Blaney completes Penske playoff entries with commanding Nashville win

Blaney Triumphs at Nashville Superspeedway, Secures Playoff Spot

Nashville, TN – Ryan Blaney captured his first victory of the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season, winning the Cracker Barrel 400 at Nashville Superspeedway on Sunday night. Leading a dominant 139 of 300 laps, Blaney’s performance solidified his position in the Playoffs, driving his No. 12 Team Penske Ford to a 2.830-second victory over Carson Hocevar of Spire Motorsports.

Blaney, who has faced several near misses this season, expressed his relief and excitement after the race. "I never gave up hope, that’s for sure," he stated, emphasizing his team’s resilience despite a challenging season. The victory marks the first for all three Penske drivers, further enhancing the team’s competitive edge heading into the final laps of the regular season.

Hocevar’s runner-up finish, his career-best equalling result from earlier in the season, left him optimistic despite the close call. "It just proves how strong this group is. This is a step in the right direction," he remarked, acknowledging his team’s efforts following a mechanical failure last week at Charlotte.

Denny Hamlin of Joe Gibbs Racing finished third after leading 79 laps and winning the opening stage. Despite issues with his helmet hose and hydration system, Hamlin was pleased with the car’s performance. "I just couldn’t run with the No. 12 there in the super long run," he explained.

Joey Logano, last year’s race winner, secured a fourth-place finish but noted the overwhelming pace of Blaney and his crew. "Good execution and proud of Team Penske. All our cars have a win now," Logano highlighted.

Completing the top five was series leader William Byron of Hendrick Motorsports. The overall race saw 18 lead changes among nine drivers, with Blaney and Hamlin each winning a stage.

This year, the Nashville race determined the 32-car field for the inaugural NASCAR In-Season Challenge, a summer tournament set to begin June 28 at Atlanta, offering a $1 million prize to the winner. Former champion Brad Keselowski secured the last spot by a narrow margin over Shane van Gisbergen.

As the series moves forward, Byron leads the championship standings, 48 points ahead of teammate Kyle Larson, while Chase Elliott remains the highest-ranked driver without a victory in fifth place.

The NASCAR Cup Series resumes next Sunday with the Firekeeper’s Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway, where Tyler Reddick will aim to defend his title.