LOUDON, N.H. — Ryan Blaney stays one of many prime championship contenders because the Spherical of 12 within the NASCAR Cup Collection Playoffs begins this weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
The Group Penske driver, who received the Cup Collection title in 2023, enters New Hampshire on a constant string of top-10 finishes and feels his workforce is able to win on the one-mile observe.
“I really feel like New Hampshire has been a kind of tracks to the place now we have run effectively and simply not likely completed the place we deserved,” Blaney stated. “I felt actually good there final yr. We have been operating up entrance earlier than the rain. We have been operating second throughout the rain and acquired circled there on one of many final restarts, however I believe simply attempting to remain within the combine. The primary a part of it’s attempting to have a automobile that runs up towards the entrance.
“I’m blissful that New Hampshire has gotten a playoff race. It’s at all times been that approach for some time, and I used to be part of a pair New Hampshire races within the playoffs and I’m blissful it’s again as a result of they do an ideal job and the gang up there’s at all times unbelievable.”
Blaney says his workforce is peaking on the proper time.
“I really feel like our group simply retains getting higher and higher yearly,” Blaney stated. “I just about have the identical guys I’ve had from that championship yr and simply that camaraderie and dealing collectively yr after yr, week after week, everybody will get nearer and simply construct that bond and I’ve been actually pleased with how they’ve been performing.
“Over-the-wall, mechanics and the way they’ve been speaking. Jonathan and the engineers with myself, I really feel like we’ve gotten into this good rhythm and that stuff simply grows over time. I simply suppose we’re executing the best way that we have to. I really feel like our mindset is simply in a superb place proper now, the place everyone seems to be extraordinarily assured in themselves and their means they usually consider it, and that stuff positively helps. It’s the assumption that we are able to do it. We’ve had the assumption that we are able to do it the final two to 3 years. They’re poised to do it and it’s actually enjoyable to be a part of a bunch like that, that has that mindset. Everyone seems to be clicking collectively. Everybody has one another’s backs.
“If I make a mistake, they’re proper there to help me. In the event that they make a mistake, I help them. That’s simply how a workforce works, so I simply suppose we’re a reasonably well-oiled machine. I really feel like all yr our workforce has been performing very well.”
Whereas Blaney and his workforce are persistently operating up entrance, he’s very conscious that the Joe Gibbs Racing Toyotas have received the previous three races.
“I’m pleased with the best way we’ve been performing and also you simply strive piece by piece get a little bit bit higher week to week,” Blaney stated. “The Toyotas are actually robust. The final three weeks you possibly can’t take that away from them. They’ve been extremely quick and the entire groups have been executing very well, however I believe we’re actually near the place we must be. I’ve confidence that we are able to get on that degree.
“We’ve been doing a superb job of attending to the place we must be, and now it’s only a matter of executing and discovering little issues right here and there that may proceed to catapult you alongside.”
