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STRONG DAY IN MARTINSVILLE FOR BLANEY FINISHING IN TOP-10

RACE RUNDOWN

Ryan Blaney | No. 12 Advanced Auto Parts Ford Mustang

Start: 31st
Stage 1: 13th
Stage 2: 17th
Finish: 7th

Despite starting deep in the field for Sunday's NOCO 400 at Martinsville Speedway, Ryan Blaney worked his way into the top-20 just 28 laps in as he picked his way through traffic on the bottom lane to secure a 13th-place finish in Stage 1. Following a four-tire stop at the stage break, Blaney began to fight a loose-handling condition during Stage Two but kept his Advance Auto Parts Ford Mustang securely in the top-15 as the long, green-flag run wore on. The No. 12 team opted to split the final stage in half with its pit strategy and brought Blaney to pit road on lap 287 for a scheduled stop for four tires, fuel, and a round of adjustments while running 11th, but an untimely caution during the pit cycle trapped him a lap down. After receiving the free pass under caution to rejoin the lead lap, Blaney continued to run just outside the top-10 before the final caution of the afternoon led to two-tire call atop of the pit box from crew chief Jonathan Hassler, allowing Blaney to restart eighth. Blaney made the most of the track position, coming away with a seventh-place finish.

Blaney's Thoughts

“Given where we lined up today and how the last couple of weeks have ended up for our No. 12 team, this was the kind of day we needed to get those results behind us. We were strong early on and made up ground quickly; it's tough to do that at a place like Martinsville. We'll take what we can from today and continue to move forward."

Blaney is currently 10th in the NASCAR Cup Series driver points standings.