Ryan Blaney simply dominated Saturday’s My Bariatric Solutions 300 at Texas Motor Speedway to score Team Penske’s third-straight NASCAR XFINITY Series win with three different drivers.
“That is three in a row for this team with three different drivers,” said Blaney. “That says a lot about Brian’s (Wilson, crew chief) work that he has done and the whole team to bring fast race cars to the tracks lately. Hopefully, we can keep this up. It was definitely a fun day.”
You're awesome at this Ryan @Blaney … pic.twitter.com/VAaNZoc17g
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) April 7, 2018
The driver of the No. 22 started on the pole as a result of qualifying being cancelled following the first round due to a persistent mist in the area. He led three times for a race-high 132 of 200 laps, including the first 75 and the last 47.
Christopher Bell, who started 18th, finished second, followed by Daniel Hemric, who started 35th after missing qualifying. Cole Custer and Ryan Preece rounded out the top five.
Matt Tifft, who also started at the rear of the field when his car failed to make it through pre-qualifying inspection, wound up sixth. Meanwhile, Jamie McMurray, who spun early to bring out the second caution, rebounded to seventh.
Elliott Sadler, another driver whose car didn’t make it through pre-qualifying inspection in time, finished eighth. Austin Cindric and Spencer Gallagher rounded out the top 10.
The race was slowed a total of eight times for cautions, including three single-car spins within the first 20 laps. Chad Finchum, McMurray and Vinnie Miller all spun during that timeframe, though Miller was the only one unable to continue as he suffered extensive rear end damage.
This race also set the field for the first Dash 4 Cash race next weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway. Bell, Hemric, Custer and Preece will compete for $100,000 in a race where drivers who have declared for Cup points will not be permitted to compete.
https://twitter.com/Pat_DeCola/status/982738045689614341
Sadler remains the point leader by 11 markers over teammate Tyler Reddick, who suffered three pit road speeding penalties and finished 23rd. Bell and Hemric each jumped a position to third and fourth, respectively. Justin Allgaier, who suffered a motor failure and retired early to a 35th-place finish, dropped two spots and rounds out the top five.
Loading up Allgaier's car. His day is done after struggling with motor problems. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/kSNnz8pQky
— Beth Lunkenheimer (@NASCARBeth) April 7, 2018
Custer sits sixth, followed by Ryan Truex. Spencer Gallagher is eighth, while Matt Tifft is ninth. Brandon Jones rounds out the top 10.
The XFINITY Series heads to Bristol next Saturday, April 14. Coverage for the Fitzgerald Glider Kits 300 begins at 1 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1.
Full Race Results — My Bariatric Solutions 300
NASCAR XFINITY Series Driver Standings
