Music City lived up to the hype on Sunday night, delivering a rowdy, caution-filled Cracker Barrel 400 at Nashville Superspeedway, where Ryan Blaney emerged victorious after a night of survival, strategy, and speed. The Team Penske driver claimed his first win of the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season, giving his No. 12 crew a well-deserved celebration under the Tennessee lights.
With tempers flaring, pit strategies shaken, and multiple contenders faltering, Blaney’s win didn’t come easy—but it came with authority. After surging late and holding off challenges from Byron, Jones, and Hamlin, Blaney made a statement: he’s back in the championship conversation.
Stage One Belongs to Hamlin as Chaos Unfolds Early
The green flag waved over sun-drenched Nashville, with Chase Briscoe making a strong launch and Ross Chastain sliding early in the initial corners. Drivers wrestled with traction over the track’s notorious bumps, particularly through Turns 1 and 2, causing several cars—including the No. 1 of Chastain and the No. 5 of Kyle Larson—to lose ground.
Stage One was far from calm. Denny Hamlin methodically worked his way through traffic, leveraging the aerodynamic quirks of the track and the traffic around him. Late in the stage, Hamlin held off Tyler Reddick, who had fresh tires and superior speed but simply ran out of time.
Hamlin grabbed the green-and-white checkered flag, taking Stage One honors ahead of Reddick, Briscoe, Byron, and Bell.
Further back, penalties disrupted several campaigns early. AJ Allmendinger served a stop-and-go penalty for inspection infractions, putting him a lap down, while Kyle Larson, who had started a disappointing 28th, fought to stay on the lead lap after a mid-stage slide.
Frustration Grows as Cautions Stack Up in Stage Two
Stage Two brought even more mayhem. Stenhouse Jr. slowed with an issue, triggering the second caution of the race. Shortly after the restart, Noah Gragson, Alex Bowman, and Larson were all caught in close-quarter action that led to heavy damage and more yellow flags. Larson’s No. 5 Chevy made minimal contact, but Gragson’s promising run was severely hampered.
Multiple incidents involving rookies and veterans alike showed how difficult the conditions were. One of the biggest flashpoints came when Christopher Bell was spun following hard contact from John Hunter Nemechek—though initial confusion suggested it was Erik Jones due to similar paint schemes. Bell’s No. 20 Toyota sustained heavy damage, effectively ending his night.
Frustration was evident on pit road and the broadcast booth alike. Commentators highlighted how young drivers like Carson Hocevar and Corey Heim showed aggression that bordered on reckless. Hocevar nearly lost control trying to dive under Brad Keselowski in Turn 4, resulting in minor contact and drawing critique from analysts.
Despite the chaos, Ryan Blaney kept his composure. His pit crew, recently reshuffled a month and a half ago, delivered lightning-fast service, gaining critical track position. He capitalized on clean air and smart tire management to snatch the Stage Two win, his 25th career stage victory.
Late-Race Drama and Blaney’s Breakthrough Win
The final stage was a test of nerves and execution. With contenders dropping like flies, including Keselowski and Josh Berry due to pit road penalties, and Ryan Preece spinning after losing downforce in dirty air, the door opened wider for a clean run to the front.
Blaney found himself in a fierce duel with William Byron, with both trading the lead multiple times. Byron slipped exiting Turn 2, and Blaney pounced, seizing control in Turn 3 and never looking back. Erik Jones made a late push but couldn’t close the gap.
As the white flag waved, Blaney cruised through Turns 3 and 4, securing a dramatic and much-needed win. “Awesome, man. Great job, guys. Great job all weekend,” Blaney shouted over the radio. “Super proud of everybody—here’s to many more.”
The victory was sweet redemption after a disappointing previous race and kept the Team Penske driver firmly in the playoff mix. Blaney had been the only winless Penske driver in 2025—until now.
New in Brief: Highlights from Sunday’s Cracker Barrel 400
The Cracker Barrel 400 proved yet again why Nashville is becoming a cornerstone of the NASCAR calendar. It wasn’t just the warm Tennessee air or the Music City backdrop—it was the drama, the strategy, and the gutsy driving.
From Hamlin’s Stage One masterclass to Bell’s heartbreaking crash, and from Hocevar’s raw aggression to Blaney’s calculated patience, the race had something for every fan. The playoff picture shifted once more, with more than half the field now locked in, and others scrambling for answers heading into the heat of summer.
For Ryan Blaney, Sunday was more than just another trophy. It was validation, momentum, and a strong reminder that he can still strike at the right moment.
