{"id":59642,"date":"2026-07-13T02:53:39","date_gmt":"2026-07-13T07:53:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/?p=59642"},"modified":"2026-07-21T20:14:05","modified_gmt":"2026-07-22T01:14:05","slug":"ryan-blaney-dominates-in-wild-one-at-atlantas-echopark-speedway","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/2026\/07\/13\/ryan-blaney-dominates-in-wild-one-at-atlantas-echopark-speedway\/","title":{"rendered":"Ryan Blaney dominates in wild one at Atlanta’s EchoPark Speedway"},"content":{"rendered":"
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HAMPTON, GEORGIA – JULY 12: Ryan Blaney, driver of the #12 BODYARMOR FLASH I.V. Ford, and crew chief Jonathan Hassler celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Quaker State 400 Available at Walmart at EchoPark Speedway on July 12, 2026 in Hampton, Georgia. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

By Holly Cain, NASCAR Wire Service<\/em><\/p>\n

HAMPTON, Ga. – Ryan Blaney led a dominating 171 of 263 laps to claim the trophy in overtime in Sunday-night-turned-Monday-morning\u2019s Quaker State 400 NASCAR Cup Series race at Atlanta\u2019s EchoPark Speedway.<\/p>\n

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HAMPTON, GEORGIA – JULY 12: Ryan Blaney, driver of the #12 BODYARMOR FLASH I.V. Ford, takes the checkered flag to win the NASCAR Cup Series Quaker State 400 Available at Walmart at EchoPark Speedway on July 12, 2026 in Hampton, Georgia. (Photo by Meg Oliphant\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

As impressive as the big number of laps led is the night-long extra effort Blaney turned in to mark his second win of the season and first since Phoenix in March. The 32-year old North Carolinian made the winning pass on the last lap in what had been a dramatic lap-by-lap night-long battle up front showcasing \u2013 and necessitating – some of the 2024 series champion\u2019s best work.<\/p>\n

His laps-led total on the 1.5-mile Atlanta high-banks is the most for a race winner at a drafting track since Richard Petty led 184 of 200 laps in his 1964 Daytona 500 victory.<\/p>\n

Blaney\u2019s No. 12 Team Penske Ford got the race-winning nudge forward on the last lap of overtime by Joe Gibbs Racing\u2019s Christopher Bell, whose No. 20 Toyota ultimately crossed the finish line three-wide alongside 23XI Racing\u2019s Bubba Wallace and Spire Motorsports Carson Hocevar, who was leading when the field took the white flag signaling one-lap to go.<\/p>\n

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HAMPTON, GEORGIA – JULY 12: Ryan Blaney, driver of the #12 BODYARMOR FLASH I.V. Ford, celebrates with a burnout after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Quaker State 400 Available at Walmart at EchoPark Speedway on July 12, 2026 in Hampton, Georgia. (Photo by Meg Oliphant\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Wallace was later penalized for being out of bounds, dropping below the track\u2019s yellow-line at one point as he corrected his car on that final overtime restart, battling Hocevar for position. The adjusted top-five with the penalty then placed Bell second to Blaney by .068-second \u2013 the JGR Toyota driver\u2019s fifth top-five in the last eight races. Hocevar was scored third followed by the Toyotas of JGR\u2019s Ty Gibbs and Legacy Motor Club\u2019s Erik Jones.<\/p>\n

\u201cPretty wild,\u2019\u2019 said a smiling Blaney, who started on the pole and swept both stage wins.<\/p>\n

\u201cBubba gave me really good shoves on the restart, we got hooked up really good and then Bubba and I got a huge run down the front straightaway and I was able to get to the outside of Carson. Wasn\u2019t able to clear him [then]. And then Bubba went three-wide bottom down the back which lined up for a really cool finish at the line.<\/p>\n

