Austin, Texas hosted a pivotal race Sunday as Ryan Blaney defied expectations with a notably strong performance at Circuit of the Americas (COTA). Known for struggling on road courses, Blaney delivered a surprisingly fast pace throughout the event, showcasing significant improvements in the No. 12 car’s setup.
Strong Competition and Tough Final Laps
Blaney battled closely with Tyler Reddick during much of the race, appearing to hold one of the quickest cars on the track. Despite this, Blaney finished eighth after a restart with 17 laps remaining, where he started on the less favored outside lane. Coming out of turn one during that restart, Blaney gradually lost momentum and position, ultimately settling into eighth place for the finish.
After the race, Blaney explained,
“I just lost grip, I don’t know. I just kind of lost grip and lost touch with Shane and Tyler. Yeah, it was weird.”
“I wasn’t really pushing hard like after the green flag pit stop with Tyler, knowing it was going to be a longer run, no caution or not.”
— Ryan Blaney, NASCAR driver
Points Standings and Season Consistency
In points gained, Blaney collected some during the race, notably finishing seventh in the second stage, but his finish did not translate into a major points gain. He sits fourth in the points standings, trailing Tyler Reddick by 86 points. Including preliminary events like the clash and duel races, Blaney has secured Top-10 finishes in every race this season except the Daytona 500.
Changes in Team Setup Yield Results
Blaney’s pace surprised many, given his historically challenging results on road courses. Last season, his only road course Top-10 came at Watkins Glen where he started on the pole and finished sixth. According to the FOX broadcast, the No. 12 team implemented a dramatically different car setup for the Austin race, a strategy that showed promising results despite the final position not fully reflecting the car’s speed.
Looking Ahead to Phoenix Raceway
Next on Blaney’s schedule is the race at Phoenix Raceway, where he recorded a victory during last November’s season finale. Phoenix remains one of his strongest tracks, boasting 14 Top-10 finishes in 20 starts, with 10 of those in the Top-5. The upcoming Straight Talk Wireless 500 will begin next Sunday at 3:30 p.m. ET, offering Blaney another chance to capitalize on his improving form.
