Blaney received comparatively early this season at Charlotte and certified for the playoffs, however he and his No. 12 Penske Ford group struggled with efficiency through the summer season.
Getting into the playoffs, Blaney wasn’t thought-about a severe contender for the 2023 title, however that narrative has since been turned on its head.
With well timed wins at Talladega and final Sunday at Martinsville, Va., Blaney not solely earned a visit to the Championship 4 however with nearly as good an opportunity as any to return away with the title.
That path ought to sound acquainted – it’s nearly an identical to the one Blaney’s team-mate, Joey Logano, used final yr on his solution to his second profession Cup championship.
Logano received an early season win in 2022, but it surely was his pair of well-timed victories within the playoffs that despatched him to the title race, the place he got here away the winner once more.
Photograph by: Gavin Baker / NKP / Motorsport Photos
Race winner Ryan Blaney, Staff Penske, Ford Mustang
“I believe there are some similarities,” Blaney stated. “The playoffs for us, for Joey final yr and me this yr, have been pretty related. Peaking at a very good time. That’s type of what that group did final yr. We’re undoubtedly doing that this yr.
“Our teams work actually carefully collectively, me and (Logano) and (Austin Cindric) and (Harrison Burton) as properly. All of us work actually shut collectively. It’s been enjoyable to work with Joey on that since he was out of the playoffs early, type of working with Joey by that stuff, choosing his mind on a number of issues.
“Hopefully it is an identical subsequent week to what Joey’s finish of the season was final yr.”
The opposite commonality between Logano’s look within the Championship 4 final yr and Blaney’s this yr is neither had been among the many title “favorites” getting into the playoffs and their respective organizations had efficiency difficulties through the season.
Whereas Kyle Larson and William Byron from Hendrick Motorsports have been two of prime performers this yr and made the ultimate 4, Blaney’s look in addition to Christopher Bell’s reveals robust playoff runs will pay enormous dividends.
Shock groups exhibiting up as title contenders has grow to be considerably of a development for the reason that introduction of the Cup Collection’ Subsequent Gen automobile in the beginning of the 2022 season.
Photograph by: John Harrelson / NKP / Motorsport Photos
Race winner Ryan Blaney, Staff Penske, Menards/Pennzoil Ford Mustang in victory lane
“I don’t suppose you may ever depend anyone else out, any group out. Particularly with this automobile now,” Blaney stated. “I’ve all the time associated this sport to an enormous circle of efficiency, proper? You may have groups on prime of the circle for a very long time doing properly, then they’ll dip down.
“It’s about peaking on the proper time. Our group is doing that. There’s no secret this summer season, we struggled. We simply went to work. They didn’t get down. Our group didn’t pout round. They only understood the place we would have liked to get higher, they usually received higher.
“That’s the group you need to drive for.”
Blaney’s season to achieve his first Championship 4 might be a microcosm of his Cup profession. He received comparatively early, has struggled to constantly contend for wins, had some peaks and a few struggles.
But right here at age 29 he has a chance to win his first Cup title.
“Among the different guys which are round your age who type of got here in on the similar time, proper, you need to be the perfect of that crop. We haven’t, proper?” he stated. “We haven’t had the successes as like a Larson, Chase (Elliott), these individuals.
“I attempt to not let that get to me, proper? Chase and I are nice associates. It type of motivates me like, ‘Man, I need to be that man, I need to be that man successful a championship, all these races, I need to be that man.’
“I don’t actually let it get to me. I believe it motivates me greater than something simply to attempt to work on the issues that you just suppose you are able to do higher. I believe that’s the most important factor that’s helped me out this yr.”
