Ryan Blaney wins Nashville NASCAR Cup race after leading much of the event on Sunday night in Lebanon, Tennessee, delivering a significant milestone for Team Penske. The team achieved a rare feat, making history with every driver on its roster securing at least one victory this NASCAR season.
Top Performers Shine at Nashville Superspeedway
Blaney put on a dominant performance, pacing the field for 139 laps, including the last 32, to secure his first win of the year. This marks the eighth season in the past nine where Blaney has reached Victory Lane at least once. Despite facing challenges, including five DNFs earlier in the season, Blaney expressed relief at ending his winless streak.
“It was nice to finally get in Victory Lane tonight after a rocky start to the year,”
said Blaney, reflecting on his recent struggles.
Team Penske’s triumphs were not limited to Blaney’s result. With previous victories by Austin Cindric at Talladega and Joey Logano at Texas, the organization became the first to have all its full-time drivers score wins this season. The Wood Brothers, aligned with Team Penske, also celebrated success thanks to Josh Berry’s victory at Las Vegas.
Carson Hocevar achieved a personal best, matching his top career finish by coming in second place. Denny Hamlin claimed third, earning his fifth top-five result in the last nine races, demonstrating consistent performance at the front of the pack. Erik Jones grabbed seventh, marking his second top-10 finish in just four races and adding momentum as NASCAR heads to Michigan, his home state.
Disappointments and Setbacks Mark the Race
The night also featured notable disappointments. Justin Haley endured a tough result, crossing the finish line in 32nd, making it his third straight finish outside the top 30. Ty Gibbs faced similar difficulties, ending up 31st and continuing his streak of races with results 23rd or worse for the fourth consecutive event.
AJ Allmendinger’s night was compromised by a penalty after NASCAR officials found the team making a car adjustment post-inspection on Saturday. As a result, Allmendinger served a stop-and-go once the race began, which put him a lap down early. With the first stage running caution-free, he remained trapped at the back. Eventually, he was able to regain the lost lap and worked his way to a 20th-place finish, a result that might have been improved had it not been for the early setback.
A Night That Shakes Up the NASCAR Season
As the checkered flag waved at Nashville Superspeedway, the race delivered both triumph and frustration across the field. Ryan Blaney’s win secures his season and highlights Team Penske’s strength as the only organization with a clean sweep of victories among its drivers. As NASCAR’s top teams assess their performances and prepare for Michigan, the landscape for the championship tightens, promising more drama and storylines in the races ahead.
