Luck is a huge factor in NASCAR. Looking at Denny Hamlin, Carl Edwards, or Dale Earnhardt Jr., who have come agonizingly close to landing a Cup Series championship yet find themselves without a title. Like a joker in a deck of cards, fortune has played its role perfectly in the 2023 playoffs.

The elimination of big names like Kevin Harvick and Joey Logano in the round of 16 itself was an unseen development. No one expected two former champions to go out crashing together. While the pattern continued in the next round, one driver regained his potential to fight for the title and even had Dale Jr.’s trust to bank upon.

Parker Kligerman believes Team Penske might have an ace up their sleeves

Although it is too early to name any clear favorites, and considering that every race has had a different winner in the playoffs, Team Penske star Ryan Blaney could slowly turn his season around. Considered a dark horse and contender every season, Blaney had good results in the initial phase of 2023. Securing a playoff spot with a win at the Coke 600, Blaney couldn’t keep the momentum going as Penske’s Fords failed to deliver. With unlucky contacts, a lack of pace, braking issues, and even a near-fatal crash, Blaney has endured it all to find himself in the final 8.

Xfinity Series driver Parker Kligerman is a big admirer of how Blaney has redeemed himself this season. Blaney has come close to getting a shot at the title multiple times previously. However, he has often shot himself in the foot with unnecessary mistakes in crucial stages. Speaking with Denny Hamlin on the latest episode of NASCAR on the NBC podcast, Kligerman was reminded of an old interaction with Blaney.

As the story unwinded, Parker said that he once walked up to Blaney after a race and said, “Look, I’m not just blowing smoke here but that arm board with his spotter audio that I found on Twitter…”

“I said what was amazing about that man was that … you’re probably not gonna realize this but the level of confidence you showed in there. Your spotter is telling you to do something and you’re like ‘Nah, I’m gonna do this.’ I’m listening and I’ve watched a lot of spotters and drivers of my own and I have had those moments of course, but the amount he did it in that final 10 laps and every move he made was the correct one and I was like ‘Damn, that’s confidence’.

Well, Blaney has always been a confident and skillful driver. His rise to prominence in the Cup has been breathtaking and the journey has translated into Dale Earnhardt Jr. pinning his hopes on him.

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What did Dale Earnhardt Jr. say about Blaney?

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Junior is easily among some of the most knowledgeable people in the community. Earlier this year, when the Cup season was about to reach its midpoint, Earnhardt was asked about which drivers would make it to the final four. With only three races left until NASCAR reaches Phoenix, it is the perfect time to bring back Jr.’s choices.

Junior predicted, “My bold prediction is that Ryan Blaney has an incredible second half and emerges as a championship favorite.”

But the task won’t be easy at all. On a deeper level, the fastest cars are the ones remaining in the final 8. Being the sole representative of Team Penske in there, Blaney will have a hard time trying to get help. However, if everything goes right as Junior predicted, Blaney could indeed emerge as a surprising contender at Phoenix.

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The #12 Mustang won at Talladega in dramatic fashion, beating out-of-competition veteran and fellow Ford driver Kevin Harvick by a small margin of 0.012 seconds. Could 2023 be the year Blaney is crowned the Cup Series champion, or could it be someone else? Let us know in the comments below.