STAGE WINS IN ST. LOUIS; SOLID DAY FOR BLANEY

Ryan Blaney started second and finished sixth in Sunday's race at World Wide Technology Raceway, just outside St. Louis. Blaney would run side-by-side with Kyle Busch for much of the opening five laps prior to a caution and subsequent red flag on lap 5 for lightning. After nearly a two-hour red flag, racing resumed and so did the battle between Blaney and Busch. The Menards/Richmond Ford Mustang would struggle with dirty air and Blaney would come home second in Stage 1. Blaney would restart Stage 2 from the runner-up spot. Following a caution for the No. 7 car on lap 92, Blaney would opt for right side tires; quick service would get him out into the lead, and he maintained position to collect his second stage win of 2023. Blaney would restart fifth for the final stage of the race. Adjusting his Menards/Richmond Ford Mustang for tighter conditions, a bevy of cautions near the end of the race would lead to multiple restarts, climaxing with NASCAR overtime. Try as he might Blaney would bring The No. 12 Ford Mustang home in the sixth position. As a result, Blaney now becomes the NASCAR Cup Series point leader by 13 markers over William Byron.