TALLAGEGA, Ala. — Ryan Blaney finds himself 31 factors beneath 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 Crew Penske Ford minimize 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 obtained two races left and I don’t personally suppose 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 could possibly level your manner in should you go have one other good day in need of profitable.
“Our prep is basically no totally different. It’s how will we attempt to be environment friendly via 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 swap up a bit of bit, however so far as our prep this week, it’s sort of enterprise as traditional and attempt to go collect essentially the most factors we will and go attempt 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 subsequent two tracks, for certain. We’ve undoubtedly had a terrific observe file at these two, and I feel we will go into both a kind of and run effectively and hopefully compete for the win, however that’s sort of all over the place,” Blaney mentioned.” I’ve a lot religion on this workforce with the fellows that I’ve obtained 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 while you’re in that spot, so hopefully we will dig into some earlier success and experiences that we’ve had and might lean on these the subsequent two weeks and see what occurs.”
