Ryan Blaney can breathe a bit of simpler after successful the primary race within the NASCAR Cup Spherical of 12 playoffs Sunday at New Hampshire.
Regardless that there are nonetheless two extra races left within the Spherical of 12, the 2023 NASCAR Cup champion can now deal with the Spherical of 8 semifinals, as he now has an computerized berth following Sunday’s win.
“It’s comforting [to have won at Loudon], proper?” Blaney mentioned. “The dream deal is successful the primary race of the spherical. So, to already know which you could deal with the primary race of the following spherical a bit of bit earlier and possibly can experiment with one thing within the different two races to possibly assist, like subsequent week, possibly you attempt one thing at Kansas that may go higher at Vegas, two mile-and-a-halfs. So it simply provides you the choices to do this.”
Kansas is the following race on the playoff schedule this Sunday. If Blaney does effectively there, he might be able to use a number of the information gained to his benefit at Las Vegas, which is the primary race within the Spherical of 8.
“So far as my prep work via the week and our workforce’s, that can keep the identical. I attempt to preserve that constant,” the 31-year-old added.
On the similar time, there are worthwhile stage and playoff factors nonetheless to be earned this Sunday at Kansas and two weeks from now on the Charlotte Roval, so Blaney isn’t considering too far forward, both.
“We’re nonetheless going to provide max effort at Kansas and the Roval,” the Penske driver mentioned. “The aim is to win each single week. We won’t shy any consideration away from Kansas or the Roval, however you would possibly begin engaged on Vegas a bit of bit sooner than you’d, simply realizing that you simply’re going to be within the Spherical of 8 there and preparing for that place.”
The Roval In Two Weeks Presents Its Personal Set of Challenges
After Kansas, there’s nonetheless the Roval to consider — the one highway course within the 10-race playoffs.
“The ROVAL will get fascinating as a result of, in that race, you’ll have guys going for factors,” Blaney mentioned. Particularly these drivers who’re each barely above and barely beneath the cutoff line, as any factors they earn at Charlotte could be the distinction between transferring on to the Spherical of 8 or being eradicated.
“I believe we’re possibly in a singular spot to flip the levels and go attempt to win the race. I believe that’s a bit of bit extra of a play than factors racing actually.”
With Blaney having a confirmed spot within the subsequent spherical, it’s now as much as his teammates, Joey Logano and Austin Cindric, to search out their very own method into the Spherical of 8, both by way of a win in one of many subsequent two races or by factors.
What Do Logano and Cindric Should Do to Advance To the Spherical of 8?
Logano, who’s the defending NASCAR Cup champion, has gained two of the final three championships and is a three-time general Cup champ. He heads into Kansas in sixth place within the standings, 24 factors above the cutline.
“We clearly bought a ton of factors as we speak,” Logano mentioned based on the Ford Racing post-race media press launch. “I believe we bought a second and a primary within the first two levels and a prime 4 end, so we did what we would have liked to do. We’re plus the minimize line [but] I’d somewhat win. That’s simply the greed in me [he said with a laugh].”
Cindric, nevertheless, isn’t in a superb place. He’s presently tenth within the standings, 19 factors beneath the cutline.
“You’ve bought to anticipate to wish to run within the prime 10 and get stage factors to advance out of this spherical, so not all the things we would have liked, however we’re nonetheless within the sport,” Cindric acknowledged. “I believe this weekend is proof. You’ll be able to’t take something with no consideration, however I don’t assume we’re ready to be determined. We’ve simply bought to exit the following two weekends and do higher than we did this weekend.
“If we now have a repeat of this weekend, it’s not gonna be sufficient to make it via. We’re able to it and I imagine in that. I be ok with Kansas.”
