The NASCAR Cup Series weekend in Nashville culminated in a thrilling finish as Ryan Blaney claimed his first victory of the season, edging out his teammate Joey Logano and competitors like Carson Hocevar and Denny Hamlin. Joey Logano reveals key to Ryan Blaney’s win by pinpointing the exact factor that gave Blaney the winning advantage during the race on Sunday.
Joey Logano, the defending Cup Series champion, controlled much of the 300-lap Nashville event but lost ground during a critical restart after nearly two-thirds of the race. Blaney capitalized on this moment, leading 139 laps and securing the win. This triumph marked a milestone for Team Penske by making it the only team with every driver having won at least once this season.
Logano Explains the Moment That Shifted the Race in Blaney’s Favor
Logano identified the restart as the pivotal point where he lost the lead to Blaney but insisted that even without that circumstance, maintaining the lead would have been difficult. He acknowledged that Blaney’s performance during that stretch was exceptional and ultimately decisive.
“We did the details well, all but the one restart, we lost the lead there, but I don’t think I would have maintained it anyway, That run, (Blaney) was just lights out, which gave him that huge lead. (Blaney had) the best car. Glad the best car won.” —Joey Logano, as quoted by NBC.
This admission highlighted Logano’s respect for Blaney’s racecraft and car setup, suggesting that Blaney’s overall package was superior throughout the weekend.
Precision in Cornering Was Blaney’s Key Strength at Nashville
Throughout the event, Team Penske drivers were closely matched, but Blaney’s edge came with his ability to execute perfect cornering. Logano openly credited Blaney’s superior precision in the corners as the main factor separating them on race day, especially at a track where every fraction of a second counts.
“In the corners. He’d do the corners well. He’s really good at being really precise and that’s what the track asked for tonight. Hitting your marks at the bottom of the race track, Ryan’s really good at that.” —Joey Logano.
Blaney’s ability to consistently hit his marks allowed him to build and maintain the gap necessary to claim victory, despite the strong overall pace demonstrated by Logano.
Implications for Team Penske and Future Races
Logano’s fourth-place finish and his reflections after the race suggest that he will look closely at areas to improve, particularly the execution during restarts and cornering consistency. For a driver of his caliber, losing to a teammate requires rapid adjustments in pursuit of reclaiming dominance.
Meanwhile, Blaney’s continued momentum after Nashville signals a growing confidence and capability to contend for more wins this season. His precision and car setup details have set a high standard within Team Penske’s garage.
This win also solidifies Team Penske’s status as the only team to have all its drivers secure victories this year, adding to the competitive narrative of the season and raising expectations for upcoming races. Fans and analysts will be watching how Logano responds and if Blaney can maintain his winning form going forward.
