BLANEY FALLS JUST SHORT IN OVERTIME THRILLER AT BRISTOL

Ryan Blaney and the No. 12 Discount Tire Ford Mustang Dark Horse team nearly came away with their second win of the season in Sunday's Food City 500 but ultimately settled for a second-place result in an overtime finish at Bristol. The second-place finish and 190 laps led both mark career-bests for Blaney at the half-mile oval while extending his streak to four-consecutive top-six finishes at Bristol. After earning his 13th-career Cup Series pole Saturday afternoon, Blaney led the opening 43 laps before relinquishing the lead while battling lapped traffic in what amounted to a third-place finish in Stage 1. Blaney continued to challenge for the lead after working his way from sixth to second over a 25-lap stretch during the second segment en route to a second-place result in Stage 2. The Discount Tire Ford continued to chase down the No. 5 for the top spot over the course of the final run, eventually regaining the lead on lap 337 before opening up a two-second advantage on the second spot. Blaney continued to control the race as he worked in and out of lapped traffic while maintaining the gap to second, but a caution with 24 laps remaining set up one last pit call atop the pit boxes. Blaney was one of five cars in the top-10 to hit pit road under yellow for a four tire stop, setting him up to take the green flag from inside of row three with 15 laps to go. On fresher tires, Blaney was able to power his way to second with his sights set on the leader when the final caution flag of the afternoon flew with four laps left, setting up a green-white-checkered finish. Blaney took the final restart from the inside of row one and battled alongside the No. 54 from the drop of the green as the two came off turn four side-by-side coming to the checkered flag, but the No. 54 was able to carry the momentum in the top lane to nose ahead at the line for the win.