When Dale Earnhardt Jr revealed his championship pick earlier this year, it raised a few eyebrows across the community. Fast forward to the first race in the Round of 8 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, and the Team Penske driver finds himself in a precarious position. He is last in the top 8 drivers with a 10-point deficit to the cutline. The question now is, can the underdog live up to Dale Jr‘s prophecy?

Ryan Blaney’s journey through the NASCAR playoffs has been nothing short of a rollercoaster ride. When Dale Earnhardt Jr made the bold prediction that Blaney would emerge as a championship favorite, some skeptics questioned the choice. However, as we approach the South Point 400 at Las Vegas, Blaney’s conviction remains unshaken.

Picked as a favorite by Dale Earnhardt Jr, Ryan Blaney is unfazed by the challenges in the Round of 8

During an episode of his famous podcast, Dale Earnhardt Jr boldly claimed that Ryan Blaney?would have a strong second half of the season and would emerge as the favorite championship contender. Speaking of bold predictions, Dale Jr had quite a few of them. But, picking a Team Penske driver when they were having a rough season was quite the prediction.

“My bold prediction is that Ryan Blaney has an incredible second half. And emerges as a championship favorite,” Dale Earnhardt Jr had stated on his podcast.

Blaney now finds himself as the last-seeded driver in the top 8 with a 10-point deficit to the cutline. During the media brief ahead of the South Point 400, Blaney was asked whether he anticipates any difference in on-track behavior between the playoff and non-playoff drivers. With the playoffs intensifying, you might expect drivers to be more cautious.

However, Blaney’s response was refreshingly candid, “It’s hard to tell, you know. It’s kind of hard to tell how everyone else is going to react. People who aren’t in the playoffs, how they’re going to race the guys in the playoffs, you just never know really how that’s going to go. And you know, in my shoes, like being in the playoffs, I just? I still race everybody the same, right.”

He continued, “I race the playoff guys the same as well as the non-playoff guys, you know. I mean, everyone’s out there doing a job, so you can’t really get too upset at somebody who’s maybe giving you a hard time. Maybe you want a bone every now and then. But at the end of the day, it’s not their job to throw you a bone. So you just have to expect everyone’s going to race you hard because that’s their job.”

This steadfast approach reflects Blaney’s unwavering determination, proving that in the heat of the playoff battle, it’s business as usual for the Team Penske driver.

Watch This Story | Blaney Triumphs Over Harvick in Thrilling Yellawood 500

But can Ryan Blaney still be considered a favorite for the championship title?

Trending

Joe Gibbs Racing Potentially Blocking Truck Series Phenom on Denny Hamlin’s Radar After On-Track Bad Blood

After Dale Jr., Joey Logano Blames NASCAR for Creating ‘Bulldozers’, Destroying ‘Respect’ in Cup Series

NASCAR Fans Back Kyle Busch’s Son’s Desperate Plea Amidst Denny Hamlin’s ‘Bad Luck’ Reluctance

“My Body Needed Time”: Tony Stewart’s Wife, Leah, Discloses Her Roadblocks to Motherhood Amid Racing Dilemma

Reality Struck Shane van Gisbergen Has His Playoffs Chances Cut Short Even Before His Full Time Debut in 2025

Amidst the playoff chaos, the question lingers: can Ryan Blaney still be considered a championship pick, as Dale Earnhardt Jr boldly predicted? Blaney’s journey to the ‘Round of 8’ wasn’t a surprise based on his history, having reached this stage multiple times. Yet, this year has been far from typical for Team Penske.

The Team Penske organization, known for its consistency, has faced challenges this season. They have struggled to find speed across their three in-house teams. Defending champion Joey Logano exited the championship race at Bristol, while young talent Austin Cindric didn’t even make the playoffs. This leaves Blaney as the lone Team Penske driver in contention for the championship, a situation he has never faced before.

Blaney’s journey through the ‘Round of 8’ last year was marked by a driver error that cost him a shot at the championship. Reflecting on this, he mentioned last week at a media availability, “You just hope to learn from that stuff. And if you?re in the same position, you try to just think about it a little bit more differently. And what can you do to alter that outcome and not put yourself in a bind like that and are hopefully running well enough like we were last year to be in those spots again.”

Fortunately for Blaney and his team, the final two rounds of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs feature tracks that suit his strengths. He has found past success at Las Vegas, Homestead, Martinsville, and Phoenix?all of which will be instrumental in his quest for the title. Las Vegas, in particular, has been a mixed bag for Blaney, with the potential to be a game-changer in the playoffs.

As the South Point 400 at Las Vegas beckons, all eyes are on Ryan Blaney, and the pressure is mounting. Will he rise to the occasion and prove Dale Jr’s foresight right, or will the uncertainties of the playoffs have the final say? It’s a job for Blaney and his fellow drivers, and they’ll do whatever it takes to win.

READ MORE: Bubba Wallace Reveals His Plan With Best Friend Ryan Blaney and Their Girlfriends as the Racing Duo Prepare for the Offseason