{"id":44127,"date":"2023-10-29T18:20:28","date_gmt":"2023-10-29T23:20:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/?p=44127"},"modified":"2023-11-13T11:45:47","modified_gmt":"2023-11-13T17:45:47","slug":"ryan-blaney-claims-championship-4-spot-with-emphatic-victory-at-martinsville","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/2023\/10\/29\/ryan-blaney-claims-championship-4-spot-with-emphatic-victory-at-martinsville\/","title":{"rendered":"Ryan Blaney claims Championship 4 spot with emphatic victory at Martinsville\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>

Ryan Blaney, driver of the #12 Discount Tire Ford, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway on October 29, 2023 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

By Reid Spencer <\/em><\/p>\n

NASCAR Wire Service <\/em><\/p>\n

MARTINSVILLE, Va. \u2013 Ryan Blaney did what Denny Hamlin couldn\u2019t do in Sunday\u2019s Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway.<\/p>\n

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Ryan Blaney, driver of the #12 Discount Tire Ford, takes the checkered flag to win the NASCAR Cup Series Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway on October 29, 2023 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

As a result, Blaney will race for the NASCAR Cup Series championship next Sunday at Phoenix Raceway, and Hamlin exits the Playoffs after a hard-luck Round of 8.<\/p>\n

During a 168-lap green-flag run to the finish, Blaney tracked down Aric Almirola and passed him for the lead on Lap 478 of 500. Twenty-two laps later, Blaney took the checkered flag 0.899 seconds ahead of Almirola to earn advancement to the Championship 4 race.<\/p>\n

Blaney joins fellow Round of 8 winners Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell in race for the title, along with William Byron, who fought an ill-handling car all day but edged Hamlin for the final Playoff spot by eight points after finishing 13th.<\/p>\n

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Ryan Blaney, driver of the #12 Discount Tire Ford, celebrates after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway on October 29, 2023 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Hamlin came home third, 4.149 seconds behind the race winner.<\/p>\n

Chris Buescher, Martin Truex Jr. and Tyler Reddick joined Hamlin on the sidelines after finishing eighth, 12th and 26th, respectively.<\/p>\n

The victory was Blaney\u2019s third of the season, his first at Martinsville and the 10th of his career, and it propelled him into the Championship 4 for the first time. Blaney aced the Round of 8 with a sixth-place finish at Las Vegas, a runner-up result at Homestead and the win at Martinsville.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I mean, felt like we put together really strong Playoffs\u2014especially the Round of 8\u2026 we had a good run in the whole Round of 8,\u201d Blaney said. \u201cYeah, just overall really proud of the whole effort. RP (Team Penske owner Roger Penske) couldn’t be here, unfortunately, but I know he’s watching. This is awesome. Can’t wait to get to Phoenix next week.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Ryan Blaney, driver of the #12 Discount Tire Ford, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway on October 29, 2023 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Chris Graythen\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

In front of a sold-out crowd at the .526-mile short track, Blaney earned the grandfather clock trophy he has long coveted.<\/p>\n

\u201cI grew up in High Point, not too far from here,\u201d Blaney said. \u201cReally cool. Wanting to win here for a long time. Been super close for many years. Awesome to close it out.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hamlin won the 130-lap first stage, finished second to Blaney in Stage 2 and was in position to advance to the title race until the race turned under caution for Michael McDowell\u2019s spin in Turn 2 on Lap 323. Blaney pitted from the lead, with Hamlin behind.<\/p>\n

But 10 cars stayed on the track under the yellow, among them Almirola and Chase Elliott, who led 77 consecutive laps before Almirola passed him for the top spot on Lap 412. On newer tires, Blaney was able to work his way through traffic and take the lead, where Hamlin could only advance to third.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Ryan Blaney, driver of the #12 Discount Tire Ford, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway on October 29, 2023 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Chris Graythen\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Hamlin entered the race 17 points below the cutoff for the final round because of a power steering failure that cost him dearly at Homestead the week before.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe mechanical failure last week with the power steering, that sealed our fate,\u201d said the driver of the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, who led a race-high 156 laps to Blaney\u2019s 145. \u201cReally proud of this whole FedEx Toyota team for showing up today when we really needed to, having probably a mid 50-point day. They did great. They did absolutely great.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe 12 car (Blaney) was the best car today, so congrats to them\u2014all the final four that made it. It’s going to be great. Hate we’re not in it. Definitely, I was happy with the performance we had today. Really all-around.<\/p>\n

