BLANEY’S NIGHT CUT SHORT IN DAYTONA; INVOLVED IN WRECK

RACE RUNDOWN: Ryan Blaney and the No. 12 Advance Auto Parts team's night was cut short Saturday night at Daytona International Speedway after being collected in a multi-car incident while leading the field to the green-and-white checkered flag at the conclusion of Stage 2. Following a 22nd-place finish in the first 35-lap segment of the night, Blaney charged into the top-10 using the middle lane in the opening laps of Stage 2. By lap 60, he made the move to the top lane as it began to take shape with a train of Fords powering to the front, allowing Blaney to enter the top-five on lap 65. As the field continued to battle two and three-wide, Blaney made the move to the bottom lane and received a massive shove to the front and led his first of four laps on lap 77. Shortly after, green flag pit stops began to cycle with the No. 12 team bringing Blaney to pit road on lap 82 for fuel only to make it to the end of Stage 2. The field was back to running in a large pack with ten laps remaining in the stage when Blaney yet again charged to the front, this time using the high line as the intensity picked up. Blaney darted below the No. 54 on the backstretch to take over the top spot heading into turns three and four, but the No. 54 was turned into his right rear quarter panel on the exit of turn four sending Blaney into the outside wall and setting off a multi-car incident in the process. Despite leading at the time, Blaney's night came to an abrupt end in a 36th-place finish.

Blaney enters the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs 12th in the points standings to begin the Round of 16, one point above the cutline.