No. 12 Menards/Dutch Boy Ford Mustang – Ryan Blaney
Start: 19th
Race Finish: 11th
Stage 1 Finish: 28th
Stage 2 Finish: 1st (5th Stage Win of 2022)
Laps Led: 4
Point Standings: 2nd (-33)

Race Rundown: Ryan Blaney and the No. 12 Menards/Dutch Boy Ford Mustang team finished 11th in a rather uneventful race at Road America on Sunday afternoon. Blaney started the race in 19th and rode in that position for a majority of the first stage, struggling with drive off. The Menards Ford would finish Stage 1 in the 28th position. Crew chief Jonathan Hassler would take a big swing at changes, but Blaney continued to struggle through Stage 2. However, with several cars coming in to pit before the end of the stage, Hassler had Blaney stay out to win Stage 2, his fifth stage win of the season. In the final stage, Blaney’s Menards Ford Mustang continued to improve, but fought the same handling issues he had for much of the race. Despite starting outside of the top-20 in the final stage, Blaney was able to charge through the field, picking up spot after spot and eventually coming home in the 11th position.

Blaney’s Thoughts: “I think we didn’t start off very good. I thought it would be a long day and we just kept tightening our car up and got better and better. I was pretty happy with our speed at the end of the race. It was nice to win a stage and come from the back and end up how we did, it was something to be proud of.”