PIT LANE ISSUES SPOIL RICHMOND RACE

With no on-track time leading into Sunday afternoon’s race at Richmond Raceway, Ryan Blaney battled minor handling issues during the first run of the day before entering the top-10 following the competition caution on lap 30. Blaney ultimately wheeled the No. 12 Ford Mustang to an 11th-place finish in Stage 1, but a speeding penalty on pit road relegated Blaney to the back of the field to begin Stage 2. Blaney fought his way back into the top-15 by lap 135 before scheduled green-flag stops began to cycle, and he brought his Ford Mustang to pit road on lap 163 for four tires, fuel and another round of adjustments. However, Blaney had to serve another pit road penalty for equipment leaving the pit stall, forcing him to two laps down. The No. 12 team continued to go to work on the handling throughout the last two stages while making a few strategy calls along the way in an effort to get back on the lead lap, resulting in a 26th-place finish Sunday.

Blaney currently sits 11th in the point standings.