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Ryan Blaney had to overcome a 3-hour rain delay and an intense NASCAR 2-lap overtime to win the Quaker State 400 to complete a nearly perfect performance Sunday at the Atlanta’s competitive EchoPark Speedway.
The popular 32-year-old Team Penske veteran began his incredible weekend by winning the pole position ahead of Team Penske teammate Joey Logano, putting both Team Penske Mustangs on the front row for the start of the Quaker State 400.
Blaney drove his colorful No.12 Team Penske Mustang into the lead at the drop of green flag and began his incredible performance. Blaney handily won the first stage, and after a thunderstorm caused a 3-hour red flag delay, he came back to sweep the second stage.
Blaney engaged in an intense final stage battle with Bubba Wallace, Carson Hocevar, Kyle Larson, Christopher Bell, Tyler Reddick and a host of others in the frantic charge to the checkered flag. That battle was interrupted when Kyle Larson spun, bringing out the final caution flag and setting up the 2-lap NASCAR overtime to decide the winner.
Blaney and race leader Hocevar took the green flag on the front row for the 2-lap final shootout. Blaney and Hocevar battled side-by-side before a push from Tyler Reddick put Hocevar into a four car-length lead coming to the last lap. Wallace recovered to push Blaney past Hocevar as the cars dueled down the backstretch.
Hocevar was not done as he pulled to the outside of Blaney while Wallace went below the yellow line to pull along Blaney’s inside. The three drivers battled side-by-side as they charged off turn four in an intense, final charge to the checkered flag to determine the winner of the 2026 Quaker State 400.
With Hocevar and Wallace slightly ahead of Blaney within a few hundred feet of the checkered flag, Blaney got a last second push from Christopher Bell. The late push from Bell propelled Blaney past Hocevar and Wallace as he took the checkered flag by about a car length in the thrilling three-wide finish.
Blaney’s second win of 2026 and 19th NASCAR career victory completed his incredible performance at Atlanta.
After an impressive victory burnout, Blaney jumped on top of his winning No.12 BodyArmor Mustang to salute the enthusiastic crowd who remained until 2 a.m. to see the exciting conclusion.
An elated Blaney commented on his victory, “Pretty Wild! I was second and took the front row and see who would get behind me on the restart…Bubba (Wallace) gave me really good shoves. We got hooked up really good. Bubba and I got huge run down the front straightaway and I was able to get to the outside of Carson (Hocevar) and wasn’t able to clear him. Bubba went through my bottom down the backstretch and we were lined up for a really cool finish.
“I really have to shout out to Christopher Bell for being right on my bumper all the way through (turns) three and four. His big push was a big reason we won the race. I appreciate that Christopher! Overall, a great night! To sit on the pole, win both stages, and win the race-that’s an unbelievable weekend. Thanks to Ford Racing, Ford Motor Company and everyone who make this possible. Pretty cool to win here.”
Blaney’s win was a milestone for America’s Ford Motor Company and Ford Racing. His win Sunday was the 750th NASCAR victory for the popular American automaker.
Adding to Blaney’s incredible victory was the notable achievement that his amazing 171 laps in the lead was the most laps any driver has led on a major (high speed) track since legend Richard Petty in 1964 at the Daytona 500.
Finishing behind Blaney was Bell, and Hocevar, with Ty Gibbs and Eric Jones rounding out the top five. Wallace’s last lap pass below the yellow line negated his top three finish and he was put as the last car on the lead lap by NASCAR.
The NASCAR teams head to North Wilkesboro next weekend and then return to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway the following weekend for the annual Brickyard 400.
Continue reading...
The popular 32-year-old Team Penske veteran began his incredible weekend by winning the pole position ahead of Team Penske teammate Joey Logano, putting both Team Penske Mustangs on the front row for the start of the Quaker State 400.
Blaney drove his colorful No.12 Team Penske Mustang into the lead at the drop of green flag and began his incredible performance. Blaney handily won the first stage, and after a thunderstorm caused a 3-hour red flag delay, he came back to sweep the second stage.
Blaney engaged in an intense final stage battle with Bubba Wallace, Carson Hocevar, Kyle Larson, Christopher Bell, Tyler Reddick and a host of others in the frantic charge to the checkered flag. That battle was interrupted when Kyle Larson spun, bringing out the final caution flag and setting up the 2-lap NASCAR overtime to decide the winner.
Blaney and race leader Hocevar took the green flag on the front row for the 2-lap final shootout. Blaney and Hocevar battled side-by-side before a push from Tyler Reddick put Hocevar into a four car-length lead coming to the last lap. Wallace recovered to push Blaney past Hocevar as the cars dueled down the backstretch.
Hocevar was not done as he pulled to the outside of Blaney while Wallace went below the yellow line to pull along Blaney’s inside. The three drivers battled side-by-side as they charged off turn four in an intense, final charge to the checkered flag to determine the winner of the 2026 Quaker State 400.
With Hocevar and Wallace slightly ahead of Blaney within a few hundred feet of the checkered flag, Blaney got a last second push from Christopher Bell. The late push from Bell propelled Blaney past Hocevar and Wallace as he took the checkered flag by about a car length in the thrilling three-wide finish.
Blaney’s second win of 2026 and 19th NASCAR career victory completed his incredible performance at Atlanta.
After an impressive victory burnout, Blaney jumped on top of his winning No.12 BodyArmor Mustang to salute the enthusiastic crowd who remained until 2 a.m. to see the exciting conclusion.
An elated Blaney commented on his victory, “Pretty Wild! I was second and took the front row and see who would get behind me on the restart…Bubba (Wallace) gave me really good shoves. We got hooked up really good. Bubba and I got huge run down the front straightaway and I was able to get to the outside of Carson (Hocevar) and wasn’t able to clear him. Bubba went through my bottom down the backstretch and we were lined up for a really cool finish.
“I really have to shout out to Christopher Bell for being right on my bumper all the way through (turns) three and four. His big push was a big reason we won the race. I appreciate that Christopher! Overall, a great night! To sit on the pole, win both stages, and win the race-that’s an unbelievable weekend. Thanks to Ford Racing, Ford Motor Company and everyone who make this possible. Pretty cool to win here.”
Blaney’s win was a milestone for America’s Ford Motor Company and Ford Racing. His win Sunday was the 750th NASCAR victory for the popular American automaker.
Adding to Blaney’s incredible victory was the notable achievement that his amazing 171 laps in the lead was the most laps any driver has led on a major (high speed) track since legend Richard Petty in 1964 at the Daytona 500.
Finishing behind Blaney was Bell, and Hocevar, with Ty Gibbs and Eric Jones rounding out the top five. Wallace’s last lap pass below the yellow line negated his top three finish and he was put as the last car on the lead lap by NASCAR.
The NASCAR teams head to North Wilkesboro next weekend and then return to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway the following weekend for the annual Brickyard 400.
Continue reading...
