Dropping the Hammer: Ryan Blaney Stuck to the Plan in Daytona 500
For better or for worse, Ryan Blaney is a company man.That character trait was on full display during and after the overtime finish of Sunday’s (Feb. 20) Daytona 500.
For better or for worse, Ryan Blaney is a company man.That character trait was on full display during and after the overtime finish of Sunday’s (Feb. 20) Daytona 500.
After a challenging couple of years for NASCAR, the one unmistakable feeling as the green flag flew this past Sunday (Feb. 20) was that stock car racing was back.
Austin Cindric won his first-ever NASCAR Cup Series race in only his eighth career start and second in the Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 20 by barely nipping out 23XI Racing driver Bubba Wallace by a nose. Following him to the line were Chase Briscoe, Ryan Blaney and Aric Almirola, who earned a top-five finish in his last Daytona 500 as a full-time driver.
Cindric is the first rookie to win the Daytona 500 since Trevor Bayne in 2011.
Many drivers go a lifetime without winning NASCAR’s biggest race, but it took Austin Cindric just eight starts to put that notch on his belt. Cindric powered to the front on the final restart and blocked his way to the win as chaos erupted behind him.
One year ago, Brad Keselowski’s frustration was visible.
As the final laps of the Daytona 500 ticked away, Keselowski made a bold move to set himself up for a last-lap pass for the lead on his Team Penske teammate Joey Logano. But when Logano blocked Keselowski’s path forward, Keselowski got hit from behind by Michael McDowell, triggering a frightening crash that knocked out both Penske cars. McDowell went on to win the race, leaving Keselowski without a Harley J. Earl Trophy for at least one more year.
Austin Cindric’s final pit stop couldn’t have been worse.
With Daytona International Speedway’s frontstretch lights illuminating them, the pit crew for Team Penske’s No. 2 Ford was slow and lacked coordination.
They also didn’t even bother to put on safety equipment. One even wore a backpack.
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With the field splintering into small packs during the Daytona 500 qualifying races and the only major Duels incident on the final lap of the night, how much will the main event reflect the twin 150-mile races from Thursday? Were hosts Bryan Nolen and Adam Cheek surprised by Kaz Grala and Greg Biffle securing the final transfer spots among unchartered teams? And who has the edge among the top drivers entering Sunday’s Great American Race?
The duo discuss these topics and more in a pre-Daytona 500 edition of Stock Car Scoop.