2018 was a year of change for Ryan Blaney. But it was also one of improvement and one to celebrate.
The 25-year-old High Point, N.C. native made the playoffs, advanced through the Round of 12 and made NASCAR history this season. He did it all with a new team, too, as he jumped from Wood Brothers Racing’s iconic No. 21 to “the mothership” in Team Penske, piloting the No. 12.
The change wasn’t an easy one. But Blaney made it look relatively simple, coming out of the gate with five top-10 finishes in the first seven races (three top fives). He dominated the season-opening Daytona 500, leading 118 laps before wrecks caught up to him. He eventually held on for seventh.
Blaney also showed some strength on the short tracks. He led 145 laps at Martinsville before being relegated to a third-place finish, then dominated the first stage of Bristol. Unfortunately for Blaney and the No. 12, he was caught up in a wreck while navigating lapped traffic, ending his day.
Well that sucked. Feel the worst for everyone on the 12 team and REV. Had a good car. Gonna be a long 3 hour drive home.
— Ryan Blaney (@Blaney) April 15, 2018
The early summer stretch was hit or miss for the Team Penske driver. Following the trend, he led laps at Kansas before crashing (finished 37th), then blew an engine at Charlotte. Winning the pole at Pocono helped get the team back on track, as he earned top 10s at the Tricky Triangle and Michigan in consecutive weeks.
But finishes of 34th at Sonoma, 18th at Chicago and dead last at Daytona stunted Blaney’s momentum of early June. His rollercoaster of inconsistency was in full force.
However, the eight races leading up to the start of the NASCAR Playoffs injected some confidence into Blaney’s group. Although he hadn’t won yet, his playoff spot was all but secured if he just brought the car home in one piece for the rest of the regular season. Plus, celebrating good friend Chase Elliott’s first career victory following Watkins Glen showed that Blaney wasn’t too worried about his position.
Was pretty cool to present Chase to pretty much the whole town of Dahlonega last night. Good times. Congrats bud! Happy for ya. https://t.co/yYMCVePKk8
— Ryan Blaney (@Blaney) August 6, 2018
Blaney wound up with two top fives and four top 10s during that final regular season stretch. His Team Penske counterparts got hot, as eventual champion Joey Logano developed consistency while Brad Keselowski had two wins during that stretch, both coming in the final two races of the regular season (Darlington and Indianapolis).
The first round of the playoffs wasn’t super kind to Blaney, posting finishes of fifth at Las Vegas and 19th at Richmond. That fringe top-20 run in Virginia put him on the bubble heading to the great unknown of the season: Charlotte’s ROVAL.
Through others’ misfortune, circumstances and a fast racecar, Blaney found himself in the lead coming off the final chicane with the checkered flag in sight. As Jimmie Johnson and Martin Truex Jr. spun, the No. 12 won the inaugural event at the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL and punched his ticket into the Round of 12.
Making the most of opportunity in the #NASCARPlayoffs is what it's all about. Huge W at the Roval and we’re not done yet! #Blaney pic.twitter.com/n0qK0LnUr1
— Ryan Blaney (@Blaney) October 2, 2018
The Round of 12 wasn’t as kind to Blaney as the Round of 16 was, though. As the competition rose, Blaney didn’t sink, or swim. He just treaded water. Results of 11th at Dover, 29th at Talladega and seventh at Kansas weren’t enough to push Blaney’s season forward; he was simply eliminated from the playoffs.
But there was still plenty to celebrate. Although he’d done it multiple times before, specifically in NASCAR’s Xfnity Series, the ROVAL victory shined light on what may have become the best new tradition after a win.
When @Blaney wins, so does a young fan.
Our story from #RaceDay about capturing the flag, and then giving it away ?? pic.twitter.com/hUxbgr1C67
— Alan Cavanna (@AlanCavanna) October 7, 2018
Heck, he even turned a Kyle Busch fan into a Ryan Blaney fan! That’s a tough task. Well done, Ryan.
The rest of the playoffs only saw two top-10 finishes, including a runner-up result to Kevin Harvick at Texas. He also won the pole for the 500-mile event, dedicating it to a fallen Team Penske member.
I want to dedicate this pole to Dewayne Felkel, a fabricator at Team Penske who passed away on Thursday. He touched the lives of many in those at Team Penske pic.twitter.com/ZcESXIWiAf
— Ryan Blaney (@Blaney) November 3, 2018
All in all, Blaney earned a career high in top fives (eight), top 10s (16), poles (three) and laps led (660). And he had a helping hand in bringing the captain his second NASCAR championship.
Huge congratulations to @joeylogano Roger Penske, Ford, the whole 22 team and all of Team Penske on their championship!! Amazing to be a part of a great organization!
— Ryan Blaney (@Blaney) November 19, 2018
Prior to the start of the season, the hype surrounding the sport’s young drivers was through the roof. Some of it was for good reason; some was a bit overblown. Blaney was one of the faces at the forefront of that movement (which isn’t dead by any means, by the way). He equaled his win total from 2017, which could be considered a “stunt in growth” by some.
Sure, upgrading in team with the same crew chief in Jeremy Bullins with another year of experience under your belt would typically yield better results. But most expected unbelievably better performances; what they got was a solid improvement.
Winning multiple races in a season dominated by the sport’s Big Three isn’t easy. Heck, Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Larson and Denny Hamlin didn’t win a race.
With the Glass Case of Emotion Podcast continuing its growing popularity, Blaney has seen his popularity grow as well. But for those who think he’s surpassed Chase Elliott, slow down…
You guys are funny. https://t.co/XcM4c1eRqy
— Ryan Blaney (@Blaney) November 29, 2018
All in all, Blaney’s 2018 season was good. Nothing more, nothing less. I bet he’d tell you the same thing. Big picture wise, the dude has it made going forward. Personality, talent, an elite team, stability, a driver/crew chief pairing eerily similar of his teammate Logano and Todd Gordon and a career that isn’t even close to peaking yet seems to be ready to yield Blaney even more success in 2019.
2018 STATS
36 starts, one win, eight top fives, 16 top 10s, three poles
Best finish: 1st – Charlotte (ROVAL)
Point Standings: 10th
Season Grade: B-
Well, he’s awfully darn easy on the eyes and one heck of a driver. I hope he sticks around for a long, long time! ; )