devastating crash that would have ruined his entire year. However, luck was on his side as the final yellow flag was waved during Lap 324. The majority of the race’s last third was run under green conditions, and Blaney managed to hold on and secure a spot in the Championship 4.
Are William Byron and Erin Blaney still together?
Erin and William have been an item since February 2020, and the trio is at ease with the arrangement. They even find humor in it, as evidenced by Byron’s recent quip on the NBC broadcast after Blaney’s victory at Martinsville: “Congrats to Ryan. Really happy for him, brother-in-law.”
What is Ryan Blaney’s annual salary?
Ryan Blaney’s estimated annual salary is a whopping $2 million. In terms of career victories, as of 2023, he has secured an impressive 7 wins in the NASCAR Cup Series.
Has Ryan Blaney ever won a NASCAR championship?
Ryan Michael Blaney is a skilled American stock car racing driver, who competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series. He drives the No. 12 Ford Mustang Dark Horse for Team Penske. In 2023, he was crowned the NASCAR Cup Series champion.