Ryan Blaney recently spoke about Team Penske‘s performance and the challenges he anticipates during the NASCAR playoffs. After breaking Penske’s win drought with a dramatic victory at Daytona, Blaney shared insights into the tracks that worry him most as the postseason approaches.
Following his win, Blaney engaged in a discussion with former NASCAR driver Kevin Harvick, who asked about the strength of Penske, a team that has secured the last three Cup driver titles, and where Blaney felt concerns remained entering the playoffs.
Blaney’s Confidence and Playoff Track Challenges
The driver of the #12 car expressed optimism about the playoff schedule, especially highlighting Gateway as a track he looks forward to. Despite seven DNFs during the regular season, Blaney praised his team’s overall effort in securing second place in the standings.
Blaney stated that his runner-up position demonstrated the team’s resilience and strength. He emphasized that Penske’s continuous focus on improvement stems from their people, underlining teamwork and dedication as key factors.
When asked about the tracks he finds most concerning for the playoffs, Blaney elaborated:
“The only tracks I’d be worried about is, if you get to Talladega in the round of 8, that’s obviously a toss up. You never know what can happen at the ROVAL in the round of 12. You never know what can happen anywhere. I mean, you can go have a bad week anywhere you go. But I think all the tracks we’ve really done well at, I think our road course program has gotten way better. Honestly, it’s just a matter of going and doing our job and just executing the way that I know this team can do it. And hopefully it’s great to have all of our cars in it.” —Ryan Blaney
He also underscored that having all Team Penske cars qualify for the playoffs strengthens their chances and reflects the collective commitment to adapting and improving through collaboration.
Blaney’s Daytona Win and Superspeedway Realities
Blaney’s victory at Daytona marked his fifth win on superspeedways, a noteworthy achievement given the unpredictable nature of plate racing. However, Blaney acknowledged he has faced setbacks in these high-risk events, something that Kevin Harvick brought up during their conversation.
Harvick noted that superspeedway races are always uncertain, often described as a 50/50 chance, and questioned whether Blaney had this mindset while competing closely for the second spot in the points standings.
“That was job number one for us going in the weekend. We knew we could get to second racing. The #9, the #5, the #11. We also knew we could possibly lose a couple spots if we had a bad night. So it was a big swing in points. There was a group of us that were super close. So yeah, goal one was focusing on the stages,” —Ryan Blaney
Blaney explained that after securing a solid number of stage points in the initial two stages, his focus shifted to monitoring his competition beyond simply winning the race.
Still, he described the race win as “the cherry on top,” emphasizing that maintaining second place in the points was his top priority heading into Daytona.
The Road Ahead for Blaney and Team Penske
Ryan Blaney’s reflections reveal both confidence in his team’s abilities and awareness of the volatility within the NASCAR playoffs. His concerns about Talladega and the ROVAL highlight the unpredictable nature of key tracks that could influence the championship outcome. Meanwhile, his praise for Team Penske’s progress, especially on road courses, signals a focused effort to improve in all areas.
The combination of Blaney’s determination and Penske’s strong lineup creates optimism for the playoffs, but the driver’s tension and readiness to adapt show he understands the challenges ahead. As the postseason unfolds, how well Blaney and his team handle these critical tracks will play a major role in their quest for another title.
