Defending Cup Series champion Ryan Blaney tallies his second win of the season and second at the tricky triangle. The #12 looks in form to defend his title from a year ago and become the first back to back Cup series champion since Jimmie Johnson’s 5-peat.
Starting on the front row would be the #54 of Ty Gibbs and the Hendrick #24 of William Byron. Gibbs led from the green by a wide margin over second place until the first caution of the day on lap 14. Noah Gragson’s #10 backed into the wall in turn 1 and was done for the day.
The race resumed on lap 18 with the same pair up front, but Gibbs overdrove the corner which allowed for teammate Martin Truex Jr to sneak by and get the lead, with Hamlin’s #11 car in tow. Truex would separate himself from the field and score the win of stage one, at the track that painted his name on the start-finish line.
Stage One Results:
1. #19 Truex Jr
2. #11 Hamlin
3. #45 Reddick
4. #24 Byron
5. #9 Elliott
6. #48 Bowman
7. #22 Logano
8. #6 Keselowski
9. #20 Bell
10. #43 Jones
After the pit stops at the stage break, former teammates Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski lined up on the front row, with Bad Brad getting the jump at the drop of the green.
Lap 53 saw the second caution for cause of the day, as Ross Chastain’s #1 slid backwards into the turn 3 wall, resulting in steering problems that led to him pounding the turn 1 wall, ending his day. The majority of lead lap cars took to the pits under the ensuing caution, being led out by Hamlin’s #11 who took only two tires.
The #54 and the #4 of Josh Berry stayed out until yellow and led the field back to green again. Berry’s #4 got the jump on the JGR #54, until the JGR #11 ran him down only 9 laps later. Berry dropped back to the pack to try and save fuel.
With 3 laps left in the stage, Ryan Blaney’s #12 and Truex’s #19 elect to pit, angling for better track position after the stage break. Hamlin, however, opts to stay on the track and take home the win in stage 2.
Stage Two Results:
1. #11 Hamlin
2. #9 Elliott
3. #6 Keselowski
4. #24 Byron
5. #43 Jones
6. #5 Larson
7. #48 Bowman
8. #20 Bell
9. #22 Logano
10. #45 Reddick
Hamlin drops to 16th under the caution, while those who short-pit the stage like Berry and Buescher line-up out front. At the commencement of the final stage, Chris Buescher’s #17 takes the lead.
14 laps later, the caution comes out again as Todd Gilliland’s #38 goes into the wall in turn 1. Gilliland would be dropped out of the race for this incident.
The field stopped again under the caution, with the leaders coming in for their stops. The #5 of Larson would come out of pit road first, but would be sent to the back along with Hendrick teammate Chase Elliott, Ty Gibbs and Trackhouse’s Daniel Suárez.
The restart with 40 to go saw Blaney line up with last week’s winner Alex Bowman, but the attempt was short lived. Corey LaJoie’s #7 hooked Kyle Busch into the grass on the front stretch, causing the #8 to slide back up into turn 1 and collect a total of 6 cars. This accident compounds arguably the worst season yet for driver of the RCR #8.
The ensuing restart wasn’t anymore successful as it resulted in another wreck. This time involving the Spire #71 of Zane Smith, who recorded a career-best 9th place start today, and the #42 of John Hunter Nemechek. The two came together on the Long Pond straightaway, and found themselves in the inside wall.
The restart 5 laps later was again followed up by another caution, for fluid from the blown engine of Gibbs’ #54.
For a fourth time 20 laps, the field lined up for a restart, with Blaney and Bowman leading the way. Blaney’s #12 held a slim lead over the #48, who was looking to score his second straight victory. However, the defending champ was able to build a gap to Bowman, who fell back into the clutches of Hamlin in a fight for 2nd.
With 8 to go the #11 made his way past the #48 and made an attempt to run down Blaney, but the Champ was too strong for Hamlin to counter. Ryan Blaney scored his 2nd win of the year and 2nd in the last 5 weeks of the season. Blaney’s win moves him to 3rd in the playoff standings.
Denny Hamlin’s second place marks a return to form for the #11 as he scores his first top 10 since St. Louis on June 2nd. This also inches Hamlin closer to the regular season points lead.
When it was all said and done, Alex Bowman logged a 3rd place finish with Hendrick teammate William Byron behind in 4th, and Penske’s Joey Logano taking 5th.
A 9th place finish for Chase Elliott is good enough to put him over Hendrick teammate Kyle Larson for the regular season points lead by a thin margin of 3 points.
Bubba Wallace’s 10th place finish allows the #23 to close on Ross Chastain for the final spot in the NASCAR playoffs, as Wallace now sits only 27 points out of the spot.
The NASCAR Cup Series returns to the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the Brickyard 400 next weekend, with Roger Penske’s Team Penske having all the momentum going into their home race.
Featured Image Credit: NASCAR On X
pitboxpress.com 