No Hard Feelings Against Ross Chastain, Reveals Ryan Blaney Amidst First-Ever Empire State Building Visit With GF Gianna Tullio

Sunday’s final Cup Series race in Phoenix has the title get back to Roger Penske as Ryan Blaney gifted his boss his back-to-back titles, exactly one year after his teammate Joey Logano won it. The scene was electric as the #12 driver crossed the finish, trouncing the HMS Chevys that were hot in pursuit to clinch his first-ever Cup Series title.

However, Blaney also made it into history books. Not for being the fastest nor for being the first across the line, but for being the first in the near history of the elimination format to be crowned the champion without winning the last race.

While the HMS cars failed to catch the Team Penske Ford, one Chevy caught up to him before he took over, winning the race. The 1-mile track that day saw an intense back and forth between the 2 as both drivers pushed it to the absolute limit. Reflecting on his Phoenix tussle with the Trackhouse Racing star, the 2023 Cup Series champion spoke his mind, letting it all go as water under the bridge.

Ryan Blaney shares his thoughts on his Phoenix stint with Chastain, revealing the wholesome news

Chastain may have won the battle, but Ryan Blaney won the war, taking home the 2023 Cup Series champion. But Blaney became the first driver in the current elimination format to clinch the title without actually winning the race. The desert track witnessed an epic one-on-one as the race neared its conclusion, with Blaney going all out to catch the #1 Chevy, even bumping its rear in an effort to pass.

But that did not faze Chastain as he stood in the middle, denying the champion the win as he crossed the finish line first. Being the first of the final four to cross the checkered flag, Blaney was crowned the champion. Speaking to Fox Sports’ Bob Pockrass atop the iconic Empire State Building in New York, Blaney reflected on his duel with Chastain.

He said, “We saw each other after the race, and we laughed about it, joked about it, and I congratulated him for winning the race, and he congratulated me for winning the title, and we were fine, joking about it afterward when I saw him leaving the media center,” before he posed for photos with his girlfriend, Gianna Tullio, alongside the title, visiting the 102-story skyscraper for the first time. 

WATCH THIS STORY: Bubba Wallace gets candid as he reflects on childhood friend Ryan Blaney’s redemption 

In an excellent show of sportsmanship, the two drivers, after their tussle, congratulated each other, displaying professionalism and the spirit of NASCAR.

Penske calms Blaney amidst Chastain’s antics in Phoenix

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Tensions flared high when Blaney and Chastain went door to door for the lead. With Chastain taking the lead and keeping it, the #12 driver’s frustration amped up. He kept the pace, trying everything to get in front of the Trackhouse Racing Chevy, but Chastain was determined to keep it until the finish line as a sweet revenge for the final four races last year at the same venue where Blaney denied him a free pass.

The frustration eventually got Blaney to bump the #1 Chevy in the rear, almost ruining the race for both drivers. But Roger Penske, who was in the corner, reached out to the Coca-Cola triumphant and calmed him down. According to ESPN, Blaney, after the nail-biting finish, said, “Roger Penske came over the radio and instantly calmed me down. Roger has seen everything there is to see in motorsports, and his calm made me calm. He knew when to come onto the radio to motivate me and also remind me to reel the reins in a little bit on me.”

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