RYAN BLANEY WINS AT DAYTONA IN A THRILLING FINISH

Ryan Blaney powered his way from 13th to the front of the field in the final two laps of Saturday night's Coke Zero Sugar 400 to send the No. 12 Advance Auto Parts Ford Mustang Dark Horse to victory lane in a thrilling regular season finale at Daytona. Blaney's 15th-career NASCAR Cup Series win - and second at Daytona (August 2021) - marked the first time he has won from the pole and now has three-straight seasons with multiple victories following his win in Nashville in June. Blaney began the night by leading the first 23 laps after starting from the outside of row one and was in position to win the opening stage as the Advance Auto Parts Ford fought to protect runs from the top and bottom lanes in the rearview, but a surge from the outside lane in turns three and four proved to be the difference as Blaney settled for a third-place finish in Stage 1. Following a four tire stop under caution, Blaney lined up to restart 15th but faded to the tail end of the lead pack during the opening laps of the run before getting back in the mix with 15 laps remaining in the second stage. A caution on lap 82 saw varying pit strategies unfold as crew chief Jonathan Hassler kept Blaney on the track in order to take the restart from the inside of row two with eight laps to go, resulting in a strong points return with a sixth-place effort in Stage 2. Blaney and the No. 12 team maintained the same strategy for the final run of the night as they ran towards the back of the main pack to start out prior to the caution on lap 107 to reset the field. After topping off on fuel one final time, Blaney restarted 25th with 45 laps to go and began working the lanes to fight his way forward. The eighth and final caution flag of the night set up a restart with eight laps remaining as Blaney patiently waited to form a third lane on the outside and pushed the No. 41 to the front of the field coming to the white flag. As the field made its way down the backstretch on the final lap, the No. 41 attempted to pass the No. 7 on the inside, prompting the No. 7 to block the move and leaving the top lane open for Blaney to clear them both and take the lead entering turn three before holding off all three lanes behind him to take the checkered flag by 0.031 seconds. The No. 12 team heads into the Cup Series Playoffs with momentum on its side with six-consecutive top-10 finishes entering Darlington.