The defending NASCAR Cup Collection champion, Ryan Blaney, was seconds away from securing his place within the Championship 4 when ‘The Beast’, Tyler Reddick, ripped across the outdoors of his No. 12 Staff Penske Ford — taking the win and leaving Blaney to take care of his bitter feelings from such a brutal loss.
“I had a great shot to win it and I didn’t have an excellent final lap,” admitted Blaney. “I assumed I bought into three laborious and the 45 [Reddick] simply went in there and it caught for him, which is admittedly spectacular. I hate to provide one away there like that.”
Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing, The Beast Killer Dawn Toyota Camry
Picture by: Gavin Baker / NKP / Motorsport Photographs
Organising the ultimate sprint to the end — Blaney managed to carry Kyle Larson again till the Hendrick Motorsports driver spun. This put Blaney able to aggressively defend towards Chase Elliott after getting put three-wide on the restart. He efficiently ran down Denny Hamlin as nicely, however Blaney could not cease Reddick, who was working third with barely older tires. Reddick did not look like an actual risk. however in the midst of a single lap, he stole the present.
As Reddick pulled alongside him, Blaney had the chance to get bodily, however he selected to not. The 2023 Cup champ believed he may nonetheless get the run off the nook and clear the 23XI Racing driver. In reality, Reddick was already away from him earlier than he may presumably reply.
“I sort of thought I may slide up and be good and I despatched it in there and he despatched it in there miles additional than me, which I can not consider that it caught,” admitted Blaney. “The Toyotas may do that basically good all day. Their entry pace was loopy quick and it benefitted him there. It stinks. It was an up and down day and it was a disgrace to lose one on the final lap like that.”
“We bought the lead again after shedding it on the restart and simply that final lap didn’t play out for us,” Blaney mentioned. “I respect everyone on the 12 workforce for bringing a extremely quick race automotive. I had a extremely nice shot to go to Phoenix and I nonetheless have another probability, so we nonetheless need to sit up for that … . It’s a disgrace. I might be considering by means of all of it night time of what I ought to have achieved completely different, most likely. That’s simply the way in which it goes however I’m actually happy with the trouble and hopefully we are able to deliver it to them subsequent week.”
Transferring ahead, Blaney famous that he tries ‘to not stew over’ moments like this, regrouping and waiting for the subsequent battle at Martinsville Speedway. It will likely be his final shot to advance into the Championship 4 and looking out on the factors scenario, he’ll need to win. However there may be some excellent news: Blaney is the defending winner of that occasion.