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Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #19 Auto-Owners Insurance Toyota, leads the field to the green flag to start the NASCAR Cup Series Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway on October 29, 2023 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cJust in the Round of 8, you can’t have one bad week. Unfortunately, mechanical failure takes us from running really well to in the 30s. That’s it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Truex, the regular-season champion, led the first 47 laps from the pole, but a pit road speeding penalty on Lap 219 mired him in traffic, a circumstance he couldn\u2019t overcome.<\/p>\n

\u201cI felt like we did really good to get back to where we did,\u201d Truex said. \u201cYou just burn the tires off so much worse back there in the hot, dirty track, dirty air. You’re in more rubber. It’s just a dogfight.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don’t know. We gave it a hell of an effort. I felt like we had a really strong car. I don’t think we could have beat the 12 (Blaney). He was really, really strong. We were definitely close.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Christopher Bell, driver of the #20 Interstate Batteries Toyota, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., driver of the #47 Kroger\/Reese’s Chevrolet, Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Hunt Brothers Pizza Ford, and JJ Yeley, driver of the #15 IFCJ.org Ford, race during the NASCAR Cup Series Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway on October 29, 2023 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Chris Graythen\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

When Hamlin or Truex led the race, Byron was out of the Championship 4 as they ran. But the driver of the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet held onto the final berth with a determined effort over the final green-flag run. Byron was 13th at the finish, the first driver one lap down.<\/p>\n

\u201cObviously we were not very good,\u201d Byron said. \u201cOur worst race of the year. These guys deserve it so much. They work so hard. Honestly, probably with 50 to go I felt really, really bad. I just had to drive the hell out of it. The guys stuck with me, they kept motivating me through little bits and pieces, just kind of keeping my mind straight.  <\/p>\n

\u201cI’m just really thankful for them. It was just, yeah, a slugfest. Everyone raced me good there at the end. Congrats to Ryan. I was really happy for him\u2026 but, man, we just had to hang on. Just had to dig a little bit deeper.<\/p>\n

\u201cI knew when I got out of the car I was just beat. But the result means more than anything. These guys work so hard. We’ve worked so hard all season. I’m just really proud of them.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chase Briscoe and Joey Logano finished fourth and fifth. Larson, Bell, Buescher, Austin Cindric and Todd Gilliland completed the top 10. <\/p>\n

Interviews:<\/h3>\n

Ryan Blaney — NASCAR Cup Series Winning Driver; Jonathan Hassler — NASCAR Cup Series Winning Crew Chief; Walt Czarnecki — Team Penske Vice Chairman – <\/p>\nhttp:\/\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/MEDIACENTER5MARTINSVILLE29OCT2023NCSBlaneyWin.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

 <\/p>\n

NASCAR Cup Series Race – Xfinity 500<\/strong><\/p>\n

Martinsville Speedway<\/strong><\/p>\n

Martinsville, Virginia<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sunday, October 29, 2023<\/strong><\/p>\n

                1. (11)  Ryan Blaney (P), Ford, 500.<\/p>\n

                2. (12)  Aric Almirola, Ford, 500.<\/p>\n

                3. (4)  Denny Hamlin (P), Toyota, 500.<\/p>\n

                4. (3)  Chase Briscoe, Ford, 500.<\/p>\n

                5. (15)  Joey Logano, Ford, 500.<\/p>\n

                6. (5)  Kyle Larson (P), Chevrolet, 500.<\/p>\n

                7. (7)  Christopher Bell (P), Toyota, 500.<\/p>\n

                8. (18)  Chris Buescher (P), Ford, 500.<\/p>\n

                9. (21)  Austin Cindric, Ford, 500.<\/p>\n

                10. (17)  Todd Gilliland, Ford, 500.<\/p>\n

                11. (6)  Bubba Wallace, Toyota, 500.<\/p>\n

                12. (1)  Martin Truex Jr. (P), Toyota, 500.<\/p>\n

                13. (16)  William Byron (P), Chevrolet, 499.<\/p>\n

                14. (13)  Ross Chastain, Chevrolet, 499.<\/p>\n

                15. (28)  Harrison Burton, Ford, 499.<\/p>\n

                16. (8)  Kevin Harvick, Ford, 499.<\/p>\n

                17. (14)  Chase Elliott (P), Chevrolet, 499.<\/p>\n

                18. (2)  Ty Gibbs #, Toyota, 499.<\/p>\n

                19. (20)  Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Chevrolet, 499.<\/p>\n

