TALLAGEGA, Ala. — Ryan Blaney finds himself 31 factors under the cutline with two races remaining within the Spherical of 8 of the NASCAR Cup Sequence Playoffs.
Thankfully for the 2023 champion these races are a tracks — Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway and Martinsville (Va.) Speedway — the place Blaney has loved success lately.
Blaney’s No. 12 Staff Penske Ford lower a tire early in final week’s race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and thrust him into comeback mode for the ultimate two races of the spherical.
Nonetheless, Blaney, who has thrived in must-win conditions in previous Playoffs, doesn’t but really feel that desperation.
“It stinks the place we’re on factors, however we’ve nonetheless received two races left and I don’t personally assume we’re in a must-win fairly but,” Blaney defined to the media on Wednesday. “At Talladega, you by no means know what can occur. You may go have a large factors day and be in need of the win, however perhaps a pair different guys don’t have nearly as good of a factors day and also you go into Martinsville perhaps in a spot the place you would level your manner in if you happen to go have one other good day in need of profitable.
“Our prep is basically no completely different. It’s how can we attempt to be environment friendly by means of the phases and collect up all of the stage factors. That might change. Let’s say the primary two phases don’t go our manner and, alright, perhaps now it’s a must-win kind situation. That may change up just a little bit, however so far as our prep this week, it’s sort of enterprise as normal and attempt to go collect essentially the most factors we will and go strive to determine a option to win the race, so fairly comparable.”
Blaney has confidence heading into this weekend at Talladega’s 2.66-mile observe and the quick observe at Martinsville the week after that.
“I like the following two tracks, for certain. We’ve undoubtedly had an important observe report at these two, and I believe we will go into both a kind of and run effectively and hopefully compete for the win, however that’s sort of in all places,” Blaney mentioned.” I’ve a lot religion on this crew with the fellows that I’ve received working round me and the extent of belief in one another, I simply love going to the races each single weekend.
“It’s undoubtedly good whenever you’re in that spot, so hopefully we will dig into some earlier success and experiences that we’ve had and may lean on these the following two weeks and see what occurs.”
