RYAN RALLIES AT TEXAS WITH LATE-RACE STRATEGY FOR TOP-10

Ryan Blaney and the No. 12 Menards/Knauf Ford Mustang Dark Horse team took advantage of a late-race caution to come away with a 10th-place finish Sunday at Texas, marking their seventh top-10 of the season. Despite starting 31st, Blaney worked his way through the field to reach 15th in the running order by lap 30 prior to the first green flag pit cycle of the day. Following a four tire stop under green on lap 37, Blaney was scored 15th by the time the cycle completed prior to the first caution of the afternoon with 11 laps remaining in Stage 1. Blaney was called to pit road for four fresh tires but stalled when exiting the pit box, miring him back to 27th for the ensuing restart in what amounted to a 28th-place finish in Stage 1. He continued to battle to regain track position over the course of the second segment when the caution flew on lap 160, prompting another four tire stop prior to the stage end. Due to a loose wheel following the stop, Blaney was forced to make an additional trip to pit road before the restart, resulting in a 27th-place finish in Stage 2. Crew chef Jonathan Hassler made the call to run long during the opening run of the final stretch, allowing Blaney to take the lead on lap 222 during the green flag pit cycle. Blaney was eventually called to pit road five laps later and was scored 19th when the cycle completed before a caution with 11 laps to go reset the field. A mix of the leaders opted to pit as Hassler made the call to stay out and gained 10 positions, setting up Blaney to take the green flag from the outside of row four with four laps remaining. Blaney was able to defend cars on fresher tires behind him in the closing laps to come away with a 10th-place finish when the checkered flag flew.