Final weekend, Ryan Blaney was in place to win his method into the the Championship 4, however he needed to accept second and playoff elimination after getting muscled out of the best way by William Byron.
One week later, he went out and received the season finale at Phoenix with a last-lap move on Brad Keselowski. You may assume being so near a title will hang-out the driving force of the No. 12 Workforce Penske Ford, however not fairly.
“No, I attempt not to consider that,” stated Blaney within the winner’s press convention. “Dwelling prior to now if you happen to’re considering that method. We had been within the spot that we had been in. Our aim this weekend was to attempt to win the race, have nice momentum going into the wintertime. Understood that we weren’t going for a championship, however we had been going to make the very best out of it.
“I would not say it is like bittersweet. I get pleasure from it identical to every other win. Nice we had been capable of exit and get it carried out at this time.
“I do discover it ironic that my first win right here will not be within the championship, however on the identical time, no, I am not beating ourselves up over what occurred final week. We will get pleasure from this one as a lot as we will, as a result of it was the aim for this weekend.”
Ryan Blaney, Workforce Penske Ford, Brad Keselowski, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford, Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, Joey Logano, Workforce Penske Ford
Picture by: Meg Oliphant / Getty Pictures
Blaney completed second within the Phoenix season finale in 2022, 2023, and 2024, earlier than lastly profitable it for the primary time on Sunday. Even when he grew to become a Cup champion, he was the runner-up to Ross Chastain two years in the past. He now joins Chastain as the one two non-title contending drivers to win the finale since this format was launched in 2014.
“Now there’s two,” grinned Blaney. “Completely satisfied to be a part of considered one of them, at the least.”
Blaney pleased with his 2025 season
Ryan Blaney, Workforce Penske Ford
Picture by: James Gilbert / Getty Pictures
Blaney ends the 12 months sixth within the championship standings, and the top-placing Ford driver. He additionally received a complete of 4 races, which is a document for him in his Cup profession.
“I am very, very pleased with our 12 months,” stated Blaney as he mirrored on the final 36 races. “I do know we did not make this weekend, combating for a championship. I felt like our group in ’24 was stronger than what we had been in ’23. I really feel like this 12 months we had been even higher than what we had been final 12 months.
“Simply camaraderie across the 12 automobile, all the fellows working collectively, simply constructing belief and perception in one another. That is all I’ve all the time tried to search for, is how is our 15 or so guys working collectively. Are we speaking effectively, giving all the trouble we may be giving by way of the week and on the weekend. That half is simply getting higher and higher.
“I am actually fortunate to be a part of such an ideal group with my 12 automobile, and in addition all of Workforce Penske. They’ve simply carried out a unbelievable job.”
“Sure, I might have preferred to have run for a championship. I perceive, like, it simply did not work out for us. We had been nice. I believed this group was nice. It simply did not actually play out to the place we had a shot at it. You need to stay with that sort of stuff.
“I am very pleased with this entire group. It is nice to exit with a win and carry some momentum into subsequent 12 months. We’ll have a look at some issues that we expect we will enhance. Attempt to maintain constructing higher and higher each single 12 months. Whether or not it was an ideal 12 months or a horrible 12 months, you simply attempt to get higher.”
Images from Phoenix – Race
Phoenix – Sunday, in pictures
Phoenix – Sunday, in pictures
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Phoenix – Sunday, in pictures
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Phoenix – Sunday, in pictures
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Phoenix – Sunday, in pictures
Phoenix – Sunday, in pictures
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Phoenix – Sunday, in pictures
Phoenix – Sunday, in pictures
Phoenix – Sunday, in pictures
Phoenix – Sunday, in pictures
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Phoenix – Sunday, in pictures
Phoenix – Sunday, in pictures
Phoenix – Sunday, in pictures
Phoenix – Sunday, in pictures
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Phoenix – Sunday, in pictures
Phoenix – Sunday, in pictures
Phoenix – Sunday, in pictures
Phoenix – Sunday, in pictures
Phoenix – Sunday, in pictures
Phoenix – Sunday, in pictures
Phoenix – Sunday, in pictures
Phoenix – Sunday, in pictures
Phoenix – Sunday, in pictures
Phoenix – Sunday, in pictures
Phoenix – Sunday, in pictures
Phoenix – Sunday, in pictures
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Phoenix – Sunday, in pictures
Phoenix – Sunday, in pictures
Phoenix – Sunday, in pictures
Phoenix – Sunday, in pictures
Phoenix – Sunday, in pictures
Phoenix – Sunday, in pictures
Phoenix – Sunday, in pictures
Phoenix – Sunday, in pictures
Phoenix – Sunday, in pictures
Phoenix – Sunday, in pictures
Phoenix – Sunday, in pictures
Phoenix – Sunday, in pictures
Phoenix – Sunday, in pictures
Phoenix – Sunday, in pictures
Phoenix – Sunday, in pictures
Phoenix – Sunday, in pictures
Phoenix – Sunday, in pictures
Phoenix – Sunday, in pictures
Phoenix – Sunday, in pictures
Phoenix – Sunday, in pictures
Phoenix – Sunday, in pictures
Phoenix – Sunday, in pictures
Phoenix – Sunday, in pictures
Phoenix – Sunday, in pictures
Phoenix – Sunday, in pictures
Phoenix – Sunday, in pictures
Phoenix – Sunday, in pictures
Phoenix – Sunday, in pictures
Phoenix – Sunday, in pictures
Phoenix – Sunday, in pictures
Phoenix – Sunday, in pictures
Phoenix – Sunday, in pictures
Phoenix – Sunday, in pictures
Phoenix – Sunday, in pictures
Phoenix – Sunday, in pictures
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