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HAMPTON, GEORGIA – JULY 12: Ryan Blaney, driver of the #12 BODYARMOR FLASH I.V. Ford, and crew display a “Ford Racing 750 Wins” signage in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Quaker State 400 Available at Walmart at EchoPark Speedway on July 12, 2026 in Hampton, Georgia. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cI really have to shout out Christopher Bell being right on my bumper through [turns] three and four and a big push. He was a big reason why we won the race so I appreciate that Christopher.\u201d<\/p>\n

It was an adventurous victory for Blaney, who faced challenges every lap and was forced to re-establish his position out front even after a three-hour plus red flag stoppage period for weather on lap 108 and the changing weather conditions.<\/p>\n

Blaney has now earned Ford Motor Company\u2019s last six NASCAR Cup Series wins and it marks a significant 750th victory for Ford Motor Company.<\/p>\n

Despite the impressive race statistics, it took hard work and unrelenting spirit to pull off this second victory of the season. Hocevar ran among the frontrunners for much of the night and was a serious threat to win. The 23-year old driver of the No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet earned his first career win in April at the series\u2019 previous drafting track stop \u2013 Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway. And came into the race full of confidence and vigor.<\/p>\n

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HAMPTON, GEORGIA – JULY 12: Ryan Blaney, driver of the #12 BODYARMOR FLASH I.V. Ford, leads the field to the green flag to start the NASCAR Cup Series Quaker State 400 Available at Walmart at EchoPark Speedway on July 12, 2026 in Hampton, Georgia. (Photo by Meg Oliphant\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

He was so optimistic about his chances, he joked with his team on the radio during the final restarts even singing into the radio just before the overtime green flag flew. He said he was part disappointed and part encouraged with the third place finish.<\/p>\n

\u201cIs there a sign for loser, we didn\u2019t win,\u2019\u2019 Hocevar joked after the race. \u201cI don\u2019t know, I\u2019m super happy with our day. I\u2019m sitting there hanging around, looking at the fans, sitting about for the first part of stage three. Then all of a sudden with about 12 laps [remaining] we were up front and in contention to win.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s fun. Zero nerves up front,\u2019\u2019 he added with a grin.<\/p>\n

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HAMPTON, GEORGIA – JULY 12: Michael McDowell, driver of the #71 Delaware Life Chevrolet, Chase Briscoe, driver of the #19 Freebird Spring Water Toyota, and Ricky Stenhouse Jr., driver of the #47 Clemco Chevrolet, race during the NASCAR Cup Series Quaker State 400 Available at Walmart at EchoPark Speedway on July 12, 2026 in Hampton, Georgia. (Photo by Meg Oliphant\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

It was also an impressive night for Trackhouse Racing driver Shane Van Gisbergen, the series\u2019 road course ace finishing sixth for his third top-10 showing on an oval this season. <\/p>\n

Richard Childress Racing\u2019s Austin Dillon was seventh, followed by the season\u2019s five-time race winner Tyler Reddick, who won at Atlanta in February. Blaney\u2019s Penske teammate, three-time series champ Joey Logano, was ninth scoring his sixth top-10 of the season. Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing\u2019s Chris Buescher was 10th.<\/p>\n

The night had a big effect on the TNT $1 million to-win In-Season Challenge with Bell\u2019s runner-up showing bettering his JGR teammate Denny Hamlin\u2019s 12th place showing to advance to next week\u2019s Final Four round. He\u2019ll join Hendrick Motorsports\u2019 Chase Elliott, who finished 13th Monday morning, out-dueling JGR\u2019s Chase Briscoe, who finished 36th after being collected in a crash.<\/p>\n

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HAMPTON, GEORGIA – JULY 12: Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Hunt Brothers Pizza Ford, and Ryan Blaney, driver of the #12 BODYARMOR FLASH I.V. Ford, lead the field on a pace lap prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Quaker State 400 Available at Walmart at EchoPark Speedway on July 12, 2026 in Hampton, Georgia. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Blaney\u2019s win advances him past Hendrick\u2019s William Byron, who finished 16th. And Front Row Motorsports\u2019 Todd Gilliland advances with an 19th place effort, bettering Hendrick\u2019s Alex Bowman, who finished 22nd.<\/p>\n

