For the first time since 2016 Penske driver Ryan Blaney had a winless NASCAR Cup season.
He almost scored a ninth inning home run at Phoenix Raceway Sunday. In NASCAR’s final race of the 2022 season Blaney led the second most laps on the day and for a time appeared to be the only real contender for eventual winner, and teammate Joey Logano.
Logano led from pole and the first 159 laps. Only Blaney was able to catch and pass Logano under green. He was able to keep the lead after a round of green flag pit stops that started with 63 laps to go, but the races final caution on lap 269 for contact between Alex Bowman and Michael McDowell led to another round of stops that saw Blaney come out third behind Chase Briscoe and Logano.
Blaney did eventually get second, but by then Logano, who led a race high 187 laps, was back out front and Blaney wasn’t able to catch him and had to settle for second, his twelfth top 10 finish of the season.
Blaney did win the All-Star Race, but the stats will show no points paying wins for 2022 and that became official Sunday night with the second-place finish.
“I wish we could have won one,” Blaney said. “We had a great car to do it and it just didn’t happen. I’m proud of the effort. We had a winning car, and it just didn’t happen.”
“You can’t pass anybody,” he added. “You get behind someone and get tight and it takes your air away and that’s all you can do.”
Greg is the author of "The Nuts and Bolts of NASCAR: The Definitive Viewers' Guide to Big-Time Stock Car Auto Racing" and has been published in major publications across the country including the Los Angeles Times, the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He was also a contributor to Chicken Soup for the NASCAR Soul, published in 2010, and the Christmas edition in 2016. He wrote as the NASCAR, Formula 1, Auto Reviews and National Veterans Affairs Examiner for Examiner.com and has appeared on Fox News. He holds a BS degree in communications, a Masters degree in psychology and is currently a PhD candidate majoring in psychology. He is currently the weekend Motorsports Editor for Autoweek.
- Biffle, Dorton, Sprague join NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2025 nominees for the first time - April 24, 2024
- NASCAR will experiment with different tire compounds for the first time at All-Star Race - April 23, 2024
- Legacy Motor Club reserve driver Corey Heim to sub for Erik Jones at Dover - April 23, 2024