The defending NASCAR Cup Collection champion, Ryan Blaney, was seconds away from securing his place within the Championship 4 when ‘The Beast’, Tyler Reddick, ripped across the exterior of his No. 12 Workforce Penske Ford — taking the win and leaving Blaney to take care of his bitter feelings from such a brutal loss.
“I had a superb shot to win it and I didn’t have an excellent final lap,” admitted Blaney. “I believed I acquired into three laborious and the 45 [Reddick] simply went in there and it caught for him, which is admittedly spectacular. I hate to offer one away there like that.”
Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing, The Beast Killer Dawn Toyota Camry
Photograph by: Gavin Baker / NKP / Motorsport Photos
Organising the ultimate sprint to the end — Blaney managed to carry Kyle Larson again till the Hendrick Motorsports driver spun. This put Blaney able to aggressively defend towards Chase Elliott after getting put three-wide on the restart. He efficiently ran down Denny Hamlin as effectively, however Blaney could not cease Reddick, who was operating third with barely older tires. Reddick did not look like an actual risk. however in the midst of a single lap, he stole the present.
As Reddick pulled alongside him, Blaney had the chance to get bodily, however he selected to not. The 2023 Cup champ believed he may nonetheless get the run off the nook and clear the 23XI Racing driver. In reality, Reddick was already away from him earlier than he may probably reply.
“I type of thought I may slide up and be good and I despatched it in there and he despatched it in there miles additional than me, which I can not consider that it caught,” admitted Blaney. “The Toyotas may do that basically good all day. Their entry velocity was loopy quick and it benefitted him there. It stinks. It was an up and down day and it was a disgrace to lose one on the final lap like that.”
“We acquired the lead again after dropping it on the restart and simply that final lap didn’t play out for us,” Blaney stated. “I admire everyone on the 12 staff for bringing a extremely quick race automotive. I had a extremely nice shot to go to Phoenix and I nonetheless have yet another probability, so we nonetheless must stay up for that … . It’s a disgrace. I will likely be pondering by means of all of it evening of what I ought to have carried out completely different, most likely. That’s simply the way in which it goes however I’m actually pleased with the trouble and hopefully we are able to convey it to them subsequent week.”
Shifting ahead, Blaney famous that he tries ‘to not stew over’ moments like this, regrouping and waiting for the following battle at Martinsville Speedway. It is going to be his final shot to advance into the Championship 4 and looking out on the factors scenario, he will must win. However there’s some excellent news: Blaney is the defending winner of that occasion.
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