The night also had major implications in the championship standings now with only six races remaining to set the 16-driver field that will compete in the Chase.<\/p>\n

Hamlin retains the championship points lead, however Reddick cut the margin nearly in half at Atlanta with strong stage showings in addition to his top-10. He now trails his 23XI Racing team co-owner by 24 points. Blaney\u2019s victory also moved him into regular season championship talk, cutting what was once a 100-plus point deficit to now only 65 points.<\/p>\n

Jones finish kept him ranked 16th but Logano\u2019s effort moed him up a position in the standings and he now trails Jones by only eight points. RFK\u2019s Ryan Preece is ranked 18th, 26 points off Jones.<\/p>\n

The NASCAR Cup Series next makes a nostalgic return to North Wilkesboro (N.C.) Speedway for Sunday\u2019s Window World 450 (7 p.m. ET, TNT, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). Bell won the NASCAR All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro in 2025. The last regular season race at the historic track was won by NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon in 1996.<\/p>\n

Interviews: <\/h3>\n

Quaker State 400 Winner Ryan Blaney (No. 12 Ford for Team Penske) –<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Jonathan Hassler (Crew Chief for No. 12 Ford for Team Penske) and Michael Nelson (Team Penske President of Racing South) –<\/p>\nhttp:\/\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/JonathanHassleyMichaelNelsonTeamPenske.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

 <\/p>\n

NASCAR Cup Series Race – Quaker State 400 Available at Walmart<\/b><\/p>\n

EchoPark Speedway<\/b><\/p>\n

Hampton, Georgia<\/b><\/p>\n

Sunday, July 12, 2026<\/b><\/p>\n

                  1. (1)  Ryan Blaney, Ford, 263.<\/p>\n

                  2. (32)  Christopher Bell, Toyota, 263.<\/p>\n

                  3. (14)  Carson Hocevar, Chevrolet, 263.<\/p>\n

                  4. (23)  Ty Gibbs, Toyota, 263.<\/p>\n

                  5. (11)  Erik Jones, Toyota, 263.<\/p>\n

                  6. (12)  Shane Van Gisbergen, Chevrolet, 263.<\/p>\n

                  7. (4)  Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, 263.<\/p>\n

                  8. (31)  Tyler Reddick, Toyota, 263.<\/p>\n

                  9. (2)  Joey Logano, Ford, 263.<\/p>\n

                  10. (13)  Chris Buescher, Ford, 263.<\/p>\n

                  11. (9)  Ross Chastain, Chevrolet, 263.<\/p>\n

                  12. (28)  Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 263.<\/p>\n

                  13. (7)  Chase Elliott, Chevrolet, 263.<\/p>\n

                  14. (8)  Austin Cindric, Ford, 263.<\/p>\n

                  15. (18)  Michael McDowell, Chevrolet, 263.<\/p>\n

                  16. (26)  William Byron, Chevrolet, 263.<\/p>\n

                  17. (33)  Cole Custer, Chevrolet, 263.<\/p>\n

                  18. (24)  John Hunter Nemechek, Toyota, 263.<\/p>\n

                  19. (21)  Todd Gilliland, Ford, 263.<\/p>\n

                  20. (16)  Ty Dillon, Chevrolet, 263.<\/p>\n

                  21. (5)  Daniel Suarez, Chevrolet, 263.<\/p>\n

                  22. (6)  Alex Bowman, Chevrolet, 263.<\/p>\n

                  23. (15)  Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Chevrolet, 263.<\/p>\n

