Blaney’s Dramatic Win at Daytona Sets Playoff Stage
Daytona International Speedway – Ryan Blaney secured a thrilling victory in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 on Saturday night, propelling himself to the forefront of the NASCAR Cup Series and inadvertently safeguarding Alex Bowman’s playoff hopes. Blaney surged from 12th place with just three laps remaining, clinching first by a razor-thin margin of 0.031 seconds ahead of Daniel Suarez.
Blaney’s win, his second of the season and 15th of his career, is significant as it marks the first victory for a Ford driver since June. Justin Haley followed closely in third, just 0.036 seconds behind Blaney, with Cole Custer finishing fourth, 0.049 seconds adrift. Notably, if either Suarez, Haley, or Custer had won, Bowman would have been eliminated from playoff contention.
The driver of the No. 12 Team Penske Ford expressed his elation: “What a wild last couple of laps. We were able to clear the way when the No. 7 and No. 41 got racing, and I was able to clear on the top and just barely hold out for the win.”
Blaney’s performance earned him an additional 10 playoff points, solidifying his second-place standing in the regular-season rankings. The race was marked by an impressive 44 lead changes among 19 drivers.
Teammate Joey Logano also had a competitive outing, leading 27 laps before spinning out with 11 laps remaining. Logano ultimately finished outside the top 10. Erik Jones placed fifth, followed by Kyle Larson, Chris Buescher, Ty Gibbs, Josh Berry, and Chase Elliott.
Bowman’s chances for a playoff berth faced a turbulent turn when he was caught in a 12-car pileup triggered early in the race. Despite repairs allowing Tyler Reddick to continue, Bowman was unable to recover. The incident eliminated him from contention on points as Reddick clinched the final playoff spot.
“It was all very out of our control,” said Bowman, reflecting on the abrupt end to his race. “We had to overcome a tough start, but unfortunately, it just didn’t work out.”
Bowman’s teammates—William Byron (Regular Season Champion), Larson, and Elliott—will join him in the upcoming playoffs, which commence on August 31 at Darlington Raceway with the Cook Out Southern 500.
Race Results
- Ryan Blaney (No. 12 Team Penske Ford)
- Daniel Suarez
- Justin Haley
- Cole Custer
- Erik Jones
- Kyle Larson
- Chris Buescher
- Ty Gibbs
- Josh Berry
- Chase Elliott
The playoff format will introduce an intense 10-race stretch, shaping the narrative for the remainder of the season.
