In an emotion-filled race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, where the Fords proved to be the fastest, Ryan Blaney emerged as the best in the first race of the second round of the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs. Blaney, driving his number 12 Mustang, led 116 laps, including the last 39, securing his third victory of the season and the sixteenth of his career. Despite the intense pressure from Josh Berry, who got dangerously close in the final laps, Blaney managed to stay ahead and cross the finish line with a 0.937-second lead.
Blaney, who is seeking to reach the championship final for the third consecutive year, became the first driver to secure a spot in the third round of the playoffs.That was probably the 20 toughest laps I’ve driven.
Ryan Blaney
The race was marked by the dominance of the Fords, who also stood out in Saturday’s qualifying, with Joey Logano securing the pole position. Logano, who led the most laps (147), finished in fourth place. William Byron, in a Chevrolet, achieved third place, followed by Logano. Chase Elliott, despite qualifying in 27th position, rallied to finish in fifth place. The race also witnessed an incident between Joe Gibbs Racing teammates. Denny Hamlin and Ty Gibbs collided on lap 110, generating tensions. Hamlin questioned the preferential treatment towards Gibbs, while Gibbs chose not to comment on the incident. Hamlin finished in 12th position, and after a conversation with Joe Gibbs, the driver expressed his regret for the contact. The next playoff race will be held at Kansas Speedway.It was an incredible day. Congratulations to Ryan. All our cars were really strong, and Ryan did a great job there.
Josh Berry
