Ryan Blaney solidified his position in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs by delivering a commanding victory at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, marking a major win for Team Penske. On September 2023, Blaney led 116 laps and crossed the finish line 0.937 seconds ahead of Josh Berry, capturing his third win of the season in the No. 12 Ford. This victory guarantees Blaney a spot among the eight drivers advancing to the third round of the playoffs, putting him one step closer to the Championship 4 finale.
Penske Ford Drivers Demonstrate Dominance Throughout the Race Weekend
Blaney’s triumph was supported by impressive performances from his Penske teammates. Joey Logano, driving the No. 22 Ford, led the most laps in the race with 147 and secured a fourth-place finish. William Byron contributed by finishing third, enhancing the strength of the Penske Fords at the 1.058-mile oval. Starting from last place among playoff competitors, Chase Elliott managed an impressive recovery to finish fifth. Penske’s qualifying dominance was evident as Logano earned the pole position, with Blaney and Josh Berry—a Wood Brothers Racing driver allied with Penske—completing a top-three qualifying sweep.
Challenges Surface for Joe Gibbs Racing Amid On-Track Collision
Joe Gibbs Racing, while flawless in the season’s initial playoff round, faced difficulties at New Hampshire. The race took a turn on Lap 110 when Denny Hamlin spun teammate Ty Gibbs into the Turn 2 wall during a battle for 11th place. This incident sparked tension within the team, as Gibbs was the lone Joe Gibbs driver not to qualify for the playoffs and appeared to interfere with the progress of his teammates Hamlin and Christopher Bell.
Does Ty know we’re running for a championship?
Denny Hamlin, NASCAR Driver
What the (expletive) is he doing?
Denny Hamlin, NASCAR Driver
Are they afraid to talk to him? That’s what I feel like,
Denny Hamlin, NASCAR Driver
After the collision, Hamlin expressed frustration on the radio, questioning whether Ty Gibbs was receiving undue leniency within the team. Though Gibbs briefly returned to the track, damage to his No. 54 Camry forced him into the garage, resulting in a 34th-place finish. When asked about the incident and Hamlin’s comments, Gibbs declined to comment, instead focusing on upcoming events.
It’s unfortunate, but I’m excited to go race next week and looking forward to it,
Ty Gibbs, NASCAR Driver
Despite Joe Gibbs Racing’s early playoff success, they were noticeably off pace in the race’s opening stage, failing to secure top-10 finishes among key drivers during the 70-lap segment. Hamlin, Bell, and Chase Briscoe all fell outside the top 10 in Stage 1, a significant shift given the team’s history of dominance at New Hampshire, where they claimed the last three Cup races and six consecutive stages.
Stage Winners and Upcoming Playoff Events
The two race stages saw wins by Penske drivers with Ryan Blaney winning Stage 1 and Joey Logano taking Stage 2, reinforcing their team’s control during the event. The next playoff race is scheduled for Sunday, September 28, at Kansas Speedway and will be broadcast on USA Network at 3 p.m. ET, with expectations high for further intense competition among the remaining playoff drivers.
