Blaney enters Sunday’s race at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway – the final probability to qualify for the title race – fourth within the playoff standings and a 10-point cushion over the cutoff line to advance on factors.
Nonetheless, being above the cutline line in any respect continues to be the very best place Blaney has discovered himself in his profession at this level within the semifinal spherical of the playoffs.
“Personally, I don’t assume I take a look at it any in a different way. I imply, it’s good to be in that spot, being above as a substitute of clawing your means in,” Blaney stated Wednesday. “You’re nonetheless going to should battle arduous.
“I don’t assume you may get relaxed until you’re (Christopher Bell or Kyle Larson) this weekend. We nonetheless have a job to do, and you continue to should work arduous, whether or not you’re beneath or above (the cutoff).”
“You continue to should have the mindset that we have to do an honest job as a result of different groups are going to do an honest job as effectively. We now have to be on that degree.”
Picture by: Jared East / NKP / Motorsport Pictures
Ryan Blaney, Crew Penske, MenardsDuracell Ford Mustang
Whereas Blaney has a pair of wins this season – the second-most of his eight full-time Cup seasons – it has been an up-and-down yr for Crew Penske and Blaney’s No. 12 Ford staff.
Teammate Austin Cindric didn’t qualify for the playoffs and teammate and final yr’s champion Joey Logano has already been eradicated from title rivalry.
Blaney, 29, credit a devoted effort by his staff to seek out velocity late within the season which helped right their struggles all through the summer time months.
“I’m simply extremely happy with all of Crew Penske for digging down and discovering what we have to discover halfway via the season to get us the place we’re at immediately,” he stated.
“It’s no secret that we struggled in the summertime months, not being the place we wished to be and much more the beginning of the playoffs. We have been struggling a little bit bit and looking for velocity.
“We put out heads down and we actually put collectively an excellent eight weeks to place us on this place, particularly the final couple weeks at Miami and Las Vegas. We’ve achieved a fully wonderful job at discovering velocity and executing wonderful races.”
Picture by: Lesley Ann Miller / Motorsport Pictures
Race winner Ryan Blaney, Crew Penske, Menards/Pennzoil Ford Mustang in victory lane
Blaney kicked off the semifinal spherical of the playoffs with a strong sixth at Las Vegas then adopted that up with an excellent efficiency Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway, the place he dueled Bell for the win all the best way to the checkered flag and completed as runner up.
Because of unhealthy races at Homestead by fellow playoff drivers Denny Hamlin and Martin Truex Jr., that left Blaney within the prime 4 of the standings heading to Martinsville.
It’s not at all a viable security web however given Blaney’s monitor report at Martinsville – he hasn’t completed worse than eleventh in his final 9 races there – he enters Sunday’s race with optimism.
“I really feel pretty respectable about it. We’ve run fairly respectable there up to now,” Blaney stated. “It’s good to have run effectively up to now at locations you’re going to, however I don’t assume you may absolutely depend on that.
“Issues change. We now have a distinct tire this weekend. The monitor modifications, automobiles change. It’s vital you make the most of what you’ve realized up to now that made you good, however you may’t put all of your chips into that basket.
“It’s a must to proceed to evolve and be taught, each from a driver’s aspect, a set-up aspect, and what we’ve realized at brief tracks this yr.”
