Sunday, June 11, 2017

Blaney Picks Up First Victory at Pocono

Originally written for CLNS Media.


Ryan Blaney won his first career race on Sunday afternoon in the Axalta Presents the Pocono 400 from Pocono Raceway.

Blaney took the lead from Kyle Busch in the final 10 laps, and he had to hold off Kevin Harvick in the closing laps to get to victory lane.
Chris Trotman/Getty Images

Blaney said he was excited to beat two of the best to get to victory lane.

“First we had to pass Kyle, and that was tough,” Blaney said.  “He was on older tires…and we were able to get up under him.  Then we had to hold Kevin off; he was really fast all day.  I want to thank him for racing me really clean.”

Blaney, in his second full-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season, said he was excited to finally return Wood Brothers Racing to victory lane.

“We got Motorcraft and Ford back into victory lane, Wood Brothers’ 99th win…that was just a lot of fun,” Blaney said.  “We locked ourselves into the Chase; that was awesome.”

Harvick said his car just wasn’t able to drive through the corner as good as Blaney’s.

“I think there at the end we just couldn’t get in the corner like we needed to all day,” Harvick said.  “He could charge the corner, so I needed for him to make a mistake.”

“Never made a mistake, and did a great job.  Ended up winning the race.”

Unofficial results:
1. Ryan Blaney
2. Kevin Harvick
3. Erik Jones
4. Kurt Busch
5. Brad Keselowski
6. Martin Truex Jr.
7. Kyle Larson
8. Chase Elliott
9. Kyle Busch
10. Matt Kenseth
11. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
12. Denny Hamlin
13. Austin Dillon
14. Ryan Newman
15. Daniel Suarez
16. Danica Patrick
17. Clint Bowyer
18. Ty Dillon
19. Chris Buescher
20. Paul Menard
21. Trevor Bayne
22. AJ Allmendinger
23. Joey Logano
24. Michael McDowell
25. David Ragan
26. Darrell Wallace Jr.
27. Landon Cassill
28. Corey LaJoie
29. Gray Gaulding
30. Cole Whitt
31. Reed Sorenson
32. Matt DiBenedetto
33. Derrike Cope
34. Jeffrey Earnhardt
35. Kasey Kahne
36. Jimmie Johnson
37. Jamie McMurray
38. Dale Earnhardt Jr.
39. Cody Ware

Jerry Markland/Getty Images

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