Ryan Blaney addressed reporters in a post-race Ryan Blaney press conference after clinching a victory at Phoenix Raceway, capping off his NASCAR Cup Series season for Team Penske. Although not competing for the championship this weekend, Blaney emphasized his team’s objective to secure a win and carry strong momentum into the off-season.
Blaney explained that he deliberately tried not to dwell on events from the preceding week and instead stayed focused on the present goal. He noted,
“Living in the past if you’re thinking that way. We were in the spot that we were in. Our goal this weekend was to try to win the race, have great momentum going into the wintertime. Understood that we weren’t going for a championship, but we were going to make the best out of it.”
He continued that for him, every win is enjoyable and not bittersweet, mentioning,
“I enjoy it just like any other win. Great we were able to go out and get it done today.”
The win marked Blaney’s first at Phoenix, a track where he had often come close but not sealed the victory until now. He found it ironic that his inaugural win arrived when not contending for the season title, stating that he and his team were keen to embrace the accomplishment fully and not
“beat ourselves up over what happened last week.”
Reflecting on Past Championships and Historic Wins
Blaney was reminded by media of the year he secured a championship using a format that had previously seen champions not necessarily win the final race. Blaney acknowledged this point, remarking,
“Now there’s two. Happy to be part of one of them, at least (smiling).”
This reference highlighted the rare nature of winning a title without taking home the race victory itself.
Tire Concerns and Strategic Racing Amid Rival Manufacturers’ Challenges
During the Ryan Blaney press conference, Blaney was questioned about the tire issues faced by Chevrolet and Toyota throughout the weekend and whether Ford teams shared similar worries. He admitted that there were lingering concerns entering the event, particularly after seeing problems arise in practice. However, Blaney clarified that his team did not directly experience such issues, though he remained cautious, especially at the start when considering risky maneuvers through Phoenix’s dogleg section. He shared how discussions with Carson Hocevar influenced his choices during the race’s initial laps:
“I was talking to Hocevar before the race because he and I were fifth and sixth. I was like, Hey, I’m going to stay on the racetrack if you’re okay with staying on the racetrack. And we did. And I got put three wide because someone cut the dogleg. And I was like, I don’t want to blow a tire.”
As the race progressed, Blaney noted the lack of substantial tire failures in the early stages, providing confidence that he could press harder. He described the ongoing challenge teams face managing air pressure and camber settings—seeking to maximize grip and speed without risking blowouts. Blaney detailed,
“Yeah, just flirting with air pressure. These guys, that’s kind of the game. How low can you get. Just helps the long-run speed and grip.”
He observed that several championship contenders, referencing the 19 and 24 cars, as well as the number 5, suffered tire failures, but Team Penske avoided such setbacks.
Blaney was also asked if insights from David Ragan’s wheel force test at Phoenix contributed to Team Penske’s successful tire management. He confirmed that the test yielded valuable lessons, particularly regarding safe limits on pressure and camber, noting,
“Yeah, I think we learned a little bit from the wheel force test with David, the Ford camp. Here is our basement. Let’s stay away from that. I don’t think anyone in the Penske camp had tire issues. That’s what those tests are for. You learn.”
Monitoring Championship Rivals During Key Restarts
Throughout the event, Blaney kept track of leading competitors, including Kyle Larson and Denny Hamlin, both fighting for the championship title. He was aware of their positions during the crucial final restart, aided by information from his spotter:
“Yeah, I was aware where those guys were at. Timmy told me. I knew the 5 was restarting, I was third, he was restarting sixth. I knew the 11 had four. He was 10th or something. Maybe lined up ninth. So I was aware of where those couple guys were.”
