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via Imago

via Imago

A few weeks ago, Dale Jarrett made a bold prediction regarding his championship favorite. He thought RFK Racing‘s Chris Buescher had a breakout year and he might as well go all the way. However, his prophecy did not come to fruition as Chris Buescher got eliminated from the title hunt at Martinsville. With Buescher out of the race, Jarrett got quizzed once again and was asked to pick a new favorite for the Cup Series Championship. This time around he went with the same driver Dale Earnhardt Jr had chosen months ago as a Championship favorite.

Back in June, when the championship picture was still hazy and no clear favorite had emerged, Dale Earnhardt Jr made a fearless prediction. He declared that a certain Team Penske was his pick to take the championship crown. It was a bold statement, and some even considered it a wild prediction at the time.

Dale Jarrett joins Dale Earnhardt Jr in placing Ryan Blaney as the Championship pick

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Speaking with his co-host Mike Davis on his podcast, Dirty Mo Media, about making bold predictions, Dale Earnhardt Junior said, “I’ve got a few.”

“My bold prediction is that Ryan Blaney has an incredible second half and emerges as a championship favorite… I’m gonna go with Truex, Denny, Byron, Blaney… My champion is Ryan Blaney,” Dale told Mike.

Now, as the season reaches its climax, it’s clear that Earnhardt Jr might have been onto something. Ryan Blaney has shown tremendous speed and consistency in the past few weeks, making his way into the Championship 4 at Martinsville. His performance has solidified his status as a serious contender for the title.

While Earnhardt Jr’s prediction has been gaining traction, Dale Jarrett has also joined the Blaney bandwagon. With Buescher out of contention, Nate Ryan asked Jarrett on the Motorsports on NBC podcast if he would like to pick a driver for the Championship win. Jarrett swiftly aligned his choice with Dale Jr‘s pick from months ago, choosing Ryan Blaney as his championship favorite.

“It’s easy to go off of the most recent thing that happened,” Jarrett explained. “But it’s not just the most recent; it’s the recent history at Phoenix with Ryan Blaney and his team with this car. They have everything it takes. They have the speed in the cars, and he’s performed well here. I just believe this is Ryan Blaney’s time.”

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As the Championship 4 race at Phoenix Raceway draws near, the excitement and anticipation in the NASCAR community is reaching a fever pitch. However, an interesting conversation has recently surfaced from Sunday’s race at Martinsville.

Ryan Blaney’s and Denny Hamlin’s team radio messages after their mid-race incident

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The road to the Championship 4 wasn’t without its share of drama and intense competition. At Martinsville Speedway, Ryan Blaney and Denny Hamlin found themselves locked in a fierce battle for the final two spots in the Championship 4. The two drivers were willing to do just about anything to secure their place in the title race.

The most heart-pounding moment of the race occurred when Hamlin, in a desperate attempt to hold the inside line, tapped the rear bumper of Blaney, trying to force him to the outside. This move pushed Blaney’s car to the edge of control, nearly causing him to lose it. Had Blaney lost control of his car at that moment, it could have spelled the end of his championship dreams.

After the incident between Blaney and the JGR driver, Blaney’s crew chief got on the radio and made it clear where the blame lay, saying, “Just the #11, that was all him. Just so you know.” Blaney himself was not shy about expressing his feelings, exclaiming, “**** that was uncalled for.”

On the other side of the spectrum, Hamlin defended his actions, saying, “**** the #12 tried to brake down the backstretch to keep me on the outside. Got the #24 by the **** if he wants to play games we can play games. I’m the one **** that got nothing to lose.”

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READ MORE: “He’s Driving Like an Idiot” – Denny Hamlin Ruthlessly Trashes Carson Hocevar’s Cup Series Antics, Echoes Dale Jr’s Payback Warning

Who do you think will take away the glory this year? Let us know your thoughts and predictions in the comments below.