Cup Series: Blaney breaks through for first win of season in Nashville

Written by Sean McKean

Credit: David Jensen / Getty Images

After coming alive late into the run, Ryan Blaney took his first victory of the season in the Music City. It was Blaney’s first victory at the track.

As it unfolded

From his fifth career pole, Chase Briscoe led the way in the Music City. Teammate Denny Hamlin tucked in behind followed by William Byron.

Pit cycles began on Lap 40 to split the stage in half. Briscoe kept his lead whilst Bubba Wallace received a penalty for speeding on pit road.

As the run came to an end, Briscoe complained about a steering issue, which allowed Hamlin, Byron and Tyler Reddick to close in. Hamlin eventually snuck into the lead with eight laps to go in the stage.

Hamlin kept a hold of the lead to win the first stage. Reddick and Briscoe followed behind.

Stage 1 Results:

1. No. 11 - Denny Hamlin (Joe Gibbs Racing)

2. No. 45 - Tyler Reddick (23XI Racing)

3. No. 19 - Chase Briscoe (Joe Gibbs Racing)

4. No. 24 - William Byron (Hendrick Motorsports)

5. No. 20 - Christopher Bell (Joe Gibbs Racing)

6. No. 9 - Chase Elliott (Hendrick Motorsports)

7. No. 12 - Ryan Blaney (Team Penske)

8. No. 71 - Michael McDowell (Spire Motorsports)

9. No. 22 - Joey Logano (Team Penske)

10. No. 1 - Ross Chastain (Trackhouse Racing)

By taking two tyres during pit stops, Penske teammates Ryan Blaney and Ausrin Cindric came out first and second with Hamlin following behind.

Blaney led the way on Lap 98. 

Only eight laps later, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. brought out the first caution for cause. In the middle of Turns 3 and 4, Carson Hocevar got into the back of the Daytona 500 champion, sending him into the outside wall. Stenhouse retired from the event.

Everyone came down pit road during this caution, as they all could make it to the end of the stage if they pitted now. Hamlin came out first followed by Cindric and Joey Logano.

Hamlin led the field on Lap 112, but it only took two laps for another caution to come out. In Turn 3, Alex Bowman snapped loose and went for a spin. This sent Noah Gragson to his outside into the wall whilst he spun up the track. Both Bowman and Gragson went out of the race. 

With nobody pitting, Hamlin again led the way on Lap 119, but in the first corner, an aggressive shove by Erik Jones sent Christopher Bell into the outside wall. 

Hamlin once more controlled the restart on Lap 124. On this restart, Tyler Reddick fell far off the pace. With a suspected flat tyre, he finally came down pit road on Lap 129. 

Further back, part-timer Corey Heim brought out the next caution. After coming up on Brad Keselowski off Turn 4, Heim spun down the frontstretch and eventually found the outside wall at the start-finish line. Heim retired from the race due to the incident.

Hamlin again led the restart with little challenge from behind on Lap 137. 

As the run progressed, Ryan Blaney’s and Byron’s cars came alive, and they got right to the bumper of Hamlin by Lap 160. After ten laps of battle, Blaney finally took the lead for the first time tonight.

The stage ended with Blaney up front. Byron and Hamlin followed in second and third.

Stage 2 Results:

1. No. 12 - Ryan Blaney (Team Penske)

2. No. 24 - William Byron (Hendrick Motorsports)

3. No. 11 - Denny Hamlin (Joe Gibbs Racing)

4. No. 22 - Joey Logano (Team Penske)

5. No. 43 - Erik Jones (Legacy Motor Club)

6. No. 2 - Austin Cindric (Team Penske)

7. No. 77 - Carson Hocevar (Spire Motorsports)

8. No. 38 - Zane Smith (Front Row Motorsports)

9. No. 21 - Josh Berry (Wood Brothers Racing)

10. No. 20 - Christopher Bell (Joe Gibbs Racing)

Everyone came down pit road ahead of the longest stage of the night. Logano came out first followed by Blaney and Erik Jones.

Logano led the way on Lap 193, but only one lap later, Ryan Preece went for a spin in Turn 2. He lightly tapped the wall and kept it rolling.

The three-time champion headed the field once again on Lap 199, but Blaney got to the point and took the lead. 

The final pit stops cycle began on Lap 244 with Erik Jones. Once everything cycled through, Blaney held onto the lead followed by Hocevar.

Blaney held steady throughout the run to take his first victory of the season.

Provisional Results:

1. No. 12 - Ryan Blaney (Team Penske)

2. No. 77 - Carson Hocevar (Spire Motorsports)

3. No. 11 - Denny Hamlin (Joe Gibbs Racing) [FL]

4. No. 22 - Joey Logano (Team Penske)

5. No. 24 - William Byron (Hendrick Motorsports)

6. No. 23 - Bubba Wallace (23XI Racing)

7. No. 43 - Erik Jones (Legacy Motor Club)

8. No. 5 - Kyle Larson (Hendrick Motorsports)

9. No. 45 - Tyler Reddick (23XI Racing)

10. No. 20 - Christopher Bell (Joe Gibbs Racing)

11. No. 1 - Ross Chastain (Trackhouse Racing)

12. No. 8 - Kyle Busch (Richard Childress Racing)

13. No. 38 - Zane Smith (Front Row Motorsports)

14. No. 17 - Chris Buescher (RFK Racing)

15. No. 9 - Chase Elliott (Hendrick Motorsports)

16. No. 99 - Daniel Suarez (Trackhouse Racing)

17. No. 19 - Chase Briscoe (Joe Gibbs Racing)

18. No. 2 - Austin Cindric (Team Penske)

19. No. 41 - Cole Custer (Haas Factory Team)

20. No. 16 - AJ Allmendinger (Kaulig Racing)

21. No. 71 - Michael McDowell (Spire Motorsports)

22. No. 34 - Todd Gilliland (Front Row Motorsports)

23. No. 6 - Brad Keselowski (RFK Racing)

24. No. 35 - Riley Herbst (23XI Racing)

25. No. 88 - Shane van Gisbergen (Trackhouse Racing)

26. No. 10 - Ty Dillon (Kaulig Racing) +1 lap

27. No. 42 - John Hunter Nemechek (Legacy Motor Club) +1 lap

28. No. 60 - Ryan Preece (RFK Racing) +1 lap

29. No. 3 - Austin Dillon (Richard Childress Racing) +1 lap

30. No. 21 - Josh Berry (Wood Brothers Racing) +1 lap

31. No. 54 - Ty Gibbs (Joe Gibbs Racing) +1 lap

32. No. 7 - Justin Haley (Spire Motorsports) +1 lap

33. No. 51 - Cody Ware (Rick Ware Racing) +3 laps

34. No. 44 - JJ Yeley (NY Racing) +3 laps

35. No. 66 - Chad Finchum (Garage 66) +12 laps

36. No. 48 - Alex Bowman (Hendrick Motorsports) [DNF]

37. No. 67 - Corey Heim (23XI Racing) [DNF]

38. No. 4 - Noah Gragson (Front Row Motorsports) [DNF]

39. No. 47 - Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (Hyak Motorsports) [DNF]