Blaney explained that being near the front meant he rarely interacted on track with the championship contenders directly, allowing him to focus on overcoming those with older tires. Expressing empathy for Denny Hamlin’s misfortune, Blaney stated,
“Then yeah, as far as the 11 camp, there’s part of me that does feel bad for that group, right? They had a great race car. I think there were some runs of the race where he was a little bit better than us. I thought we were the two best cars. Had the race locked up. The 24 blew a tire. Nothing you can do about that. It’s just unfortunate racing luck of that happening at that time when he had it locked up. Yeah, you do have to feel for that group and Denny. Doing a good job all day, it not playing out for him. But that is racing. It sucks sometimes. They can hang their head about it, but they should be very proud about the effort they put in today. They had the fastest race car here. Just one of those things where it doesn’t work out.”
Assessing the Season and Looking Ahead with Renewed Purpose
Blaney reflected on the overall performance of his No. 12 car and Team Penske throughout the year, describing 2024 as a period of growth that surpassed the team’s previous efforts. He emphasized the camaraderie and communication among team members as vital contributors to their progress, stating,
“Just camaraderie around the 12 car, all the guys working together, just building trust and belief in each other. That’s all I’ve always tried to look for, is how is our 15 or so guys operating together. Are we communicating well, giving all the effort we can be giving through the week and on the weekend. That part is just getting better and better.”
He credited Team Penske’s broader organization and support, saying,
“I’m really lucky to be part of such a great group with my 12 car, and also all of Team Penske. They’ve just done a fantastic job.”
Although missing a shot at the championship, Blaney remained positive about their resilience:
“Yes, I would have liked to have run for a championship. I understand, like, it just didn’t work out for us. We were great. I thought this team was great. It just didn’t really play out to where we had a shot at it. You have to live with that type of stuff.”
Ultimately, the Phoenix victory was seen as valuable for building momentum moving into the next year, as Blaney discussed the team’s ongoing commitment to review, improve, and aim for consistent growth.
Breaking Through in Phoenix After Near-Misses
Securing the win at Phoenix, a track where he’d finished runner-up for three straight years, offered special gratification for Blaney and his team. He shared,
“It’s nice to finally get in Victory Lane here after being so close for a number of years. Those things kind of stick in your brain a little bit. We’ve had a shot to win at these certain places a handful of times, we haven’t really been able to get the job done. It’s nice when you can finally do it and break through, win at a track where you’ve had one of the best cars for the last handful of years.”
Blaney noted that while the win carried some sense of relief, he was proud above all for Team Penske’s collective performance, especially in ending the season positively for Ford.
“We’re determined to try to end the year for Ford and Team Penske with a win. Fortunately we were able to do that. We did a great job.”
Race Strategies and Key Decisions That Led To Victory
Blaney described the race’s critical moments, particularly his navigation through the last restart with championship contenders and competitors on older tires. He recalled,
“Yeah, I came off first on two tires. There was a handful of guys on two before the guys on four. There was three guys who stayed out. Tires wore a lot today. I knew those guys were going to be struggling, the guys who stayed out, Brad and Preece and Bowman.”
His approach was strategic, balancing aggression with respect for those still pursuing the championship.
“I didn’t want to be the guy who is a huge, like, costing a guy a championship, right? I try to be respectful of all those guys. I raced them with a lot of respect today, just because that’s what I expect.”
The final sequence was especially challenging, as Blaney noted his restarts had not been strong all day. Still, on the last opportunity, the decision to take two tires and his pit crew’s contributions put him in position for the win. He described the critical call:
“Good call by Jonathan, put two on it, keep us in the ballgame, had the car to do it.”
Blaney admitted,
“Pretty ironic we won it on a restart after having a shitty restart day.”
Significance of the Win and Outlook for 2025
The Phoenix victory gives Ryan Blaney and Team Penske a strong foundation to build upon for the upcoming season, reinforcing teamwork and technical growth from this year’s experiences. While the team did not compete for the 2024 championship, the race revealed ongoing development within the organization and established confidence heading into preparatory work for 2025.
Blaney’s competitive drive and positive reflection on the team’s journey this year underscore high expectations for sustained performance. As he concluded the media session, Blaney directed appreciation to those involved and signaled optimism for the future: “Thank y’all. Enjoy y’all’s off-season.”