                20. (9)  Ryan Preece, Ford, 499.<\/p>\n

                21. (29)  Erik Jones, Chevrolet, 499.<\/p>\n

                22. (30)  Corey LaJoie, Chevrolet, 499.<\/p>\n

                23. (26)  Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, 499.<\/p>\n

                24. (34)  Ty Dillon, Chevrolet, 499.<\/p>\n

                25. (23)  Michael McDowell, Ford, 499.<\/p>\n

                26. (19)  Tyler Reddick (P), Toyota, 498.<\/p>\n

                27. (31)  Kyle Busch, Chevrolet, 498.<\/p>\n

                28. (25)  AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet, 498.<\/p>\n

                29. (33)  Ryan Newman(i), Ford, 497.<\/p>\n

                30. (24)  Justin Haley, Chevrolet, 497.<\/p>\n

                31. (32)  Carson Hocevar(i), Chevrolet, 496.<\/p>\n

                32. (22)  Alex Bowman, Chevrolet, 496.<\/p>\n

                33. (10)  Brad Keselowski, Ford, 306.<\/p>\n

                34. (27)  Daniel Suarez, Chevrolet, DVP, 274.<\/p>\n

                35. (35)  JJ Yeley(i), Ford, Accident, 271.<\/p>\n

                36. (36)  BJ McLeod(i), Chevrolet, Overheating, 147.<\/p>\n

Average Speed of Race Winner:  75.244 mph.<\/p>\n

Time of Race:  3 Hrs, 29 Mins, 43 Secs. Margin of Victory:  0.899 Seconds.<\/p>\n

Caution Flags:  7 for 61 laps.<\/p>\n

Lead Changes:  12 among 6 drivers.<\/p>\n

Lap Leaders:   M. Truex Jr. (P) 1-47;D. Hamlin (P) 48-193;R. Blaney (P) 194-218;D. Hamlin (P) 219-226;R. Blaney (P) 227-228;D. Hamlin (P) 229;R. Blaney (P) 230-324;D. Hamlin (P) 325;C. Elliott (P) 326-331;C. LaJoie 332-334;C. Elliott (P) 335-411;A. Almirola 412-477;R. Blaney (P) 478-500.<\/p>\n

Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led):  Denny Hamlin (P) 4 times for 156 laps; Ryan Blaney (P) 4 times for 145 laps; Chase Elliott (P) 2 times for 83 laps; Aric Almirola 1 time for 66 laps; Martin Truex Jr. (P) 1 time for 47 laps; Corey LaJoie 1 time for 3 laps.<\/p>\n

Stage #1 Top Ten: 11,12,19,14,6,20,54,41,22,4<\/p>\n

Stage #2 Top Ten: 12,11,14,22,6,54,41,38,4,20<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  By Reid Spencer  NASCAR Wire Service  MARTINSVILLE, Va. \u2013 Ryan Blaney did what Denny Hamlin couldn\u2019t do in Sunday\u2019s Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway. As a result, Blaney will race for the NASCAR Cup Series championship next Sunday at Phoenix Raceway, and Hamlin exits the Playoffs after a hard-luck Round of 8. During a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":676,"featured_media":44142,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_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}},"categories":[11],"tags":[407,16,435],"class_list":["post-44127","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nascar","tag-martinsville-speedway","tag-nascar","tag-ryan-blaney"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/GettyImages-1763856512-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1647&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7hzTZ-btJ","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44127","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/676"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44127"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44127\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":44149,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44127\/revisions\/44149"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/44142"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44127"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44127"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44127"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}