Blaney heads into the Round of 12 cut-off race at Charlotte a healthy 32 points clear of the elimination zone.
He won the opening stage at Talladega and was in contention for most of the race. But when it came down to it, Chase Elliott was able to squeeze ahead and snatch away the victory. There was just 0.046s between the two drivers at the finish line.
His hopes of becoming the 20th different winner of the 2022 NASCAR Cup season will have to wait another week.
Blaney had worked with Ross Chastain for most of the later portion of the race, but lined up in front of fellow Ford driver Michael McDowell on the final restart.
“I was fine lining up bottom or top, honestly, working with Ross (Chastain) there for a while,” said Blaney. “I knew he pushed good and I knew obviously Michael (McDowell) could push really good, too. So, I didn’t really care where we were gonna be lining up. I got a good push there and was able to get too good of a push on the restart and got the 9 (Elliott) clear and then he was able to lead the top lane. I had a couple chances to move up to the top and cover it and I was just getting nervous about getting hung in the middle with the 9, the 43 (Erik Jones) and the 1 (Chastain) lined up.
“I just didn’t feel comfortable going up there and trusting, I trust Chase, but not that much to where he wouldn’t have hung me out for the greater good of his group, so just chose to stay on the bottom with Michael. We had a great chance at winning the thing, but we got disconnected in the middle of three and four. I don’t know if the 11 (Denny Hamlin) laid off of him, but we disconnected and let the 9 and 43 get a big run. Mine was just kind of a little bit too late. I’ll look at it probably pick at a few things I probably should have done different, wish I would have done different, but it’s easy to say that now. Overall, it was a decent day. It just stinks to be that close to our first win of the season.”
Looking back, the Team Penske driver wondered about what he could have done differently in order to hold on to the win.
“I think the only thing I probably would have done different is, one, realize that the 11 (Hamlin) was laying off the 34 (McDowell) in the middle of three and four and faded back with them,” he said. “It just happened really quick and then I probably would have coming to the checkered – if we would have won or not, I don’t know – but got back to the bottom – kind of do the…
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