BLANEY OVERCOMES EARLY SETBACK TO FINISH SEVENTH AT CHICAGOLAND
July 6, 2026
BLANEY BATTLES FROM REAR OF THE FIELD AT NORTH WILKESBORO
July 20, 2026RYAN BLANEY SWEEPS ATLANTA – POLE, STAGES, RACE WIN
RACE RUNDOWN
RYAN BLANEY No. 12 BODYARMOR FLASH I.V. FORD MUSTANG DARK HORSE
START: 1ST
STAGE 1: 1ST
STAGE 2: 1ST
FINISH: 1ST
POINTS: 3RD
Ryan Blaney and the No. 12 BODYARMOR Flash I.V. Ford Mustang Dark Horse team led a race-high 171 laps and prevailed in a three-wide battle to the checkered flag in an overtime finish to come away with their second win of the season - and 19th of Blaney's Cup Series career - Sunday night at EchoPark Speedway. The victory also marks Ford's 750th Cup Series win while Blaney's 171 laps led on a drafting track stands as the second-most in Cup Series history. The No. 12 team's win marks the ninth for Team Penske all-time at EchoPark Speedway and third in the 10 races since the track's reconfiguration prior to the 2022 season. After winning the pole Saturday, Blaney swept the first two stages - marking the fourth time in his career he has done so - before going on to secure his fourth-consecutive season with multiple victories while also notching his second-career win from the pole (Daytona 2, 2025). Blaney led all 60 laps of a caution-free Stage 1 and was scored the leader when the caution flag flew on lap 108 for lightning, ultimately resulting in a rain delay that lasted just over three hours. Once the red flag was lifted, Blaney continued to be a mainstay at the front of the field to pick up his second stage win of the night. After the 12 team made an extended stop on pit road to pack the BODYARMOR Flash I.V. Ford full with fuel, Blaney was in unfamiliar territory back in traffic but began to make his move back towards the top-10. A caution on lap 194 saw crew chief Jonathan Hassler make the call for fuel only to make it to the end - gaining eight spots on pit road in the process - as Blaney took the ensuing green flag from the inside of row two with 60 laps remaining. After battling back-and-forth for the lead over the final run, the caution flag flew with six to go with Blaney scored second on the leaderboard, setting up a green-white-checkered finish. Blaney took the green flag from the inside of row one alongside the No. 77 and came around to take the white from took car lengths back of the lead before making his move to the high side in turn one. The move resulted in a three-wide battle at the front going into turn three with Blaney in the top lane as he was able to get the run he needed out of turn four to win the drag race to the line and secure his second win of the season.
Blaney's Thoughts
"It was definitely, honestly, a pretty awesome night. I mean, having a really fast car and sitting on the pole, winning both stages and leading a ton of laps and just in a position to win the race. You never know how these things are going to end, honestly. There are a couple of things I probably could have done better, but we were able to stick around and just how the last couple laps played out we were able to get the lead back and just barely hold on. It's a pretty cool day when you have weekends like that. You can't ask for a better weekend - sit on the pole, sweep the stages, win the race. That's a dream weekend right there. These guys are great. They brought a rocket ship, and it was nice that we were able to close it out."