                  24. (19)  Ryan Preece, Ford, 263.<\/p>\n

                  25. (17)  Josh Berry, Ford, 263.<\/p>\n

                  26. (10)  Brad Keselowski, Ford, 263.<\/p>\n

                  27. (36)  Noah Gragson, Ford, 263.<\/p>\n

                  28. (25)  Connor Zilisch #, Chevrolet, 263.<\/p>\n

                  29. (22)  Bubba Wallace, Toyota, 263.<\/p>\n

                  30. (34)  Zane Smith, Ford, 262.<\/p>\n

                  31. (30)  Austin Hill(i), Chevrolet, 261.<\/p>\n

                  32. (35)  Cody Ware, Chevrolet, 259.<\/p>\n

                  33. (38)  Chad Finchum(i), Ford, 259.<\/p>\n

                  34. (3)  Kyle Larson, Chevrolet, 258.<\/p>\n

                  35. (29)  Riley Herbst, Toyota, Accident, 255.<\/p>\n

                  36. (20)  Chase Briscoe, Toyota, Accident, 254.<\/p>\n

                  37. (27)  AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet, Accident, 230.<\/p>\n

                  38. (37)  BJ McLeod, Chevrolet, Mechanical, 105.<\/p>\n

Average Speed of Race Winner:  124.995 mph.<\/p>\n

Time of Race:  3 Hrs, 14 Mins, 25 Secs. Margin of Victory:  .068 Seconds.<\/p>\n

Caution Flags:  7 for 49 laps.<\/p>\n

Lead Changes:  30 among 10 drivers.<\/p>\n

Lap Leaders:   R. Blaney 1-64;T. Reddick 65-72;R. Blaney 73;K. Larson 74-75;R. Blaney 76;K. Larson 77-78;R. Blaney 79-82;C. Hocevar 83-92;R. Blaney 93-118;J. Berry 119;R. Preece 120;R. Blaney 121-127;B. Wallace 128;R. Blaney 129-162;C. Hocevar 163;T. Gibbs 164-195;C. Hocevar 196;C. Bell 197-200;R. Blaney 201-202;C. Bell 203;R. Blaney 204-207;C. Elliott 208-209;R. Blaney 210-213;C. Elliott 214-216;R. Blaney 217-227;B. Wallace 228-237;R. Blaney 238-245;C. Hocevar 246-250;R. Blaney 251-254;C. Hocevar 255-262;R. Blaney 263.<\/p>\n

Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led):  Ryan Blaney 14 times for 171 laps; Ty Gibbs 1 time for 32 laps; Carson Hocevar 5 times for 25 laps; Bubba Wallace 2 times for 11 laps; Tyler Reddick 1 time for 8 laps; Christopher Bell 2 times for 5 laps; Chase Elliott 2 times for 5 laps; Kyle Larson 2 times for 4 laps; Josh Berry 1 time for 1 lap; Ryan Preece 1 time for 1 lap.<\/p>\n

Stage #1 Top Ten: 12,45,5,22,2,77,3,19,9,23<\/p>\n

Stage #2 Top Ten: 12,45,22,2,7,54,20,43,11,97<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  By Holly Cain, NASCAR Wire Service HAMPTON, Ga. – Ryan Blaney led a dominating 171 of 263 laps to claim the trophy in overtime in Sunday-night-turned-Monday-morning\u2019s Quaker State 400 NASCAR Cup Series race at Atlanta\u2019s EchoPark Speedway. As impressive as the big number of laps led is the night-long extra effort Blaney turned in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":676,"featured_media":59644,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[11],"tags":[52,1107,16,435],"class_list":["post-59642","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nascar","tag-atlanta-motor-speedway","tag-echopark-speedway","tag-nascar","tag-ryan-blaney"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Ryan-Blaney-Takes-The-Checkered-Flag-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1706","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7hzTZ-fvY","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/59642","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/676"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=59642"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/59642\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":59660,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/59642\/revisions\/59660"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/59644"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=59642"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=59642"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=59642"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}