That actually doesn’t imply he’s a lock by any means.
Blaney enters Sunday’s race at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway – the final probability to qualify for the title race – fourth within the playoff standings and a 10-point cushion over the cutoff line to advance on factors.
Nevertheless, being above the cutline line in any respect remains to be the perfect place Blaney has discovered himself in his profession at this level within the semifinal spherical of the playoffs.
“Personally, I don’t assume I have a look at it any in a different way. I imply, it’s good to be in that spot, being above as an alternative of clawing your method in,” Blaney mentioned Wednesday. “You’re nonetheless going to should battle laborious.
“I don’t assume you will get relaxed except you might be (Christopher Bell or Kyle Larson) this weekend. We nonetheless have a job to do, and you continue to should work laborious, whether or not you’re under or above (the cutoff).”
“You continue to should have the mindset that we have to do an honest job as a result of different groups are going to do an honest job as nicely. We have now to be on that stage.”
Picture by: Jared East / NKP / Motorsport Photographs
Ryan Blaney, Group Penske, MenardsDuracell Ford Mustang
Whereas Blaney has a pair of wins this season – the second-most of his eight full-time Cup seasons – it has been an up-and-down yr for Group Penske and Blaney’s No. 12 Ford crew.
Teammate Austin Cindric didn’t qualify for the playoffs and teammate and final yr’s champion Joey Logano has already been eradicated from title rivalry.
Blaney, 29, credit a devoted effort by his crew to search out pace late within the season which helped appropriate their struggles all through the summer season months.
“I’m simply extremely pleased with all of Group Penske for digging down and discovering what we have to discover halfway by way of the season to get us the place we’re at at present,” he mentioned.
“It’s no secret that we struggled in the summertime months, not being the place we wished to be and much more the beginning of the playoffs. We have been struggling a bit bit and looking for pace.
“We put out heads down and we actually put collectively a superb eight weeks to place us on this place, particularly the final couple weeks at Miami and Las Vegas. We’ve completed a fully wonderful job at discovering pace and executing wonderful races.”
Picture by: Lesley Ann Miller / Motorsport Photographs
Race winner Ryan Blaney, Group Penske, Menards/Pennzoil Ford Mustang in victory lane
Blaney kicked off the semifinal spherical of the playoffs with a strong sixth at Las Vegas then adopted that up with an outstanding efficiency Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway, the place he dueled Bell for the win all the best way to the checkered flag and completed as runner up.
Due to unhealthy races at Homestead by fellow playoff drivers Denny Hamlin and Martin Truex Jr., that left Blaney within the high 4 of the standings heading to Martinsville.
It’s not at all a viable security web however given Blaney’s observe file at Martinsville – he hasn’t completed worse than eleventh in his final 9 races there – he enters Sunday’s race with optimism.
“I really feel pretty respectable about it. We’ve run fairly respectable there prior to now,” Blaney mentioned. “It’s good to have run nicely prior to now at locations you’re going to, however I don’t assume you’ll be able to absolutely depend on that.
“Issues change. We have now a distinct tire this weekend. The observe modifications, vehicles change. It’s necessary you make the most of what you’ve discovered prior to now that made you good, however you’ll be able to’t put all of your chips into that basket.
“You need to proceed to evolve and study, each from a driver’s aspect, a set-up aspect, and what we’ve discovered at brief tracks this yr.”
